Former SPQR owner banned from running a company for eight years

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Chris Rupe has been handed a lengthy ban from the business world.

The former owner of Auckland’s iconic SPQR restaurant has been barred from running any company, for the next eight and a half years.

Christopher Charles Rupe, 64, has been issued a prohibition notice by the Deputy Registrar of Companies, following the collapse of the Ponsonby Rd business.

The ban, which began on April 7, prohibited Rupe from acting as a director, promoter, or taking part in the management of any company, until late 2034.

Rupe was previously declared bankrupt on February 4, 2025, after SPQR entered liquidation owing millions to creditors.

Liquidator reports revealed the business failed to pay more than $1.06 million to Inland Revenue, primarily in GST arrears.

The 64-year-old was issued a prohibition notice by the Deputy Registrar of Companies following the collapse of his Ponsonby Rd business.

Additionally, 24 former employees were left claiming more than $132,000 in unpaid wages and holiday pay.

The restaurant, a staple of the Auckland hospitality scene for 30 years, was forced into liquidation in July 2024 after Inland Revenue served a statutory demand for the unpaid taxes. At the time, Rupe expressed regret for the situation and thanked patrons for three decades of support.

Other major creditors included the ANZ bank, which was owed $253,000, and loan company Prospa, which was owed $93,000. While the business initially owed more than $2 million, some debts were settled through the sale of kitchen equipment, furniture, and remaining alcohol.

Liquidators attributed the downfall of the business to financial pressures dating back to the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with subsequent staff shortages and rising wage costs.