More than 600 of Allan Hubbard’s loyal supporters rallied in downtown Timaru on Friday and hundreds more continue to support two Facebook campaigns as Hubbard supporters come forward to defend the embattled South Island multimillionaire.

The 82-year-old Timaru businessman and philanthropist is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office after the Government appointed statutory managers to Aorangi Securities Ltd and his business interests on Sunday.

Timaru mayor Janie Annear says the downtown rally proves Mr. Hubbard has many loyal supporters. The crowd erupted in strains of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow.” While Mr. Hubbard did not attend, his wife Margaret thanked the crowd for their show of support.

Meantime, a Facebook group defending Mr Hubbard, called Leave Allan Hubbard Alone, has  more than 2,200 members.

A second Facebook group called “Help Allan Hubbard” has more than 470 signatures of support for South Canterbury’s richest man.

The online supporters are largely from South Canterbury and include former employees, investors, businesspeople and farmers who have benefitted from his advice and generosity.

Hayley Kennedy wrote: “You would not find a finer gentleman in this country. It is unbelievable what this government is trying to do to an amazing couple. If the politicians in this country had half his integrity, NZ would be a much better place.”

Denis Shuker had this to say: “Allan is a great man. Over many years of knowing him quite closely through business I have admired him for his honesty, high integrity and his humility despite having such wealth - a very unusual characteristic these days. Certainly he is still human but a man I would trust with everything I have.”

And Heather Walsh wrote on Facebook, “Allan Hubbard helped my family so much when we first moved to New Zealand from Zimbabwe. He gave my dad a job for three months, just so he had kiwi experience. We owe him so much. He is such a good man. This is ridiculous.”