Senior members of the real estate industry wrote letters of support for a former executive who admitted receiving commercial sex services from a teenage girl.
The letters were presented by former OneRoof chief Greg Hornblow as part of his failed attempt to seek permanent name suppression and a discharge without conviction. OneRoof is owned by NZME, which also publishes the Herald.
The letters were released to the Herald this week by the Auckland District Court after suppression relating to Hornblow’s identity lapsed. Some were undated but written after the 60-year-old admitted his offending last November and was dismissed from his role at NZME.
According to an agreed summary of facts, Hornblow presented himself as a “sugar daddy” when he met the 14-year-old girl in September last year via Snapchat.
Hornblow sent her Uber Eats in return for intimate photos and videos – one of them in her school uniform.
He later gave her a $200 gift card, then agreed to pay her $1000 cash for sexual activity.
In a statement after suppression lifted, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said the company had been “appalled to learn of the serious charge against former NZME employee Greg Hornblow”.
‘This reference hard to write’
Carey Smith, who told the Herald his letter was written in a personal capacity, was among those who wrote in support of Hornblow ahead of his sentencing.
Smith’s letter, dated January 30 this year, said he had known Hornblow for 29 years.
“I don’t shy away from the fact that I find this reference hard to write, not because of the person but because of the actions that have led Greg to ask me to write this reference.”
Smith said he would try to separate the person he was writing about from the actions the court must pass judgment on.
“When we discussed this [Hornblow’s offending] he said to me, ‘I am not a bad person’. He is a good person, a good heart, who will do anything for people and has always been connected to ensure the wellbeing of others. Personally, I have high praise for him as a good person.”
Smith wrote that Hornblow’s actions were “living with him every waking moment” and would be “drowning him in 24/7 thought”.
Smith said Hornblow’s actions were “unacceptable”.
“He says he has no excuse except for unproductive time on his hands which led him down a pathway that he should have blocked but didn’t.”
“He is remorseful. He knows he has crossed a significant boundary personally and in doing so caused harm to the victim, caused deep concern for his family, lost employment, and no doubt lost long trusted relationships.”
Smith said he lent his words to Hornblow personally, “and in the hope that you see I support Greg to be allowed to make good”.
‘He’s got a lot of shame’
Another letter was written by Calibre Construction general manager Steve Holmes.
Holmes wrote that he had known Hornblow personally and professionally for 38 years.
“The incident that brings Greg before the court is something I was truly shocked to learn of. It is completely out of character for the man I have known for nearly four decades.
“I believe this to be a momentary lapse of judgment rather than a reflection of his values or usual conduct. In all the years I’ve known Greg, I have never witnessed behaviour of this nature, nor do I believe it will ever occur again.”
Holmes asked the court to consider Hornblow’s history of good character, the contribution to his professional life and devotion to his family.
Granting a discharge without conviction would be a “fair and just outcome”, Holmes wrote.
Holmes told the Herald he wrote the letter out of friendship.
“People make mistakes. I’m sure Greg’s suffering for this. I know he’s got a lot of shame ... so I’m supporting Greg as a friend.”
‘Reputation is paramount’
Ray White Austar Realty general manager Len Day has known Hornblow for 28 years. He described the importance of family to his friend and said a conviction would have a huge impact on Hornblow’s two daughters.
Day said he and Hornblow had taken many golfing trips together. He described Hornblow’s “wicked sense of humour”, saying he was the “life of the party”.
The pair had also worked closely together over the years and Hornblow was someone Day could “trust impeccably”.
Day wrote that he was considering offering Hornblow a role on his company’s board. However, there was “no chance” of this happening if he was convicted.
“It’s also fair to say that if Greg receives a conviction, all the intellectual real estate property he possesses will be wasted and will never be used again. He will definitely be unemployable in our industry sadly.”
Reputation was “paramount”, Day wrote.
“The effect of a conviction and this kind of publication would be incredibly damaging and is severely detrimental to his future prospects in real estate. He will not be able to find a job in the industry.
“While quickly owning the huge mistake he has made, which is a mark of the man, it would be terrible if the punishment (conviction) means he can no longer do what he is great at.”
‘Completely out of character’
Chris Gwin said he had known Hornblow since the 1990s and considered him a “trusted friend”.
Hornblow had consistently demonstrated strong character, integrity and “a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others”.
“On a personal level, Greg has been an engaging, honest and loyal friend. He is someone who values long-term relationships and shows up consistently for the people in his life. His loyalty, sense of responsibility and honesty have been defining traits throughout the time I have known him.”
The circumstances that brought Hornblow before the court were “completely out of character” and “behaviour that I would never have anticipated from him”.
