Disgraced agent gets lifetime bowls ban
The saga of the controversial Avondale Bowling Club is in its final act following an indefinite suspension against members of the West Auckland club’s board.
An independent judicial committee set up by Auckland Bowls has confirmed allegations of misconduct against the eight board members, including suspended real estate agent Aaron Drever.
The allegations stem from a questionable land sale, as well as the failure of the board to retain its liquor licence.
Drever has been banned from ever being a member of any bowling club in New Zealand.
The rest of the board members received an indefinite suspension on holding positions of power in any club in the country.
Auckland Bowls general manager Phil Vyver said he was pleased with the outcome of the hearing.
‘‘We cannot allow clubs to be mismanaged in the way that Avondale Bowling Club has been in recent years,’’ he said.
‘‘It is important that committee members of any club understand that they have significant responsibilities to run the club to the highest possible standards in all aspects of club governance and management.’’
Vyver said the issues around the Avondale club had caused the regional bowls governing body to make changes to its constitution.
‘‘We now require clubs to communicate with us prior to making any significant decisions, like land sales ... Previously, we’ve had no control over it.’’
The club was closed and the property was still up for sale, he said.
Drever was approached for comment on a phone number known to belong to him. The man who answered confirmed his name was Aaron; however, when asked about the ban, he said he was not Drever and had ‘‘no idea’’ regarding the ongoing issues.
Drever has previously claimed he was acting as a ‘‘private speculator’’ when he negotiated the deal for the sale of one of the club’s greens for $300,000 to a company owned by his aunt, which on-sold it the same day to a property investor for $870,000.
Last year, Drever accepted the sale was ‘‘morally a bit s...’’, but said he had done nothing wrong.
His five-year real estate suspension related to eight charges of either misconduct or unsatisfactory conduct.
The Real Estate Authority said at the time that Drever was ‘‘unable or unwilling’’ to change and ‘‘the public needs to [be] protected from him’’. The authority’s investigation of the Avondale sale was on hold while police investigated the issue, a spokesperson said.