Ex-National MP named on bad debts website

Former Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson has been named as the "most wanted" on a gang-related website called Dirty Debtors after claims he owes nearly $315,000.

The entry on the website - which reportedly has links to the Hells Angels - is based on information given to Dirty Debtors by Mr Clarkson's nephew, Tauranga accountant Ian Stevenson, who says he is owed money for "pre-approved" accounting work in 2004.

It was done while Mr Stevenson was Mr Clarkson's accountant, before the relationship between the two men broke down six-and-a-half years ago.

Mr Clarkson says the debt does not exist and he has taken the matter to the police.

He said the amount claimed started at $78,000 and had compounded since then to $314,841.

He responded to the website by saying he now intends to bring the circumstances of the events from six years ago into the public arena.

Mr Stevenson is the son of Mr Clarkson's sister.

The Dirty Debtors entry, posted by a firm called Property Services Tauranga, refers to the involvement of two Tauranga accountancy firms.

Mr Stevenson said accounts were tendered for a wide range of work he did for Mr Clarkson's entities, a large part of which was for Tauriko Farms.

He originally invoiced Mr Clarkson for $153,000, of which about $22,000 was initially paid.

Mr Stevenson said he had challenged Mr Clarkson to produce the paperwork which showed that the debt did not exist.