Kiwi Claims Australasia's Best Auctioneer Title

After a tight competition, the Australasian Real Estate Institutes’ Auctioneering Championship for 2018 has been awarded to Andrew North of New Zealand at a gala dinner at the Maritime Room in Auckland last night (16 October).

Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) President Malcolm Gunning said the event, hosted this year by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), who stage the event every four years, showcases the best talent auctioneering currently has to offer.

“The standard has lifted to another level again this year and I don’t think there has ever been a harder test for our Aussie and Kiwi rivalry,” Mr Gunning said.

“This is the second time Andrew North has taken home the title of Australasian Real Estate Institutes’ Auctioneering Champion, having won in 2014. He is a well deserving winner who demonstrated he is highly skilled in the craft of auctioneering in what was a very tight competition.”

After a 16-year career, Mr North said he would down his gavel and retire from competition. He is also a four-time winner of the REINZ National Real Estate Auctioneer of the Year title and a five-time winner of the Harcourts New Zealand Auctioneer of the Year.

Mr Gunning paid tribute to the finalists, Bronte Manuel representing South Australia, Mitch Peereboom of Queensland, Alec Brown of the Australian Capital Territory, and John Bowring representing New Zealand and the other competitors and their mentors.

“Auctioneering is a special part of our profession and it is wonderful to see that our auctioneers have created their own Guild where older and experienced auctioneers really get behind their young peers and mentor them.

“This is a key reason why the standard continues to rise. It’s great to see such strong competition, which inspires auctioneers to excel in their profession,” Mr Gunning said.

“The competitors were judged by experienced auctioneers on their ability to ‘mock sell’ a property at auction. To enhance the competition, finalists are excluded from each other's auctions.

“Auctions provide an important alternative option for sellers and buyers alike to private sales and these championships, which are conducted jointly by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand and REIA are designed to encourage professionalism and skill in the art of conducting an auction.”

Young talent showcased

The Schools Auctioneering Championships were taken out by South Australia’s Vincent Doran of Underdale High School. The 17-year-old who would like to pursue a career in real estate upon completion of his studies beat out fellow South Australian, Enrique Bisbal of Endeavour College, Conall Cassidy of Launceston Church Grammar School representing Tasmania, as well as Rose Elliott and Max Hart of Kerikeri High School, who represented New Zealand for the first time in the championship’s history.

In its third year, the Schools Auctioneering Championships aim to introduce students to the world of real estate as a first career choice.