Networks & Entities

Infinity Foundation - Gaming Trust Fraud

Infinity Foundation made $1.5 million in questionable payments per auditors. Trustees included Patrick Dennehy. Multiple regulatory breaches.

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Infinity Foundation - Complete Investigation

Date: December 28, 2025

Source: Stuff.co.nz (Tony Wall, November 5, 2011)

CRITICAL FINDINGS

The Internal Affairs audit of Infinity Foundation revealed systematic fraud and corruption far more extensive than previously documented.

Key Statistics

| Metric | Value |

|--------|-------|

| Questionable Payments (1 year) | ~$1.5 million | | Total Grants (2010-2011) | $11.5 million | | Trotting Club Scheme | $600,000 | | Sports Trolley Scheme | $634,500 | | Rugby Ball Scheme | $78,000 |

Named Individuals

Infinity Foundation Trustees

| Name | Role | Background | Status |

|------|------|------------|--------|

| Peter Dennehy | Trustee | Former Hastings Coroner, Barrister/Solicitor | Stood down ~2011, Died 2015 | | Blair Furlong | Chairman | 1970s All Black | Active at time of audit | | Neil Thimbleby | Trustee | 1970s All Black | Active at time of audit | CRITICAL: All three trustees (Dennehy, Furlong, Thimbleby) were previously trustees of Century Foundation - the gaming trust involved in the Brent Todd fraud scandal.

Individuals with "Inappropriate Influence"

| Name | Role | Influence Type |

|------|------|----------------|

| Alf Wallis | Publican, Horse Racing Identity | $600,000 trotting club scheme | | Ian Shaw | Publican, Horse Racing Identity | $600,000 trotting club scheme | | Rodney Green | Hawke's Bay Pub Operator | Influence over regional grants | | Steve Carey | Hawke's Bay Pub Operator | Influence over regional grants | | Kevin Kelly | Director, Leisure Days | Sports equipment schemes |

The Fraud Schemes

1. Trotting Club Scheme ($600,000)

Infinity pumped $600,000 into a scheme to benefit four small trotting clubs. The audit found this was done "largely to retain the business of publicans and horse racing identities Alf Wallis and Ian Shaw."

2. Rugby Ball Scheme ($78,000)

Internal Affairs raised concerns about $78,000 given to North Harbour Rugby Union to buy 4,300 rugby balls.

Key Findings:
  • "Dodgy" quotes were provided by Leisure Days (Wellington sports equipment company)
  • Quotes came from Leisure Days AND Zooter - which shared the same office space
  • The union's former finance manager believed the price was "dodgy"
  • Zooter's director admitted he quoted at the request of Leisure Days' director Kevin Kelly
  • Department concluded Kelly had exercised "influence" over the grants

3. Sports Trolley Scheme ($634,500)

In May 2008, Kevin Kelly met with Infinity trustees to propose Infinity become a "project partner" to supply sports trolleys to schools.

Key Findings:
  • Purpose of meeting was to obtain a "funding guarantee"
  • Infinity supplied $634,500 for schools to buy trolleys
  • Potential profit for Leisure Days: $352,000
  • A Leisure Days employee filled out many of the grant applications
  • Leisure Days provided the "competitive" quote

Century Foundation Connection (CRITICAL)

The article reveals that Dennehy, Furlong, and Thimbleby were all previously trustees of Century Foundation - another gaming trust. Century Foundation was involved in the Brent Todd fraud scandal:
  • Former league star Brent Todd secured funding for North Harbour Rugby Union
  • Todd received kickbacks in exchange
  • Todd was convicted of fraud
  • No one from Century Foundation was charged
This establishes a pattern of gaming trust fraud involving the same individuals across multiple trusts.

Audit Recommendations (Suppressed)

The article reveals that an earlier version of the audit report contained stronger recommendations that were removed from the final report:

> "The Star-Times obtained an earlier copy of the audit report, in which a gambling inspector recommended Infinity's licence be cancelled, and the department consider whether its directors and general manager were suitable to be involved in gaming. Those recommendations are not in the final report."

This suggests political or administrative interference in the audit process.

Investigation Significance

Connection to Peter Dennehy

Peter Dennehy was:

  • A barrister and solicitor in Hastings
  • Hastings Coroner (1988-2008)
  • Trustee of Century Foundation (involved in Brent Todd fraud)
  • Trustee of Infinity Foundation (breached Gambling Act)
  • Partner at Don Kennedy Solicitors
This establishes Dennehy as a serial gaming trust trustee with involvement in multiple fraudulent trusts.

Pattern of Fraud

The evidence shows a pattern:

  • Gaming trust established with respectable trustees (former coroner, All Blacks)
  • Publicans and grant recipients gain "inappropriate influence"
  • Grants flow to schemes benefiting insiders
  • Questionable payments made ($1.5M in one year)
  • When caught, trustees claim ignorance of rules
  • Audit recommendations suppressed
  • No criminal charges laid
  • Trust merges with another trust (Grassroots)

Cross-Reference Required

| Individual | Check Connection To |

|------------|---------------------|

| Blair Furlong | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Neil Thimbleby | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Alf Wallis | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Ian Shaw | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Rodney Green | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Steve Carey | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

| Kevin Kelly | Langley Twigg, Oldershaw, NIT Network |

Sources

  • Stuff.co.nz - "Gaming trust 'breached act'" (Tony Wall, November 5, 2011)
  • Sunday Star Times (original investigation)