The executor of Jonah Lomu's will is raising questions after discovering the All Black's widow made multiple changes to Companies Office documents, inserting herself as a part-owner of a company which owns a Wellington property and his trademarks.
Companies Office records show Nadene Lomu was an "authorised person" but had no stake in the ownership of Stylez Ltd before January 4 this year - almost two months after Lomu died.
But on that date and the day after, the public record shows she made multiple changes to the ownership of the company.
The Companies Office lists "Nadene Quirk" - her maiden name - as inserting "Nadene Lomu" as a 20 per cent shareholder at 1.07pm on January 4.
At 4.12pm, another change was made - this time increasing her shareholding to 98 per cent. Five minutes later, she increased the shareholding again - it was now 99 per cent.
The following day, January 5, a final change to the ownership of the company was made, again by "Nadene Quirk". It was reduced back to 50 per cent, the records show.
On Wednesday last week, "Nadene Quirk" made a final change to the Companies Office record. On this occasion, she inserted Nadene Lomu as a director in Stylez Ltd.
Previous Companies Office filings have been made for Stylez Ltd by "Nadene Quirk". She first emerged in 2014, taking over from accountants Grant Thornton. The 2014 annual return lists "Nadene Lomu" as an "authorised person" to submit documents.
However, the changes to the company records have prompted questions from the executor of Lomu's will, lawyer Chris Darlow.
Darlow said his role as executor - recently confirmed by the court - meant he acted "as the deceased's personal representative" and was charged with carrying out the instructions in the will.
Among the instructions will be what happens to Stylez Ltd, which Intellectual Property Office of NZ records show has first rights to trademarks in Lomu's name.
As Lomu had 100 per cent ownership of the company, its future will be described in the will and for the executor to effect. It also owns a Wellington apartment, which is mortgaged.
Darlow said he had seen the Companies Office changes. "I am surprised by them and I am making the appropriate inquiries. I am interested as to why it has happened."
The Herald on Sunday approached Nadene Lomu for comment. She has not responded.
Nadene Lomu was Jonah Lomu's third marriage, with the pair meeting in 2008 and marrying in 2011. They have two sons. After Lomu's death, an independent trust was established for their children as it became clear the All Black great had little or no money remaining.
- by David Fisher of the NZ Herald
