Stuff reported the application to have Andrew Philip Mehrtens adjudicated bankrupt was called in the High Court at Christchurch last Thursday.
The application was made by law firm Saunders Robinson Brown.
Appearances were excused by Associate Judge Dale Lester, who adjourned the application to June 4 to allow “for a part payment to be made”, Stuff reported.
In New Zealand, a creditor can apply to the High Court to have a debtor declared bankrupt if the debtor owes $1000 or more and has committed an act of bankruptcy such as failing to comply with a bankruptcy notice.
The application is then typically discontinued if the debt is paid.
Mehrtens, who is regarded as one of the world's best ever first-fives, started playing for Canterbury in 1993, before being selected for the All Blacks in 1995. He played in the 1995 World Cup.
Mehrtens grew up in Christchurch and attended Christchurch Boys' High School, where he played for the 1st XV. He went on to play 108 times for Canterbury, make 87 appearances for the Crusaders and 70 for New Zealand.
