Prominent businessman to face trial on sex charges

A prominent Far North businessman and tourism operator has been committed for trial after appearing in court on six historic sex charges.

Peter Kitchen, 54, of Kaitaia, denied one charge of rape, four of indecent assault and one charge of assault with intent to commit rape after a depositions hearing in Kaitaia District Court.

All charges involve two girls who were both aged 14 at the time of the alleged offences in Kaitaia during 1979 and early 1982.

Kitchen entered not guilty pleas to all charges before being directed by Judge Lindsay Moore on Wednesday to stand trial in the Whangarei High Court with a first call-over date on November 10.

Kitchen's bail was continued and no trial date has been set. Kitchen is a former chairman and a current director of the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council.

He is also a current director and former chairman of the Tai Tokerau Maori and Cultural Tourism Association and a member of the small business advisory group within the Ministry of Economic Development.

He ran a backpackers' lodge, training school, cultural centre and tour company in Kaitaia's main street for many years, and founded and managed the annual Te Houtaewa Challenge (marathon running) event on 90 Mile Beach in the 1990s.

The two complainants, who cannot be identified, did not give evidence and their statements were included by consent without being read to the court.

Kitchen's wife, Kerry Hewitt - now separated from her husband - told the court she and Kitchen had a discussion late last year about the allegation against him after Ms Hewitt was told of alleged events by the main complainant.

Asked by defence counsel Arthur Fairley whether, in her mind at the time, she thought of her husband as a rapist and an adulterer, Ms Hewitt said: "No. In my mind he was a rapist."

She said she told Kitchen their marriage was over but if he told the truth they might still be friends.

Ms Hewitt said she kept notes of the discussion in a personal diary but did not tell police of its contents.

Ms Hewitt disputed a defence suggestion that her eldest child said there were holes in the complainant's story and had walked out of the meeting.

Ms Hewitt said the main complainant used to visit Kaitaia regularly and, when older, came on holiday to camp at Houhora with her children and husband.