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Harcourts

  1. Business / Trading Name: Harcourts (legal entity: Harcourts Group Limited) – trading as Harcourts Real Estate, New Zealand’s largest real estate group.

  1. Company Number: 536526 (Harcourts Group Ltd).

  1. NZBN: 9429039016027.

  1. Entity Type: NZ Limited Company (Privately Held).

  1. Business Classification: ANZSIC code L664075 – Franchisors (not elsewhere classified) (reflecting its role as a franchisor in real estate).

  1. Industry Category: Real Estate services (property sales, rentals, and property management).

  1. Year Founded: 1888 (origin in Wellington by John Bateman Harcourt); current corporate structure established 1992–1993 (incorporation dates of current companies).

  1. Addresses:

    • Head Office (NZ): 7-9 Alpers Avenue, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

    • Additional regional offices: e.g. Level 1, 54-56 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington; 47 Riccarton Road, Christchurch (major regional hubs).
      (Registered and physical office are at Auckland HQ; historically also based at “Harcourts House” in Christchurch until 2012).

  1. Website URL: https://harcourts.net/nz (official NZ site). The company also maintains a property listings site

https://harcourts.co.nz

  1. .

  1. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harcourts-new-zealand (Harcourts New Zealand official LinkedIn page).

  1. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429039016027 (summary for Harcourts Group Ltd – NZBN 9429039016027).

  1. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/536526 (Companies Register entry for Harcourts Group Limited).

  1. Social Media URLs:

  1. Ultimate Holding Company: Harcourts International Limited (NZ company no. 585308) – the top holding entity for the Harcourts network. Registered in NZ (7 Apr 1993) and sharing the same Auckland address.

  1. Key Shareholders: Harcourts is privately owned. As of the allocation shown, Harcourts International Limited held the majority stake at 200,000 shares (80.00%). The remaining ownership was split between Jo Anne Christine Clifford with 25,000 shares (10.00%) and Bryan John Thomson with 25,000 shares (10.00%). Both Clifford and Thomson's shares appear to be held through Perpetual Trust Limited as trustee arrangements. Thomson also serves as a director of the company, with his spouse Liane Marie Thomson listed as an associated party at the same Parnell address. (Note: This shareholding structure shows the corporate ownership through Harcourts International Limited maintaining controlling interest, with minority stakes held by individual shareholders through trust structures.)

  1. Leadership:

    • Mike Green – International Managing Director (co-owner).

    • Irene Green – Director of Professional Development (International board; co-owner).

    • Bryan Thomson – Managing Director, New Zealand (shareholder; former CEO of Harcourts NZ, returned to lead NZ operations).

    • Jo-Anne (Jo) Clifford – Chief Operations Officer, New Zealand (shareholder; longtime Harcourts executive).

    • Adrian Knowles – CEO, Harcourts Australia (shareholder; part of ownership group).

    • Martin Cooper – Managing Director, Harcourts Cooper & Co franchise (Auckland); now also a shareholder in Harcourts International.

    • Mitch Cooper – (Harcourts Cooper & Co; shareholder).

    • Rob Carter – (Harcourts Cooper & Co franchise director; shareholder).

    • Andrew North – (Harcourts Cooper & Co/Auctioneer; shareholder).

    • Kelly Podlich – Chief Financial Officer (Harcourts International).

    • Leonard Donaldson – Chief Information Officer; Trent Sutton – Chief Marketing Officer.

    • Board Members: In addition to executives above: Paul Wright (co-founder, now retired from management); Gilbert Enoka (Independent Director, known for All Blacks coaching role); Susan Rix (Independent Director, Australia); Graham Mirabito (Independent Director, Australia, tech sector); David Whitbread (Independent Director).

  1. Staff: Over 10,000 personnel globally (across 908 offices), including franchise agents, managers and corporate staff. In New Zealand, the company’s LinkedIn indicates 1,000–5,000 employees range, comprising sales consultants, property managers, support and corporate staff nationwide. (Many sales agents are independent contractors licensed under the Harcourts brand.)

