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With well over 50 years of experience under his belt, Ross Harvey brings a wealth of local knowledge to the network’s fledgling New Zealand operation.
Mr Harvey will add his Taupo team to the handful of New Zealand offices the brand launched mere weeks ago, when it promised more were to come in the imminent future.
Most recently operating his business independently as Lakes and Lifestyles Taupo, Mr Harvey is a strategic match for the brand, given the industry knowledge he brings with him.
Mr Harvey began his career in Napier with his family’s firm, Harvey Fulton & Hill, which was founded 105 years ago.
In 1976, Mr Harvey moved to Auckland and expanded the group, including the launch of the Taupo business in 1998. The network was sold in the early 2000s to LJ Hooker, keeping the name Harveys. Mr Harvey has continually operated in Taupo since first opening an office in the area.
He has long been an advocate in the local and national property community, serving on the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s Education Committee.
In welcoming him to the network, Angus Raine, executive chairman of Raine & Horne, spoke to Mr Harvey’s long-standing roots in the country’s real estate industry.
“Ross is the third generation of his family to work in real estate, and he has been selling properties in Taupo since the late 1960s.
“Few have had a greater involvement in the listing and marketing of all facets of real estate in New Zealand than Ross,” Mr Raine said.
“A highly motivated real estate industry visionary with a reputation as a skilled negotiator, trainer, motivational speaker, and mentor, I’m thrilled Ross has joined us,” he added.
In linking up with the brand, Mr Harvey flagged some of the highlights and challenges facing the industry in his hometown.
“The New Zealand market has drifted over the last year. However, the reinstatement of negative gearing would be very helpful in attracting investors back to Taupo,” Mr Harvey commented.
“The New Zealand General Election is set for 14 October 2023, and the National Party have confirmed they’ll reinstate tax relief. If this happens, we will see the lights shining brightly for real estate not just in Taupo but across New Zealand.
“That said, Taupo remains a shining star for real estate, with people moving within the region, trading up and trading down,” he commented.
According to Mr Harvey, the Taupo real estate market is also set to support home owners who were severely impacted by the recent tropical cyclone Gabrielle that swept across the North Island.
“The cyclone decimated parts of Hawkes Bay, and when home owners from those areas get their insurance cheques, I predict they’ll buy up the new properties currently under construction in Taupo.”
Speaking to what attracted him to aligning with the megabrand, Mr Harvey cited the business’s long history, which recalled his own family’s involvement in the industry.
“I liked what I saw as the Raine & Horne brand was known to me as I have been back and forth to Australia for many years and have even employed about eight auctioneers over the years from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane,” said Mr Harvey.
“Also, the 140-year celebration appealed to me as our family business is in its third generation and is celebrating our 105th year in 2023. I just felt there was an affinity with family-owned Raine & Horne.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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