‘Coward’ jailed for five years

Self-styled philanthropist Craig Koning is a rapist, a coward and an abusive manipulator who preyed on vulnerable women, a court has heard.

Koning was found guilty on two rape charges relating to an incident in 2004 when he was dating Amy Coronakes.

At Waita¯kere District Court yesterday, Coronakes outlined the trauma she’d endured, as Koning was sentenced to five years in jail.

Jurors at Koning’s trial last year heard Koning threw food on the floor after Coronakes surprised him and a friend by turning up with a homecooked meal. He then raped her in his apartment.

More than 16 years after the rapes, and nearly five months after the guilty verdict, Coronakes addressed Koning by audio-visual link as he sat in the dock.

“How can I describe how much you truly destroyed me?” Coronakes said. “I went from abusive relationship to abusive relationship because of you, and you made me feel like I wasn’t worth anything.”

Coronakes, who now lives in Australia, said she wished she could be in court to tell Koning how he’d lost all power over her.

In 2018, Koning was the subject of media scrutiny after several women previously involved with the Floating Foundation charity alleged Koning had behaved inappropriately.

Koning had admitted in an interview with Stuff to excessive drinking and said he had to change.

Two women reportedly quit the foundation and one needed treatment for depression.

“After reading the article, I knew I had to come forward,” Coronakes said. Koning was a “complete and utter coward” and she explained how she waived her automatic right to name suppression.

“I didn’t do this because I have a personal vendetta. I literally spent thousands of dollars trying to get my name suppression lifted.”

During the trial Koning denied rape, and rejected suggestions he used the threat of suicide to persuade Coronakes to keep quiet after the sexual assault.

Defence counsel Ron Mansfield said Koning presented a low risk of reoffending.

Koning was 19 when he committed rape and there had been no equivalent offending before or since, Mansfield said.