Trail of rent debt

decision: Field’s 42-day notice was incorrect, it should have been 90 days, and Field had not lodged the bond. Berryman said he had two repayment term offers rejected by Field’s solicitors, who were pursuing the debt. Field did not want to comment.

Berryman held senior roles at Pascoe’s Jewellers, Harvey Norman and Progressive Enterprises before operating an advisory service, including a networking group that advertises it gives owners the latest strategies to optimise their business.

National MP Simon O’Connor posed for photos with Berryman at the Orakei Business Awards dinner, wrote him a letter saying his recognition was ‘‘well deserved’’, and moved a motion in Parliament to congratulate him . O’Connor said the award and the debts were unrelated, and that the motion and letter were standard. ‘‘It is most unfortunate that he has debts and stuff, but I wasn’t aware of those.’’

Berryman says his clients don’t know he’s bankrupt because he doesn’t offer financial guidance and his advice has been successful. ‘‘I’ve got a strong business background . . . I’m not giving them financial advice, it is about strategies for building their business, which is what I’ve done: I joined Harvey Norman [in their early days] and was a key part of growing that company over nine years to a $500 million company. ‘‘I’m not a crook.’’

When Berryman left the Kohimarama apartments. he moved into the downstairs of property investor Paul Gillard’s Glendowie home. They agreed on a month-long stay, which became a six-month let for the upstairs quarters. The pair quibbled over bills, maintenance and Berryman falling behind on rent (later paid). When Gillard confirmed Berryman was to leave in October, it fell three days short of the statutory notice period for a fixed term tenancy – despite the notice being only to move back downstairs. Heated emails were exchanged. Berryman raised 20 points of disagreement – including deducting $80 for Gillard’s dog eating his children’s Easter eggs.

Berryman said he would lodge a Tenancy Tribunal claim for $23,000 , but offered to settle for $10,000 if paid within two weeks. Gillard believes he’s still owed $600; Berryman says they are square.

Gillard’s mistake, he says, was signing a fixed term tenancy instead of a flat-share, but said that was a small technical error . ‘‘He’s got a couple of points which are grey areas,’’ he said.

Berryman said he wouldn’t pursue his claim. ‘‘We both got each other’s back up … I haven’t filed anything, and I’ve no intention to.’’

‘It is about strategies for building their business, which is what I’ve done.’ Neil Berryman