Bankrupt writer still hopeful

Author Alan Duff. Photo / Doug Sherring

Bankrupt writer Alan Duff still believes he will find a solution to his money woes, despite bankrupting himself this week.

Speaking from his home in France, Duff said his decision to go bankrupt had not come easily.

He failed because he went into a property development business he didn't know much about, he said. "I thought building architect-designed homes would be an advantage in a competitive market. That proved not the case."

The major creditor had forgiven the debt and there was nothing more he could say except reiterate: "I will pay them if I am ever in the position. And of course I feel bad for them - daily. Ashamed, too."

But Mutual Finance Group spokesman John Waymouth said Duff should have been declared bankrupt four years ago.

He had been given 18 months to pay back creditors, which ended in May last year.

"The people who suffered most from trusting Duff were Hawke's Bay business-people," Waymouth said. "Not a cent has been repaid. He's just turned his back on Hawke's Bay."

Duff had hoped a book and film deal in France would help him pay off more than $3 million of debt. "He was in a fantasy world if he thought he could earn enough in writing three books to pay back $3.6 million," Waymouth said.