Former Real Estate Businessman Aaron Drever Sentenced Again for Deception

Former real estate businessman Aaron Drever has received another eight-month prison sentence for deception under the Insolvency Act 2006.
The Auckland District Court ruled that Drever misled the Official Assignee and hid income and property that could have paid his debts.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said the new offences were more serious because they happened while Drever was on bail and under parole conditions.

A Repeat Offender

Drever became bankrupt in June 2019, owing more than $246,000 to creditors.
Despite that, he kept starting and managing new businesses without approval. The Insolvency Act forbids bankrupt people from running companies because they pose a higher risk of financial mismanagement.

Vanessa Cook, Manager of MBIE’s Business Registries Investigations and Compliance Team, said Drever’s actions showed a clear disregard for the law.

“He misled the Official Assignee about his finances and ignored his duties as a bankrupt,” Ms Cook said. “He even told his case officer he was planning a training course instead of working, which was false.”

Years of Dishonesty

This latest sentence adds to a long history of offending.
In August 2022, the court jailed Drever for two years and two months and ordered him to repay $75,000 for multiple dishonesty crimes, including obtaining by deception and falsifying documents.

Before that, in June 2022, MBIE charged him with running a business while bankrupt and failing to file a statement of affairs. He pleaded guilty and, in March 2025, received 15 months in prison from Judge Thomas.

After leaving prison on parole, Drever began working at Free Range Chef Ltd in November 2023. Between then and July 2024, he earned $48,000 but never told the Official Assignee. Instead, he used the money for personal spending.

False Statements

Investigators found that Drever lied several times about his job. In his Statement of Affairs, he claimed his only income came from a benefit. When questioned under oath, he repeated that he was unemployed. Later, when asked again, he said he was planning a training course rather than working.

MBIE said Drever’s behaviour was deliberate.

“He knew his obligations under the Insolvency Act but chose to ignore them,” Ms Cook said. “The law protects the public from people who act irresponsibly or dishonestly in business.”

Long Trail of Failed Ventures

Drever’s troubles go back to 2018, when Old Auckland Grocers Markets Ltd collapsed. Over the next few years, he linked himself to several other ventures, including The Fish Chip Co Ltd and FC Te Atatu.
Many of these were registered under partners’ names while he was still bankrupt.
He kept signing leases and credit agreements, and most of those ventures eventually failed.

Public Reminders

The Companies Office is reminding the public that anyone can report suspected breaches of the Companies Act 1993 or Insolvency Act 2006 online.
A list of banned directors and bankrupt individuals is also available on the Companies Register website.

Reference:
Media release, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), 8 October 2025.
“Former real estate businessman Aaron Drever sentenced again for deception.”

Reporter: Webfit News Aotearoa Editorial Desk