Peter John Dennehy - Comprehensive Profile

Date: December 28, 2025

CRITICAL FINDING

Peter John Dennehy was a barrister and solicitor of Hastings who served as a Coroner for New Zealand from 1988 until approximately 2008. He was also a trustee of the Infinity Foundation gaming trust that was found to have breached the Gambling Act.

Verified Information

Official Appointment

From the New Zealand Gazette (November 3, 1988):

> "Peter John Dennehy, barrister and solicitor of Hastings to be a coroner for New Zealand on and from the date hereof vice David Norman Williams resigned"

This confirms:

• Full name: Peter John Dennehy
• Profession: Barrister and Solicitor
• Location: Hastings
• Appointed: November 3, 1988
• Role: Coroner for New Zealand

Professional Directory Listing

From a Tremains directory (undated), Peter Dennehy was listed at:

• PO Box 838
• 202 Lyndon Road West, Hastings
• Phone: 878 5211
• Fax: 878 3029

This is a Hastings address, confirming his practice was based in Hawke's Bay.

Coroner Career

Peter Dennehy served as Hastings Coroner for approximately 20 years (1988-2008). Notable cases included:

• McKibbin Inquest (September 24, 1996) - Police Complaints Authority case
• Various traffic fatality inquests
• Kitesurfing death inquiry

He was one of 55 part-time coroners replaced by 14 full-time coroners under the Coroners Act 2006.

Business Interests

From a 1994 NZ Gazette notice:

> "Take notice that I, Peter John Dennehy, solicitor of Hastings, a member of Tyrone Farm Limited, hereby give notice that I intend to apply to the District..."

This shows Dennehy had business interests in farming/land through Tyrone Farm Limited.

Death

Peter Dennehy passed away on July 11, 2015 in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay.

Obituary details:

• Survived by wife Julie
• Children: Mark and Sallie, Chris, Jane
• Resided in East Hastings/Havelock North area

Gaming Trust Involvement

Infinity Foundation Trustee

Peter Dennehy was a trustee of the Infinity Foundation gaming trust. The trust was investigated by DIA in 2011 and found to have:

• Breached the Gambling Act multiple times
• Distributed $320,357 in improper grants
• Had its licence at risk of suspension

Dennehy reportedly stood down from the trust around 2011.

Investigation Relevance

Geographic Overlap

Peter Dennehy's professional life was centered in Hastings/Havelock North - the same area as:

• Langley Twigg's Havelock North office
• Multiple NIT network entities
• PAMT operations

Professional Network

As a barrister and solicitor in Hastings for 20+ years, Dennehy would have had professional relationships with:

• Other local law firms (potentially including Langley Twigg)
• Local accountants (potentially including Oldershaw)
• The local judiciary
• Estate and trust matters (as coroner)

Coroner Role Significance

As coroner, Dennehy would have:

• Handled death certificates and estate matters
• Had access to family and genealogical information
• Known about property ownership at time of death
• Had influence over how estates were processed

This is particularly relevant to the Winikerei case, where succession orders and estate matters are central to the alleged fraud.

Cross-Reference Status

| Entity | Connection to Dennehy | Status |

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

| Langley Twigg | Same region (Hastings/Havelock North) | POSSIBLE - requires verification |

| Oldershaw | Same region (Napier/Hastings) | POSSIBLE - requires verification |

| NIT Network | Same region | POSSIBLE - requires verification |

| PAMT | Same region | POSSIBLE - requires verification |

| Infinity Foundation | CONFIRMED trustee | CONFIRMED |

Unresolved Questions

• Did Dennehy ever work with or refer clients to Langley Twigg?
• Did Dennehy's coroner role overlap with any Māori land succession matters?
• Which organizations received the $320,357 in improper Infinity Foundation grants?
• Did Tyrone Farm Limited have any connection to investigation entities?

Sources

• NZ Gazette 1988/184 (Coroner appointment)
• NZ Gazette 1994/1 (Tyrone Farm Limited)
• NZ Herald / Hawkes Bay Today (various articles)
• Legacy.com (obituary)
• Tremains directory
• IPCA Report (McKibbin Inquest)