About Secure Collections & Investigations

New Zealand's Debt Recovery & Investigation Experts

Our Story

Secure Collections & Investigations Limited (SCI) is a government-licensed debt recovery and investigation agency established in 2013 and headquartered in Parnell, Auckland. Operating nationwide as "New Zealand's Debt Recovery & Investigation Experts," we have built a reputation for delivering exceptional results with a personal touch.

With more than 13 years of proven success, we combine professional expertise with a commitment to personalised service, ensuring every client receives the attention their case deserves.

Founded 2013

More than 13 years of proven expertise

Nationwide Coverage

Operating across New Zealand

Government Licensed

Licence No. 19-058815

Our Core Services

We offer a comprehensive range of debt recovery and investigation services tailored to meet diverse client needs

Debt Recovery & Legal

  • Debt Collection

    In-person debt collection with proven recovery rates. We visit debtors — not just call them.

  • Tracing

    Locate missing debtors, individuals and assets using advanced investigative techniques and databases.

  • Process Serving

    Legal document delivery with accuracy and efficiency. We aim to complete service within 48 hours of receipt.

  • Repossessions

    Asset recovery for businesses dealing with defaulting customers, executed with precision and legal compliance.

  • Enforcement of Judgments

    Court-ordered debt recovery through asset seizure, wage garnishment and property sale — with litigation support when debtors refuse to pay.

  • Commercial Re-Entry

    Legal premises re-entry for landlords dealing with abandoned or defaulting tenancies.

Investigations

  • Private Investigations

    Surveillance, background checks, insurance investigations and missing persons, carried out by former NZ Police detectives.

  • Criminal Defence Investigations

    Support for legal counsel staffed by former NZ Police Detectives who understand how cases are built and defended.

  • Employment Investigations

    Workplace misconduct, disputes, and pre-employment screening for businesses.

Our Operational Philosophy

Our Own People — Not a Call Centre, Not Subcontractors

Everyone who works your file is employed by SCI. Many of our team are former New Zealand Police detectives, and the officer who visits your debtor comes from the same team that runs our investigations. You deal with the same person from the first call to the last.

  • A dedicated file manager on every case
  • On a collection, one officer who knows your debtor and your history
  • On an investigation, evidence built to survive legal scrutiny
  • Regular updates and straight answers

We Turn Up, and We Don't Stop at the First Step

Phone calls and letters only go so far. We go in person — to the debtor's door, or wherever the answer is — because that is what moves a file. And when the first approach doesn't work, we keep going.

  • Face-to-face debtor visits, nationwide
  • On a collection, from demand letter through to court enforcement and asset seizure
  • On an investigation, from first enquiry through to a brief that stands up in court
  • A plan built for your matter, not a script
Auckland skyline - Secure Collections & Investigations headquarters

Senior Leadership Team

The people responsible for how SCI operates day to day.

Thomas James

Director | Licensed Private Investigator and Repossession Agent

Thomas James, Director of Secure Collections & Investigations

Thomas founded Secure Collections & Investigations in 2013 and has more than 13 years’ experience across commercial debt recovery, civil litigation support, private investigations, process serving, repossessions and judgment enforcement.

He has developed SCI from a specialist collection business into one of New Zealand’s largest integrated investigation and recovery operations. Its employed team now combines legal, investigative and field expertise, enabling SCI to manage a matter from the initial enquiry or demand through to investigation, proceedings and enforcement.

Thomas leads the company’s strategic direction and remains directly involved in complex recovery and enforcement matters. His particular strength lies in assessing the commercial position, identifying the most effective legal or investigative pathway and ensuring that files continue progressing toward a practical result.

Daniel Ross

General Manager – SCI Group | Private Investigator, Dip. Pol.

Daniel Ross, General Manager – SCI Group

Daniel is a former New Zealand Police Detective and Sergeant with more than 13 years’ experience across the National Organised Crime Group, Criminal Investigation Branch and frontline policing.

His Police career included complex criminal, financial and organised crime investigations, investigative interviewing, intelligence assessment, staff leadership and the preparation of evidential files for prosecution.

As General Manager, Daniel is responsible for SCI’s national operations, personnel, investigative standards and quality assurance. He oversees the allocation and progression of investigations, process serving, repossessions and field assignments, ensuring that work is properly planned, completed promptly and reported to a consistent professional standard.

His combination of investigative experience and operational leadership provides SCI’s clients with senior oversight across both individual instructions and high-volume national programmes.

Aaron Sewell

Manager, Investigations & Recoveries | Licensed Private Investigator

Aaron Sewell, Manager of Investigations & Recoveries at Secure Collections & Investigations

Aaron has more than 20 years’ investigative experience and has specialised in insurance fraud investigations since 2014.

His background encompasses insurance and private investigations, structured interviewing, evidence assessment, process serving, repossessions, compliance work and complex field enquiries. This breadth of experience enables him to identify the practical and evidential issues that can determine whether an investigation or recovery succeeds.

As Manager of Investigations and Recoveries, Aaron directs investigative and field activity, supports SCI’s national team and reviews strategy and reporting on significant matters.

He is particularly experienced in turning fragmented information into clear findings and ensuring that reports are accurate, defensible and useful to insurers, legal professionals and commercial decision-makers.

