John Key said there could be a benefit game at Eden Park in commemoration of Jonah Lomu. The Prime Minister was talking on Radio Sport's breakfast show when he expressed his sympathies for his family
He said the news wasn't such a shock, as he'd heard rumours about the Lomu family's financial situation earlier.
He also had a bit of a chat about his golfing game, before giving his opinion on the cricket, talking about Dan Carter's new career in France and divulged his plans for a vacation in Hawaii.
• Prime Minister says benefit game one option to raise funds • Richie McCaw could be a starter, Eden Park possible venue • Key had heard rumours about family's financial difficulties • READ MORE: Jonah Lomu's $1.5 million property deal
Eden Park could host a benefit rugby game featuring the sport's biggest names to help raise money for Jonah Lomu's sons, says Prime Minister John Key.
And he told Radio Sport today that All Black captain Richie McCaw might be a starter.
"There are lots and lots of options," he told the Crowd Goes Wild breakfast crew. "The Eden Park Trust board could do it... you could even get guys like McCaw."
He believed that given Lomu's popularity, there would be plenty of people out there willing to support his family.
Mr Key said he wasn't surprised by the news that Lomu had died broke as he had heard rumours about the family's financial situation.
In an interview with Leighton Smith on NewstalkZB he said he did not know the circumstances of what led to the problems.
"He did an awful lot of fundraising for charity. If he hasn't managed money well - let's argue that for a moment - he won't be the first superstar (in that situation)... But he looked to me like a guy who gave enormously. Maybe it's time for us to give back."
Leading figures in rugby have set up a trust to help Lomu's boys Dhyreille, 6, and Brayley, 5.
Lomu with his boys Dhyreille and Brayley and wife Nadene.
NZ Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol said that the trust - which excludes the boys' mother, Nadene, as a beneficiary or from having control of any of the funds - was a response by business people and friends of Lomu who recognised the need to support the couple's children.
It is now seeking donations from those who want to help Lomu's boys. Mr Nichol said those who set up the trust did so after seeing summaries of Lomu's financial affairs.
Herald inquiries show Lomu's finances entangled with debt. Public records also show his company, Stylez Ltd, has a 2012 Mercedes-Benz bought through UDC Finance bearing the registration plate "Nades1". Lomu also borrowed to buy his 2007 Mercedes V350 peoplemover, which carries the plate "J0nah".
His remaining assets were tied up in a series of apartments in Wellington owned through Stylez and mortgaged to Westpac. They were most recently valued at $740,000.
The family's home in the upmarket Auckland suburb of Epsom, where Lomu died of cardiac arrest, has a rateable value of $2.2 million but is a rental.
How you can help
DONATE: Those wanting to donate to the trust set up for Jonah Lomu's sons can do so through the official jonahlomulegacy.com website or through the lomulegacy.com supporting website, powered by NZME's GrabOne. NZME is the parent company of the NZ Herald and NewstalkZB. Donations can also be made through any branch of the ASB Bank or by online banking to the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust, account number 12-3647-0022925-00.
