The founder of Herbert Insurance will face court next August over the New Zealand brokerage’s collapse in 2011.

Grant Herbert was charged under the Crimes Act and the Secret Commission Act following a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into an alleged shortfall in the broking client account.

The company had about 4000 clients when it was placed into liquidation and receivership, with a shortfall of $NZ3.1 million ($2.68 million) owed to insurers, the SFO says.

Auckland District Court has set aside four weeks for the trial, starting on August 25.

In June former Bunnings New Zealand commercial property manager Christopher David Green was sentenced to five months’ home detention after he admitted to receiving kickbacks for placing insurance through Herbert Insurance.

Green received $NZ220,000 ($190,300) in secret commissions, with Bunnings overcharged that amount.

The SFO alleged Green personally returned some of the money to Mr Herbert. This was uncovered during its wider investigation into Herbert Insurance.

Mr Herbert faces additional charges from the inquiry.