Edward Harman, the man behind a string of failed investments involving a coterie of well-known business people, has been bankrupted as concerns emerge over the liquidation of his companies.

Mr Harman was declared bankrupt last week in the High Court at Auckland, as the result of a creditor’s petition.

He is the director of five companies placed into voluntary liquidation last July: Fairthorne Investments, Fairthorne Trading, Fairthorne Ventures, Paeroa Investments and Wake Investments.