LAWRENCE GULLERY
News of a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into a Waipawa man and his two companies has sent most people who knew him into shock.
The SFO continues its review today of Warren Pickett and his companies Waipawa Holdings and Waipawa Finance Company Limited.
Hawke's Bay regional councillor Tim Gilbertson,
former mayor of Central Hawke's Bay, said he could not believe Mr Pickett was under the eye of the SFO.
Mr Gilbertson was unaware of the investigation until yesterday morning and was saddened for both Mr Pickett and those who had invested in the companies.
"He [Mr Pickett] was a highly regarded, very popular and well-respected member of the community - he was well-liked and a pillar of the Waipawa community for many years," he said.
Mr Gilbertson said he also knew John and Kathie Hands, the couple who had money invested in Waipawa Holdings for their grand-daughter, Matisse Reid.
"John started up Waipuk Construction here, he helped a lot of young guys get apprenticeships when times were tough," he said.
Mr Gilbertson said he felt sad for both Mr Pickett's family and the couple.
News of the SFO investigation had spread through the rural Central Hawke's Bay district.
Mr Hands said yesterday he had calls from people wanting to exchange their stories.
"One girl rang and was devastated. She and her partner had hit hard financial times and they put what little money they had left into the [Mr Pickett's] company," Mr Hands said.
Other people who had contacted him talked about losing sums of up to $900,000.
The couple had $312,000 invested in Waipawa Holdings and would attend a creditors meeting at the end of next week.