  1. Staff with Previous Government Roles: There is no known senior executive with a prior political office. One notable example is Hamish Walker, a former Member of Parliament (2017–2020, National Party), who joined Harcourts in 2020 as a real estate sales consultant in Queenstown. (No evidence of ex-ministers or high-level government officials in Harcourts’ corporate ranks has been found – Data otherwise not found.)

  1. Past Employees:

    • Stephen Collins – former CEO/Chair, credited with introducing Harcourts’ franchise model in 1988 and leading a 1992 management buyout. He exited the business in the 1990s; a prominent figure in Harcourts history.

    • Bob Cooper – co-owner in the 1990s (part of 1992 buyout); no longer involved (succeeded by next generation, e.g. Martin Cooper).

    • Paul Bertram Wright – longtime co-owner and director (1990s–2025), recently retired from active roles.

    • Jo-Anne Clifford (COO NZ) – [Note: still active – see Leadership] – originally joined in 1990s, served decades including as NZ CEO; briefly left around 2013 and returned.

    • Gordon Duncan – former shareholder/executive (historic minor owner).
      (Overall, Harcourts’ key past leaders like Collins and Wright shaped its growth; few have moved into public-sector roles afterward.)

  1. Clients: Not applicable. Harcourts is not a lobbying consultancy but a real estate brokerage. Its “clients” are property sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants using its services. (It does not represent external clients for lobbying purposes – Data Not Found in lobbying context.)

  1. Industries/Sectors Represented: Primarily the property sector, including residential housing, commercial real estate, rural and agricultural property (through Harcourts rural divisions), and property management. Harcourts advocates industry positions on housing, rental property, and real estate services, effectively representing real estate agents and property owners in policy discussions.

  1. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: No formal lobbying disclosures in NZ (NZ has no mandatory lobby register as of 2025 – Data Not Found). Harcourts NZ officials periodically participate in government consultation via industry bodies (e.g. Real Estate Institute of NZ) and have made submissions on legislation affecting real estate (e.g. tenancy law reforms, regulation of property managers), but specific engagements are not transparently published. (Likely interactions are through REINZ or written submissions, rather than direct registered lobbying.)

  1. Affiliations:

    • Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ): Harcourts offices and agents are members; Harcourts executives (e.g. Bryan Thomson) have held REINZ leadership roles. REINZ is a key industry lobby on housing policy.

    • Property Page (Realestate.co.nz): Harcourts is a co-owner (through Property Page Ltd, jointly owned by major agencies) of Realestate.co.nz, a nationwide property listings portal. This gives Harcourts an interest in online media and industry collaboration.

    • Franchise Association of NZ: As a major franchisor, Harcourts Group is connected to franchise industry networks (adheres to franchise codes of practice – implied affiliation).

    • NAI Global: Harcourts has a partnership via NAI Harcourts for commercial real estate, aligning with the NAI international network.

    • Nutrien (Australia): Joint venture Nutrien Harcourts in rural real estate (in Australia), indicating cross-border corporate affiliations.

  1. Sponsorships / Collaborations:

    • Harcourts Foundation: The company’s charitable arm sponsors community initiatives. Notably, Harcourts is a national partner of Hospice New Zealand (receiving a “Silver Partner” recognition for ongoing support) and of Gumboot Friday (a youth mental health initiative). Harcourts offices regularly raise funds for these causes (e.g. nationwide fundraising campaigns raising over $160k for Gumboot Friday).

    • Community Sponsorships: Local Harcourts franchises sponsor numerous local events, schools, and sports teams. For example, Harcourts Dancing for Hospice – an annual charity dance event in Rotorua and other regions raising money for hospice care. Harcourts also collaborates with Rotary and other service clubs on community fundraisers.

    • Media Collaborations: Harcourts provides market data and commentary to media (often featured in property news on OneRoof, Stuff, NZ Herald), and partners with outlets on property market reports (enhancing its public profile). (These are promotional collaborations rather than formal sponsorships.)

  1. Events (Organised by Harcourts):

    • Harcourts Conference: Annual conference for Harcourts franchise owners and agents, featuring industry training and awards (influential gathering within the real estate sector).

    • Harcourts Auctioneers Competition: Internal competition showcasing Harcourts auctioneers (often aligned with REINZ auctions champs).

