• In a significant coup for the 140-year-old Australasian real estate super-brand Raine & Horne, it aligned with a 105-year-old New Zealand firm to launch Raine & Horne Taupo
• Raine & Horne Taupo is led by Ross Harvey, himself a founder and former CEO of a national franchise group.
• Mr Harvey says the Taupo region is popular with downsizers and for holiday homes, and the reinstatement of negative gearing benefits, should there be a change in Government, could turbocharge investor interest.

One of New Zealand’s most successful real estate professionals, Ross Harvey, Principal of Taupo-based independent Lakes and Lifestyles Taupo, has joined international super brand Raine & Horne.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, which is celebrating 140 years of operation this year, is delighted that Mr Harvey - whose family has been in the real estate industry since 1918 - has joined Raine & Horne at the earliest stages of its New Zealand expansion. 

Mr Raine, who represents the fourth generation of his family to lead Raine & Horne, said, “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.”

Real estate longevity and success

Mr Harvey’s career began in Napier with the old family firm of Harvey Fulton & Hill that launched in Hawkes Bay 105 years ago. 

In 1976 Mr Harvey moved to Auckland and expanded the group, including the launch of the very successful Taupo operation in 1998. This network was sold in the early 2000s to another real estate brand. As part of this group, Mr Harvey won numerous sales awards for top agent in New Zealand, and in 2010 won a prestigious International No.1 Award for sales with a worldwide real estate network.

“Few have had a greater involvement in the listing and marketing of all facets of real estate in New Zealand than Ross,” said Mr Raine.

“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.”

Mr Harvey has served on the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s Education Committee, and has held several board positions and is a recipient of multiple industry awards at national and international level.

Taupo to benefit from the resurrection of negative gearing

Given Mr Harvey’s industry experience and sales success, he also has strong views on real estate policymaking and laments the abolition of negative gearing by the current New Zealand Government.

“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 recommended.

“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.

“We have people coming here to buy holiday homes and plenty of cashed-up retirees downsizing here as you can buy a nice 4-bedroom home here from $850,000.

“While prices have come off in markets such as Auckland, even so they can sell homes in the capital and buy in Taupo and have money left over to fund their retirements.”

Mr Harvey continued, “Taupo is brilliantly located, and in terms of tourism, we are outperforming regions such as Rotorua significantly.

“We are right in the centre of the North Island, so people can go in all directions to catch up with friends and relatives in just a couple of hours once they retire here.”

According to Mr Harvey, the Taupo real estate market is also set to support homeowners left homeless by the recent Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle that ravaged the North Island.

“The cyclone decimated parts of Hawkes Bay, and when homeowners from those areas get their insurance cheques, I predict they’ll buy up the new properties currently under construction in Taupo.”

Outstanding support from Raine & Horne

Mr Harvey said that his decision to join Raine & Horne was based on the super brand’s multimillion-dollar investment in an ecosystem of digital marketing firsts, including social media marketing platform Amplify, which gives us great reach and appraisal and listing tool DigiKitPlus.

“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.”

The link with Raine & Horne has already proved fruitful with a local vendor, formerly of Australia, delighted to see the brand in Taupo. This vendor previously sold several properties, most successfully through the super brand in Australia.

“We expect to see more vendors and buyers familiar with Raine & Horne brand contacting us to assist with their real estate goals.”

For all your sales and property needs in Taupo and surrounding areas, call Raine & Horne Taupo on 07 376 5647 or visit the office at 26 Horomatangi Street, Taupo. Alternatively, you can email the office at [email protected].