SA paedophile cons officials

2003-12-17 21:15

Auckland - A disabled man walking across New Zealand raising money for a sick child is a convicted paedophile who admits he misled immigration officials to enter the country, the New Zealand Herald reported on Thursday.

South African Peter Geldenhuys' efforts to raise money for an eight-year-old cancer patient have been widely reported in newspapers and on television and radio.

They even earned him a meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark.

But he has convictions for indecently assaulting young girls and possessing pornographic material, including photographs of the children he had abused.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years in South Africa in 1987.

Didn't tell immigration officials

Confronted by the Herald on Wednesday, Geldenhuys admitted he had misled immigration officials by failing to reveal his convictions.

The Immigration Service said it was taking the matter "extremely seriously".

A spokesperson said South African authorities were being contacted and Interpol called.

The 62-year-old arrived in New Zealand in September and has been raising money for South African boy Joshua Goldman.

Walking with the help of crutches, and wearing a T-shirt with the words "please help Joshua" on it, he has walked across New Zealand telling his story of how in the past seven years he has walked 23 000km and raised funds for sick children.

He has spoken at schools and churches and to Rotary and Lions groups, met mayors around the country, former Race Relations Conciliator Gregory Fortuin and politicians.

New Zealanders had so far donated NZ$4 000 to the Save Joshua fund.

Staying with family with young kids

He said he was staying with a family in Hamilton with young children.

He said that, like the other families he had stayed with, he had not told them about his convictions.

"I know I should, but it is embarrassing. And if I keep bringing it up it will never go away."

He said he knew he would not abuse children again and now only spoke to children in groups.

"It is something that I hoped would die but it keeps coming back."

He said he did not think he had abused the trust New Zealanders had placed in him.

"Maybe I am wrong, but I know it will never happen again. I am trying to show people that you can overcome your problems, I have made something of my life."

He also said he had not told Joshua Goldman's family about his convictions. - Sapa-NZPA

- SAPA