    • Public Charity Events: e.g. Harcourts Dancing for Hospice (a public dance competition fundraiser in regions); Harcourts Relay for Life teams supporting the Cancer Society; local branch community events (free home buyer seminars, etc.).

    • Industry Events: Harcourts executives frequently host or speak at property market seminars and appear in REINZ forums or Property Council events, positioning the brand in policy discussions (e.g. panel discussions on housing affordability – ongoing engagements).

  1. Political Donations: There is no record of direct political donations by Harcourts International or Group in Electoral Commission disclosures (Data Not Found for corporate donations >$15k). However, at least one Harcourts franchise made a notable contribution: Harcourts Cooper & Co (North Shore) provided an in-kind donation worth ~$5,390 to the National Party in 2023. Harcourts executives tend to keep political donations personal and low-profile. (Overall, the organisation itself is not publicly known for large political donations.)

  1. Controversies:

    • Price-Fixing Cartel (2013–2016): Harcourts’ head office was found to have colluded with other major agencies to fix fees in response to Trade Me’s price hike for property listings. In 2016 the High Court ordered Harcourts, Barfoot & Thompson, Ray White, and others to pay a combined $9.825 million in penalties for this anti-competitive agreement. The cartel, formed via a Property Page board meeting, aimed to pass on Trade Me listing costs to vendors and steer listings to the industry-owned Realestate.co.nz. This harmed competition and consumer choice.

    • Trust Account Scandal (2018): A major Auckland Harcourts franchise (Harcourts Preet & Co, led by Gurpreet Grewal) collapsed after $1.2 million of client funds went missing from its trust account. Two Harcourts agents were found guilty of misconduct for failing to report the issue, and fined by the Real Estate Tribunal. Harcourts Group sued the franchise owner to recover $1.27m. The incident raised questions about oversight of franchisees and led to client losses.

    • Cultural Training Dispute (2023): An East Auckland Harcourts agent, Janet Dickson, refused to complete a mandatory Māori cultural competency course required by the regulator. She faced a 5-year license ban for non-compliance, sparking debate over “political correctness” in industry training. Harcourts swiftly terminated her franchise agreement in 2024 amid the controversy, underscoring the company’s sensitivity to reputation and regulatory compliance.

    • Other: Harcourts and its agents have occasionally been censured for individual misconduct (e.g. misrepresenting property details, inappropriate auction practices – isolated cases). The brand has so far avoided any scandal directly involving its top executives. Critics have, however, accused major real estate agencies (including Harcourts) of contributing to housing affordability issues through aggressive marketing and lobbying against buyer-friendly reforms.

  1. Other Information of Note (Media & Public Profile):

    • “Most Trusted” Brand: Harcourts has been voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted Real Estate Brand for 11 years running (2013–2023) in Reader’s Digest surveys. This marketing point is heavily promoted in its PR.

    • Market Influence: Harcourts NZ’s Managing Director and other spokespeople are frequently quoted in media on housing trends. Their optimistic market outlooks and commentary can shape public sentiment (and often align with the company’s interest in buoyant property activity). For example, Harcourts regularly issues reports forecasting price growth and advocating policies like eased lending rules to “stimulate the market.”

    • Realestate.co.nz Ownership: Harcourts’ part-ownership of a major property portal (realestate.co.nz) gives it a stake in real estate media. This dual role (as advertiser and co-owner of media platform) has drawn criticism that industry players can control property information flow to their advantage.

    • Public Perception: As a dominant real estate firm, Harcourts is a lightning rod in debates over housing. It faces public skepticism at times – e.g. when realtors lobby against a Capital Gains Tax or support investor-friendly tax breaks, many view it as self-interest. Yet Harcourts also engages in charitable works (hospice, etc.) to bolster its community image. Its high visibility adverts (blue branding) and sponsorships ensure a strong public profile.

    • International Reach: Harcourts is one of the few NZ-founded realty brands to achieve global reach (11 countries). Internationally, it leverages New Zealand’s image in marketing but also must navigate foreign property regulations (e.g. China, USA, etc.). Its global expansion strategy (especially in Australia since the late 1990s) demonstrates an aggressive growth ethos that underpins its corporate culture.

