KEY POINTS:
Shaun Cosgrave, who was last year warned by the Commerce Commission, has been named Australasia's top real estate agent by the largest agency chain, Harcourts.
Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove yesterday decried the award, accusing real estate industry leaders of giving consumers a "two-fingered" gesture in handing out the award to an agent who was censured by both the commission and the Real Estate Institute.
"I'm stunned about this award," Mr Cosgrove said. "It's another slap in the face for consumers, and rather than cleaning up their tarnished image the industry has shown it doesn't give a damn. Where's the leadership?"
Harcourts chief executive Bryan Thomson said yesterday that the agent, Mr Cosgrave, had won Harcourts' international award, making him the firm's top-selling agent in the region, which includes New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.
The award included a large silver trophy and $2500 in travel.
Mr Cosgrave won two other awards on Wednesday, being named New Zealand's top agent and taking Harcourt's unit award for being involved in the highest number of property transactions.
This is the second time the award-winning agent has drawn fire from the Government.
The first time was early last month when Mr Cosgrave won Harcourts' regional award for its central region
Minister Cosgrove said then that he was stunned that the real estate agent who sold a couple a home without giving them crucial information had won a top award.
Caitlin and John Ottaway had bought a Hamilton house for $350,000 in 2004 after reading an advertisement describing a bungalow in Horne St as being "out of the hustle and bustle". They complained to authorities after discovering plans for a large apartment complex next door.
The Commerce Commission issued a written warning to Mr Cosgrave. The couple sold the property 18 months later for $390,000 but a valuer said they would have got $425,000 without the apartments.
The Real Estate Institute issued a fine of $750 over the case, its maximum under current law.
Yesterday, Minister Cosgrove said the real estate industry management were divorced from reality. Money for a gala awards night at SkyCity in Auckland should be compensating the Ottaways.
"The real estate industry is expected to pull in $1.2 billion this year in commissions, with a big chunk of this bonanza of cash flowing through the Harcourts coffers," the minister said.
"Rather than spending money on an expensive awards ceremony, Harcourts could instead have decided to compensate John and Caitlin Ottaway.
"The Government's reforms announced earlier this week will bring accountability, transparency and independence to the real estate industry, but the leaders of the sector need to review their own attitude to fair play for prospective Kiwi homeowners and homebuyers."
Mr Thomson defended the agent, saying controversy over the Ottaway case had "devastated" him. It was the system that was wrong and should be changed.
"The minister has recognised things are hard for Shaun and others and he's been through a hard process.
"Both parties walked away very dissatisfied with what's happened."
