Paul Henry extracts promise of apology to Filipo victims from NZR boss Steve Tew

NZR boss Steve Tew speaking with Paul Henry
NZR boss Steve Tew speaking with Paul Henry

The boss of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has promised he'll personally call the four people bashed by Wellington player Losi Filipo today.

Speaking to Paul Henry on Wednesday morning, Steve Tew initially said it was up to Wellington Rugby to call the victims and explain why it took so long for Mr Filipo to be dropped from the Lions side.

"It's a matter for Wellington Rugby - they've contracted Mr Filipo, they have the victims kind of in their ward, if you like."

But under further interrogation, Mr Tew promised he'd make the calls himself.

"I think that's a good thing for me to do, having had this conversation with you," he told Henry.

"I will do it today before I leave the country. But I am not the one who can help them. It has to be someone in Wellington who is close to them."

Mr Filipo had his contract with Wellington Rugby terminated on Tuesday by mutual agreement. It came almost a year after he bashed four people while on a night out in Wellington.

Victims' advocate Ruth Money on Tuesday outlined the damage Mr Filipo had done.

"We've got a model who needs to get plastic surgery; we've got a singer who's been threatened and punched in her throat; we've got a very promising rugby player who can never play again because not only did you knock him unconscious, you stomped on his head four times; and we've got a builder who can't work."

Mr Tew admits it took too long for the truth to emerge. Newshub revealed on Monday that despite the brutality of the attacks, Mr Filipo wasn't convincted because the judge thought it would ruin a potentially great rugby career.

Both Wellington Rugby and NZR say they didn't know how badly Mr Filipo had hurt his victims, one of their mothers describing them as being left "for dead".

"It's worth remembering this young man was still at school when this assault took place. He wasn't actually in the care of Wellington Rugby," said Mr Tew.

"But clearly, the seriousness of the assaults would suggest he shouldn't have been playing, and that decision has now been made. Too late, but we'll have to learn from that."

He denied NZR tolerates violence and, coming so soon after the Chiefs stripper scandal, disrespect towards women. But he also thinks Mr Filipo is a victim too.

"He's now a young man whose life is at a crossroads. Rightly or wrongly, we have to take some responsibility for him too," said Mr Tew.

"He is a young man who needs support tight now. He has made some mistakes. He was 17 at the time, he was still at school. He certainly regrets what he did, and he's now got some really challenging things going on in his life too.

"But that does not make it any easier for the victims, let's be very clear about that."

The Solicitor-General is looking into the judge's decision to discharge Mr Filipo without conviction.

Newshub.