Doctor pays but debt still $500,000

The former Masterton GP whose failed Chapel Street Family Doctors practice went under owing more than $1 million to creditors has paid out $20,000 in liquidator's claims against him.
Liquidator Deloitte, brought in when Wairarapa Medical Limited (WML) and three other smaller companies that ran the now merged Masterton surgery went under last year, has revealed all claims against former director and shareholder David Nixon have been paid in full.
Dr Nixon, who shifted to Brisbane with his wife Carolyn shortly after the surgery was bought by the Wairarapa Primary Health Organisation in July last year, had agreed to pay back the claims from his new earnings over six months.
The most recent report showed WML still owed preferential claims of $342,471 and unsecured claims of $163,467, totalling more than $500,000.
A new report with updated figures would be released shortly, liquidator David Vance said.
The liquidator had acted on behalf of those preferential creditors owed money and it was not up to Deloitte to retrieve money Mr Nixon owed in a ''different capacity''.
''We can only ask for money we think he owes to the company.''
It remained unlikely that unsecured creditors would get any money back, he said.
It was not known when the liquidation would be complete as there was still ''one further issue'' _ a potential claim Mr Vance could not reveal yet _ that Deloitte was considering.
''If we determined that it was worth pursuing, then it would likely take months rather than weeks.''
Mr Nixon had been co-operative and ''very good to deal with'' throughout the process.
The shock collapse of Chapel Street Family Doctors had a huge impact on the town, resulting in the immediate loss of six jobs and a merger that this year super-sized buyer Masterton Medical.
It also came as a big blow to young pharmacists Hamish Duncan and Belinda Baird, who had to move their business from the Chapel Street building, and to Robin Dunlop, the building's owner, who had wanted it to be a hub for practice services. ''That didn't happen, although the concept was good,'' Mr Dunlop said.
It had not been an ''easy time'' but he was ''much happier'' securing law firm Logan Gold Walsh to occupy the top floor.
Besides a 250sq m downstairs space, which ' tenants were showing interest in, all other space in the building had been filled.