The man behind the famed Once Were Warriors story that propelled New Zealand's gang culture onto the world stage is in financial ruin.
Author Alan Duff has admitted to a New Zealand court that he will not be able to pay back the $NZ3.6 million ($A2.87 million) he owes creditors over a failed property venture.
It is a big fall from grace for Duff who wrote the acclaimed best-selling novel Once Were Warriors, a violent love story adapted for a hard-hitting 1994 movie of the same name.
New Zealand media have been tracking the writer's demise, reporting that he was on the brink of bankruptcy two years ago and is still deeply in debt.
The Dominion Post questioned why Duff, now based in France, was driving a Lexus and playing golf at one of the country's most prestigious golf clubs during his summer visit home, but Duff insists he is not spending recklessly.
'Frugal' living
The car was on loan from a friend, the membership was cheap and he was living within his frugal means, Duff told the newspaper.
"If I was running around in flash gear and wining and dining, flying business class, fair enough. But I'm not."
He admitted it was "excruciating" owing so much money and had this message for his creditors: "I'm sorry I got into business".
"I just wasn't good enough. Everyone got paid until everything turned to custard and down I went."
The author also appears to be struggling in other ways, with the Post reporting that his two most recent books have sold just 2,746 copies between them, according to Neilsen data.
Duff said the figures were "way out".
