About

Debtfix was established in October 2018 providing FREE debt advice, support and solutions to New Zealanders with problem debt. Our Crew provides a safe, private environment to get your debt under control.

We’ll do a complete assessment of your financial position, household needs and debt obligations before giving you options to take back control of your money. This may involve solutions provided by us, services provided by other reputable debt solution services, building financial capability (BFC) or finance providers, or a mixture of all. You decide what action works best for you and your whānau.

If you have complex debt issues, we have developed specific debt solutions that include alternatives to bankruptcy and insolvency.

When it comes to New Zealand’s financial resilience, we believe collaboration will provide the greatest impact. We are partnered with FinCap and work closely with all service providers in the Building Financial Capability sector. We also work closely with Christians Against Poverty, Good Shepherd, Ngā Tāngata Microfinance and the Financial Services Federation.

Our Crew

We’re fortunate to have an amazing Crew with the experience, empathy and FinCap qualifications to help you get your head above water. They’ll make sure your budget is realistic and sustainable before presenting a debt solution suitable for you and your whānau.

The Crew processes, administers, and monitors your solution doing regular checks to make sure everything is on track and lender regulations are being met.

Our Founders

Christine Liggins and Shaun Adams established Debtfix as a not-for-profit entity using their own funds, to provide debt solution services in New Zealand. During Covid, Debtfix was recognised as an official debt solution service provider and granted a contract with the Ministry of Social Development.

Christine and Shaun’s vision was always to create a debt charity and in June 2021 the Debtfix Foundation (CTN: CC59109) was set up. The foundation acquired the business and assets of Debtfix Limited on 1 August 2022, with the Foundation’s Board of Trustees providing independent governance and guardianship of Debtfix, the Foundation’s delivery arm.

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Christine Liggins

Co-Founder

Christine moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2004, with her husband, Martin.  Having a passion for resolving money issues, Christine soon got involved with the local budget service where she trained as a budget adviser.  As her passion and experience grew, in 2008 she began dealing with complex cases and insolvency procedures.

Christine is a debt repayment order supervisor, appointed by the Official Assignee, and a trustee of creditors proposals, working with the courts.

Christine is also a tutor and holds educational seminars and has written various financial literacy programs.  She works with various bodies in the sector including, the National Building Financial Capability Charitable Trust (FinCap), Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission and Te Wananga o Aotearoa

With her experience and knowledge she hopes to help as many people as possible to manage their money, take control of their debts, and most of all she aims to put YOU IN CONTROL of your money!

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Shaun Adams

Co-Founder

Shaun moved to New Zealand in 2006 with his wife, Sarah and their two children, starting work with BDO, and then three years later joined KPMG.

He commenced his career in insolvency and restructuring in 1985, working with the Official Receiver’s office and then with large national and regional accounting practices.  Shaun qualified as an insolvency practitioner in 1992, and soon after started taking formal appointments for both personal and company insolvencies.

Since arriving in New Zealand, Shaun continued taking appointments but had very little involvement with personal insolvency due to the nature of the firms he worked with.  In 2016, Shaun retired from KPMG, after heading up its restructuring & insolvency team for eight years started doing consultancy work whilst exploring opportunities to do something different, leading to the co -founding of Debtfix.

After many years of being on the board of Auckland Foundation, he developed a keen interest in “paying something back to society”, and it was at this time, that he and Christine first met and decided to set up Debtfix to help and support people in financial distress, with Shaun applying his insolvency and management expertise of 33 years to the development of Debtfix, and the alternative personal debt solutions so desperately needed in New Zealand.

Alongside our Founders, our Trustees are -

Tim Barnett

A former member of parliament, Tim is also the former CEO of FinCap, responsible for setting up, managing, promoting and developing the Crown entity from first inception. He is currently Chief of Staff for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Attorney General, Northern Territory, Australia.

Jan Otsuka

Based in Taupō, Jan has over 20 years active participation in Financial mentoring, 17 years as a Building Financial Capability (BFC) Service manager, a FinCap facilitator since 2009, and currently specialising in Clinical Supervision and Financial Mentor Provisional Supervision to the BFC sector.

Kathryn Burton

A passionate advocate for marginalised communities, Kathryn divides her time between training front line practitioners and supporting organisations to create meaningful change for the whanau they serve. Kathryn’s kaupapa embraces Te Ao Maori with a focus on embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in everyday mahi. Kathryn has a mission to increase the quantity, quality and expertise of Debt Solution Practitioners in Aotearoa.

Our Board

Our board of trustees is responsible for the governance of the Debtfix Foundation. The board carries out its responsibilities according to the trust deed and consists of independent trustees with a wide range of sector experience.

The primary responsibilities of our board include:

  • ensuring preparation of the annual financial statements

  • establishing the long-term goals of the Foundation and strategic plans to achieve those goals

  • reviewing and adopting annual budgets for the financial performance of the Foundation and monitoring results on a monthly basis

  • managing risk by ensuring that the Foundation has implemented adequate systems of internal controls together with appropriate monitoring of compliance activities, and

  • working with management to create organisational value

Code of Conduct

As part of the board’s commitment to the highest standards of behaviour and accountability, the Foundation has a code of conduct to guide the board, management and employees in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

The code covers such matters as:

  • responsibilities to members

  • relations with clients and suppliers

  • employment practices, and

  • responsibilities to the community