Our Team

SCI employs its team directly — we don’t subcontract. The same former Police and Defence Force professionals who run our investigations also visit debtors, serve documents and carry out repossessions. Our team operates across New Zealand; our management and key investigators are listed below, and they represent part of a wider team.

Daniel Yee

Senior Investigator | Licensed Private Investigator, Dip. Pol.

Daniel has more than 12 years’ experience across policing, financial investigation and private investigation.

His background includes serious and complex criminal investigations, evidential file preparation, financial analysis, insolvency-related enquiries and asset tracing. This gives him a strong understanding of how financial records, witness evidence and operational enquiries must be brought together to establish a reliable factual position.

Daniel undertakes complex and sensitive investigations for insurers, law firms, businesses and private clients. He is particularly effective on matters requiring disciplined file management, detailed analysis and reporting capable of withstanding legal or commercial scrutiny.

Rob Masters

Private Investigator | Dip. Pol.

Rob is a former New Zealand Police Senior Sergeant with 20 years’ frontline, supervisory and investigative experience across Wellington and Auckland.

His career included frontline command, responsibility as Officer in Charge of Wellington Airport Police and service within Police Professional Conduct. These roles required sound judgement, discretion and the ability to manage sensitive matters involving operational, reputational and personnel risk.

Rob now undertakes insurance and private investigations, interviews, field enquiries, process serving and repossessions. His senior policing background makes him particularly well suited to complex assignments requiring confident engagement, careful risk management and credible reporting.

Christelle Fung

Private Investigator | Former NZ Police Detective, Dip. Pol.

Christelle is a former New Zealand Police Detective with experience across frontline policing, specialist teams and the Criminal Investigation Branch.

Her investigative background includes serious crime, family harm and child protection matters, requiring careful interviewing, accurate evidence handling and professional engagement with vulnerable or reluctant parties.

Christelle now undertakes insurance, corporate and private investigations, together with tracing and field enquiries throughout the South Island and nationally. She brings a disciplined investigative approach and produces clear reports that identify the evidence obtained, the issues remaining and the practical next steps available to the client.

Caleb

Private Investigator | Dip. Pol.

Caleb brings more than seven years’ New Zealand Police experience to his work as a private investigator and field specialist.

He undertakes complex field enquiries, vehicle repossessions, process serving and private investigations. His frontline background enables him to assess risk, communicate effectively with difficult or evasive subjects and adapt quickly when circumstances change.

Caleb is particularly effective on assignments where investigative skill must be combined with decisive field action. He approaches each instruction with careful preparation, operational awareness and a strong focus on completing the task safely and efficiently.

Cam Mullenger

Private Investigator | Dip. Pol.

Cam served in the New Zealand Police from 2012 to 2023, including within the Criminal Investigation Branch, Police Dog Section and Armed Offenders Squad.

His experience includes serious criminal investigations, high-risk deployments and operational leadership in environments where judgement, discipline and composure were critical.

Following his Police career, Cam worked in close protection in New Zealand and overseas, providing protective security and risk management for VIP and high-net-worth clients. His combined investigative and tactical background gives him specialist capability across security-sensitive investigations, surveillance, risk assessments and high-consequence assignments.

Currently on long-term secondment.

Craig

Private Investigator | Former Detective Sergeant, Dip. Pol.

Craig served in the New Zealand Police for 21 years, including as a Detective Sergeant and member of the Armed Offenders Squad.

He led serious and complex investigations and contributed to the planning and resolution of time-critical and safety-critical incidents. Since leaving Police, he has held senior positions across security, emergency management and workplace investigations.

Craig’s experience is particularly relevant to sensitive employment matters, complex investigations and assignments involving significant operational or reputational risk. He brings strong investigative structure, procedural fairness and senior decision-making to every instruction.

Murray

Private Investigator | Former New Zealand Defence Force

Murray brings more than 30 years’ experience across security, surveillance, investigation and close protection, supported by an extensive operational background in the New Zealand Defence Force.

He has protected high-profile individuals and undertaken sensitive assignments for corporate and government clients in New Zealand and internationally.

His military and protective security experience provides advanced capability in operational planning, threat awareness, surveillance and discreet field activity. Murray is particularly suited to assignments where confidentiality, personal security and disciplined execution are essential.

Ethan Moser

Private Investigator | Former Royal New Zealand Navy

Ethan has a strong operational background in the Royal New Zealand Navy, including command of a naval patrol vessel.

His Defence Force career developed leadership, planning and decision-making skills in environments where accuracy, accountability and operational discipline were essential.

Ethan now undertakes marine and insurance investigations, process serving, debt recovery support and field enquiries. His maritime expertise is especially valuable on marine-related instructions, while his command experience supports a structured and reliable approach across all assignments.

Credentials & Professional Memberships

Licensed and committed to professional standards of excellence

Government Licence

19-058815

Licensed by The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA)

RITANZ

Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association New Zealand

NZCFI & NZICM

New Zealand Credit & Finance Institute & New Zealand Institute of Credit Management

Our professional memberships demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and staying current with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

Ready to Work with Us?

Get started today with New Zealand's most trusted debt recovery and investigation experts