  1. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Yes. During the COVID-19 pandemic downturn (2020), Harcourts drew on New Zealand’s Wage Subsidy. Harcourts Group claimed approximately NZ$1.18 million for 177 staff in the initial 12-week subsidy, and a further $230,000 in the extended subsidy for 31 staff. Harcourts International Ltd also took about $318,674 for 28 staff in total (initial + extension). Numerous individual Harcourts franchise offices separately claimed subsidies for their employees as well (as each franchise is a standalone business). This attracted scrutiny when the housing market rebounded quickly; critics noted real estate firms like Harcourts did not repay subsidies despite strong post-lockdown sales. Harcourts defended the claims as necessary during unprecedented lockdown closures, though an Integrity Institute analysis argued Harcourts likely did not meet the 40% revenue drop for the later extension period. (No public record indicates Harcourts returning any subsidy funds.)

Sources:

  1. Commerce Commission (NZ). “Real estate agencies to pay $9.825 m in penalties for price fixing.” (Media Release, 16 Dec 2016). comcom.govt.nz. https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2016/real-estate-agencies-to-pay-$9.825-m-in-penalties-for-price-fixing

  2. BizDb (NZ). “Harcourts International Limited – business information.” BizDb.co.nz, updated 01 Jun 2022. https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429038857102/

  3. Anne Gibson. “New Harcourts directors.” NZ Herald (Property), 3 June 2004. (Archived article snippet) https://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/new-harcourts-directors/GDFIQJSC4B32J2QERS2IEKEZV4/

  4. Wikipedia. “Harcourts International.” Wikipedia.org, last edited May 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harcourts_International

  5. Wikipedia. “Harcourts International – History/Ownership.” (2025 update citing new leadership group) Wikipedia.org.

  6. LinkedIn – Harcourts New Zealand Company Page. LinkedIn.com. Accessed May 2025. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/harcourts-new-zealand

  7. BizDb (NZ). “Harcourts Group Limited – business information.” BizDb.co.nz, updated Jan 2024. https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429039016027/

  8. BusinessCheck (NZ). “Harcourts Group Limited, NZBN 9429039016027.” Businesscheck.co.nz, updated May 2025.

  9. Philip Chandler. “Former National MP Hamish Walker finds new career in Queenstown.” Otago Daily Times via NZ Herald, 4 Nov 2020. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-national-mp-hamish-walker-finds-new-career-in-queenstown/6RXRVUNKW3TS2C6FIS7JN4J43E/

  10. Wikipedia. “Management – Harcourts International.” Wikipedia.org (Management section listing key people and shareholders).

  11. Jamie Gray. “Housing is hot – so why aren’t realtors repaying the wage subsidy?” The Spinoff, 8 Oct 2020. https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/08-10-2020/housing-is-hot-so-why-arent-realtors-repaying-the-wage-subsidy

  12. NZ Electoral Commission. “Party Donations and Loans Return – New Zealand National Party 2023” (PDF). Retrieved via TinaNgata.com archives. (Contains donation by Harcourts Cooper & Co)

  13. Anne Gibson. “Real estate agents fined $10k after failure to act on $1.2m vanished client funds.” NZ Herald, 7 Nov 2018.

  14. Property Noise NZ. “Harcourts sack agent following controversy over Māori values course.” propertynoise.co.nz, 1 Mar 2024.

  15. Wikipedia. “Harcourts International – Operations.” (Office count and countries) Wikipedia.org.

  16. Wikipedia. “Harcourts International – Awards.” (Trusted Brand awards list) Wikipedia.org.

  17. Harcourts Cooper & Co. “Capital Gains Tax Update from REINZ.” cooperandco.co.nz, Mar 2019. (Industry perspective on CGT proposal)

  18. NZ Commerce Commission – Case register. (Details of Property Page/Trade Me collusion case, 2015 filings)

  19. The Integrity Institute. “$10 Billion Overpaid to Businesses” by Maxim Makarushka, Feb 2023. theintegrityinstitute.substack.com.

  20. Harcourts New Zealand. “Our History – Franchise Network was Born (1988).” harcourts.net (NZ).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz

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