Former real estate businessman Aaron Drever sentenced again for deception

  • Sentenced to a further 8 months under the Insolvency Act 2006 for offending while on bail.
  • Concealed income and property that could have been used to pay creditors.
  • Previous convictions for dishonesty offending between 2016 and 2019, and convictions for insolvency offending in 2021 and 2022.

Former businessman Aaron Drever was sentenced to a further 8 months jail by the Auckland District Court on 6 October 2025 for misleading the Official Assignee on several occasions and concealing income and property. These offences were aggravated as they occurred whilst Mr Drever was on bail for other Insolvency Act offences and were also in breach of his parole conditions.  

Bankrupted in June 2019, Mr Drever continued to set up businesses, controlling and managing them without obtaining approval from the Official Assignee. An adjudicated bankrupt is forbidden under the Insolvency Act 2006 from managing or controlling businesses because it presumes that bankrupts are more likely to financially mismanage. 

The sentence imposed on Mr Drever signals the seriousness of his actions in wilfully misleading the Official Assignee in respect of his financial situation, as well as disregarding the obligations imposed on adjudicated bankrupts, said Business Registries Investigations and Compliance Team Manager Vanessa Cook.  

“He even expressed an intention to undertake a training course when contacted by his Insolvency Case Officer and that he did not plan to be employed or self-employed. However, this proved to not be the case.”

This was not the first time Mr Drever has been convicted. On 12 August 2022, following a prosecution by the NZ Police, Mr Drever was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $75,000 in reparation after being convicted of a raft of dishonesty offences, including obtaining by deception, making a false document, and dishonestly using a document. The offending occurred between 2016 and 2019, meaning that some of it even took place after Mr Drever had been adjudicated bankrupt. His actions resulted in significant financial harm to those impacted by his offending.   

On 15 June 2022, Mr Drever was charged by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (“MBIE”) with offences against the Insolvency Act for offending that occurred prior to his sentence of imprisonment for the Police-laid charges. Mr Drever ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of managing a business whilst bankrupt, incurring credit and failing to file a statement of affairs. He was sentenced on 15 March 2025 by Judge Thomas to 15 months imprisonment.
 
Following his release on parole on the Police-laid charges, and while still awaiting sentencing on the MBIE charges, Mr Drever commenced employment with Free Range Chef Ltd in November 2023. While employed between 13 November 2023 and 1 July 2024, he received income of $48,114.94 into his bank account. Mr Drever did not disclose the fact of his employment or receipt of this income to the Official Assignee, using it for personal expenditure.

Mr Drever wilfully misled the Official Assignee about his employment situation in the following ways:

  • He made a false statement in his Statement of Affairs (SOA) by declaring that his only income was from a Work and Income benefit. He did not declare any employment.
  • He continued to maintain this same position when summonsed to appear before the Official Assignee. He stated under oath that he was on a benefit and not employed.
  • When his employment status was queried by his Insolvency Officer, Mr Drever advised that he intended to do a training course and was not intended to be employed or undertake self-employment.

“Mr Drever’s offending was premeditated. He was well aware of his obligations as a bankrupt, having been previously charged with offences against the Insolvency Act including concealing property. The sentencing today reinforces the purpose of the Insolvency Act, which is designed to protect the public from individuals who have been unscrupulous, incompetent or irresponsible in how they have carried on business,” said Ms Cook.
 
Complaints about breaches of the Companies Act can be raised online via:

Make a complaint(external link) — New Zealand Companies Office

Further information about banned directors can be found here:

Banned directors(external link) — New Zealand Companies Register