Jordan Keene and Simon Wood Leave $217K Debt After Liquidation
Wellington Excavator Hire Limited has collapsed, leaving more than $130,000 owed to unsecured creditors and highlighting the financial risks faced by suppliers and contractors when a company fails and director resign a month before liquidators were appointed.
Jordan Keene and Simon Wood were directors during the company’s trading period prior to its liquidation. Companies Office records confirm Keene resigned on 16 March 2023, and liquidators were appointed on 26 April 2023, following a period in which company liabilities had accumulated.
The liquidators’ final report, prepared by Christopher McCullagh and Stephen Lawrence of PKF Corporate Recovery & Insolvency and dated 5 April 2024, confirms that nine unsecured creditors were owed $130,358.47 with no funds available for distribution. Secured creditors, including Heartland Bank, recovered $28,755.32 against a debt of $65,122.75, while Inland Revenue received $2,500 toward a claim of $20,592.06. One employee was paid $1,156.99 in outstanding holiday pay. The report makes no finding of personal liability or misconduct against any director.
On 1 March 2026, Jordan Keene contacted CloseUp regarding the reporting of the liquidation. He confirmed that he resigned as director and transferred his shares prior to the appointment of liquidators, and that he was not a director at the time of liquidation. Public records confirm his resignation was lodged on 16 March 2023.
Jordan Keene remains active in other businesses. He is currently listed as a director of Whiskey Soda Co Limited, Human Performance Lab Limited, and EEFFOC Limited, and is a shareholder in Jomash Investments Limited. He has also previously held directorships in other companies that have since closed. Outside of business, Keene publicly shared aspects of his personal life. In late 2024, he launched a Givealittle campaign titled “Let’s turn the toughest week of my life into a positive for others,” referencing personal challenges including bereavement and mental health. The campaign raised $1,210 for the I Am Hope Foundation, with Keene pledging to complete a MURPH workout for every $100 donated.
Simon Wood continues to hold directorships in NZ Excavator Hire Limited and Skullduggery Limited. Like Keene, he remains active in business following the liquidation of Wellington Excavator Hire Limited.
The liquidation illustrates the position of unsecured creditors when a company is unable to meet its obligations. Secured and preferential creditors are paid first, leaving unsecured creditors with little or no recovery. The sequence of Keene’s resignation and the subsequent appointment of liquidators highlights how director changes can occur shortly before formal insolvency proceedings begin.
Editor’s Note (1 March 2026)
Jordan Keene contacted CloseUp on 1 March 2026 to clarify the timeline of his directorship. He confirmed that he resigned on 16 March 2023 and transferred his shares prior to the company entering liquidation on 26 April 2023. This article has been updated to reflect the verified sequence of events regarding his and Simon Wood’s roles in Wellington Excavator Hire Limited.