Experience – The process of learning… As a youngster in a small community between the bush and the sea, I had a great imagination, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a sense of accountability. I was taught that if I was to do something I should do it well. It was a great mix. I had a good reputation as a trader then as a contractor.

Medium density infill housing started to happen when I was a teenager. The community was aghast. I took up the challenge of finding a better solution. I studied Architecture for a while then took off overseas to see how it was done. I toured Europe by motorbike, then came home and applied what I had learnt to the construction of some “early” multi-unit apartment schemes.

The use of concrete blocks started me on designing & building my own homes then led to a voluntary role representing building trades on regulatory and Standards committees at national level. The “tide” turned on the housing market and I began contracting to Government Departments and Local Authorities building engineered structures in remote or below ground locations. It was all challenging and exacting work.

During the 1980’s I was appointed a Divisional Manager with Fletchers and made responsible for designing, building, and marketing multi-unit housing complexes in Wellington. I also subdivided each property with new titles of various forms. In that role I acted as Purchaser or Vendor in over 270 property transactions. I worked closely with agents, but sold most of the projects myself including six complete “design & build” public housing schemes.

In the early 1990’s I led a community project to upgrade Wellington’s Rudolf Steiner School to include a Secondary School and to integrate into the State system. In 1994 I built their Upper School building. I then returned to selling residential property, but this time as a Real Estate Salesperson. In my career I have sold a wide variety of properties for my clients.