Watson settles debt to charity - 21 months late

Eric Watson. Photo / Kenny Rodger

A children's charity has waited almost two years for £600 ($1375) owed by Hanover Finance co-owner Eric Watson.

Mr Watson owed the money to UK-based Hope and Homes For Children for an antique Chinese painting bought at a charity event early last year.

But after 21 months without paying, he coughed up this week - a few days after the Weekend Herald began making inquiries.

On Monday, auction organiser Ola Jafa contacted the newspaper to complain that Mr Watson still owed the money to the charity - which benefits children in the world's poorest countries - despite repeated messages left for him.

Mr Watson bid for the print donated by Mallett Antiques of London.

All successful bidders at the Sotheby's auction gave credit-card details before leaving the historic Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

But Mr Watson's card had expired, a distressed Ms Jafa said.

"He's run away with a beautiful print. Now we've given up chasing him for the money because there's no way for us to get through to him."

Hilary Marett, Hanover's public relations adviser in Auckland, said she knew nothing of the events and referred inquiries to Jayne Hoffman at Mr Watson's private company, Cullen Investments.

Ms Hoffman said Mr Watson had not even been at the auction and claims he owed money were false.

Staff in London had contacted Hope and Homes, which had confirmed no money was owed, she said.

But she refused to verify that by forwarding emails from the charity. Instead, she suggested inquiries be made directly to Hope and Homes.

Beth Maughan, the charity's communications chief, investigated the matter this week and took some days to get to the bottom of it.

"Unfortunately, we are having our annual carol service this afternoon so most of my colleagues will be travelling up to London," she said from Hope and Homes' Wiltshire headquarters in the middle of this week.

But by yesterday, the issue had been resolved. Ms Maughan said: "Our general policy is not to comment on individual supporters or their donations but I wanted to let you know that we have now received payment from Mr Watson for the painting. As far as we are concerned this issue is now closed."

Ms Jafa was pleased the £600 debt had been settled but attributed that only to media inquiries.

Mark Hotchin, Mr Watson's Hanover partner, has been at the forefront of controversy after the finance company was unable to pay thousands of investors about $500 million.

And while Mr Watson remains overseas, Mr Hotchin has copped most of the criticism, particularly over his almost-finished $30 million mansion in Paritai Drive, Orakei.