Source: Radio New Zealand
Greg Hornblow RNZ
The former media executive who admitted paying a 14 year-old for sex and fought to keep his name secret can now be named.
Gregory Rex Hornblow was sentenced in March at the Auckland District Court to 10 months home detention and ordered to pay reparation payments of $3000 to the teenager.
The 60 year-old was the chief executive of One Roof – the property arm owned by the New Zealand Herald publisher NZME – when he was charged with receiving commercial sexual services.
NZME’s chief executive Michael Boggs has confirmed Hornblow was under an employment investigation over other complaints at the time and was sacked when the company learned of his arrest.
In a statement, he said Hornblow was facing disciplinary action and was alleged to have “demonstrated inappropriate behaviour” at a work function and he received a final written warning.
A formal complaint was then made against Hornblow that included accusations he had made “inappropriate comments” at meetings and in the office.
It was during this process, in November, that NZME learned of his charge.
“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.
In the coming days Hornblow pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving commercial sexual services from a person under 18.
Details revealed in Court by Judge Kathryn Maxwell show Hornblow referred to himself as a “sugar daddy” and met the 14 year-old on Snapchat in September, 2025.
He bought her Ubereats in exchange for intimate photos and videos, Judge Kathryn Maxwell said.
Over the course of three weeks, she sent 12 photos and 19 videos of a sexual nature, including a short video of her in her school uniform.
He paid $1000 to the teen to come to his house, where the two engaged in unspecified sexual activity in his bedroom, Judge Maxwell said.
The man told the girl he couldn’t pay her for sex, and instructed her to say she wanted to have sex and he had just given her the money.
Judge Maxwell refused Hornblow’s application for a discharge without conviction. Finn Blackwell
Judge Maxwell said the victim felt disgusted by her interaction with the man.
She said he had effectively enticed her to prostitute herself, and coached her to avoid the application of the law.
“I do not accept the offending was less serious because the victim consented,” she said.
Under the Prostitution Reform Act, no one under the age of 18 may be contracted for commercial sexual services. The legal age of consent is 16.
Judge Maxwell said the victim was underage for what he intended, and he knew it.
Judge Maxwell refused Hornblow’s application for a discharge without conviction, as well as his permanent name suppression.
A law change last year meant the victim had to agree to the man’s identity remaining suppressed, which Judge Maxwell said she did not.
She gave discounts for his guilty plea, remorse, and reported good character.
He was convicted and sentenced to 10-months of home detention as well as the $3000 in emotional harm reparations.
At the time, Judge Maxwell granted interim suppression for Hornblow which has now lapsed.
At his sentencing in March, Hornblow’s lawyer, Graeme Newell asked the Court to discharge his client without a conviction. He said Hornblow believed the girl involved to be 17-years-old.
But in reality she was 14.
Greg Hornblow bought his victim Ubereats in exchange for intimate photos and videos. RNZ
Newell said Hornblow would find it hard to find work and the conviction would impact his family.
When Judge Maxwell declined to grant name suppression, Newell said there would be an appeal.
However, on Thursday, the Auckland District Court told RNZ the appeal had been abandoned, opening the way for Hornblow to be named.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