This behaviour stood in stark contrast to Hornblow’s longstanding conduct, values and reputation, Gwin wrote.
“Based on my extensive knowledge of Greg’s character over many years, I firmly believe this incident does not define who he is as a person.”
Other letters of support were received by friends and colleagues, including Arizto Real Estate agent Edwin Scanlan, Paul Nakhle, Phillip O’Neill, Stephen Bertram, Kevin Marginson and two of his sisters.
‘Sugar daddy’ on Snapchat
When sentencing Hornblow last month, Judge Kathryn Maxwell declined his bid for permanent name suppression and a discharge without conviction.
During her sentencing, she told Hornblow that he exploited the 14-year-old and she didn’t see his offending as a “momentary lapse of judgment”.
He persisted after receiving a video of her in her school uniform.
“You effectively enticed her to prostitute herself.”
According to an agreed summary of facts, Hornblow presented himself as a “sugar daddy” when he met his 14-year-old victim in September last year via Snapchat.
Initially, Hornblow asked her to send him a photo and inquired how old she was.
“In reply, the victim sent a photo of her face. Through their communication the victim had pretended to be 17 years of age,” the summary of facts said.
The court document said she requested Uber Eats from the defendant. He agreed on the condition that she send him intimate images.
“The victim subsequently sent several intimate images and videos of herself to the defendant, resulting in the arrival of multiple Uber Eats [orders].”
The exchange continued for about three weeks, with the Uber Eats deliveries coming from various outlets.
Between September 3 and 17 last year, the girl sent Hornblow 12 images and 19 short videos.
“The images and videos are recorded in her bedroom or bathroom at her home and depict the victim naked or partially naked ... sexually posing,” the summary of facts said.
“These are sexualised images including a video of the victim wearing her school uniform.”
After receiving most of the images, Hornblow used his credit card to buy a $200 gift card and sent it to the girl’s email.
“On Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 10.40am, the defendant paid for an Uber to bring the victim to his house. Upon arrival, the victim told the defendant she was 17 years old.”
The summary of facts said Hornblow paid the victim $1000 cash and told her: “You’re 17, I can’t pay you for sex so, if anyone finds out, we wanted to have sex and I just gave you money.”
At the victim’s request, Hornblow then paid for an Uber to bring one of the girl’s friends to his home, the summary said.
“The victim’s friend is a 14-year-old girl and a witness in this matter. The victim and defendant went to the defendant’s bedroom where sexual activity occurred.
“A short while later the defendant paid for the victim and witness to Uber to a nearby shopping mall,” the summary of facts said.
“The victim felt disgusted because of the interaction with the defendant.”
In explanation, police said the defendant offered a prepared statement after speaking to a lawyer.
“He stated it was his belief the victim was 17 years old, and he did not enter a contract for sex.”
The pair were not known to each other before meeting on Snapchat.
CEO was preparing to dismiss Hornblow before charge
In a statement after suppression lifted, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said the company had been “appalled to learn of the serious charge” against the former employee.
“At the time the charge came to our attention, we had an active disciplinary investigation underway involving Mr Hornblow relating to a separate matter. When we learned of the charge, we immediately terminated his employment. Due to the suppression order we have not been in a position to provide any further detail until now.”
Boggs said NZME had been made aware at the end of June last year of an allegation Hornblow had “demonstrated inappropriate behaviour” at an off-site work event.
“No formal complaint was raised, however, due to the nature of the allegations, I undertook an internal investigation. A disciplinary, unpaid stand-down period was imposed on Greg Hornblow along with a range of other punitive conditions he was required to meet. He was issued with a final written warning.
“At the end of August, NZME received a formal complaint. While I am unable to go into detail about the full nature of the complaint, I can say it was centred on Greg Hornblow’s behaviour in many professional settings including accusations of him making inappropriate comments in meetings and in the office environment. A formal investigation was commenced.
“Based on the findings of that investigation, I anticipated we would terminate Greg Hornblow’s employment with NZME. I advised the NZME Board of this on November 5. Mr Hornblow had until 7 November to respond to the investigation summary provided to him. I was advised by Greg Hornblow on November 6 that he was appearing in court that day and was pleading guilty to a serious criminal charge. His employment at NZME was then terminated immediately.
“With the suppression order in place, we have been very limited in what we could say to our OneRoof team, other NZME staff, our clients and other stakeholders. NZME fully supported lifting the suppression order.
“We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour at NZME and we are committed to maintaining a safe workplace for all our people. We ensure any complaint is thoroughly investigated, as it was in this case.”
Lane Nichols Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.
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