Auctioneer quits after six-year stint with Barfoots

Barfoot & Thompson's auctioneer, Mike Williams, has quit the job after six years - a short stint compared to the 14 years of each of his predecessors. Williams' complaint is that it had become a seven-day effort, with 195 auctions set down for this month alone, and he has decided to pick up on commercial real estate work and his farming interests, but with no specific opening in mind.

Williams leaves on March 31 and may be replaced by two auctioneers because of the huge growth in that side of Barfoots' business, as Wednesday auction competitor Bayleys did after Ross Foreman left to set up his auction education business.

Foreman hasn't been quiet, though, conducting Colliers Jardine's portfolio auction for the Bank of New Zealand this week.

Strategy views

"Never before has Auckland spoken with one voice to this degree," says Auckland Regional Council chairman Phil Warren of the growth forum set up in 1996 to agree a regional strategy.

Some of the developers with a vested interest in the outcome were probably too busy this week disagreeing with the council responsible for one of those growth areas, Rodney District, over its plan 62 on financial contributions on subdivision. Deadline for growth strategy submissions is March 31.

Hot seller

Project manager and property developer Nigel McKenna says he is selling about $1 million of apartments a week in The Quays, a 68-unit apartment building he has under construction on Viaduct Harbour. McKenna is also in a joint venture on the neighbouring Watermark Plaza.

Method stays

Auckland City Council is sticking with the annual valuation method of providing rates assessments, but will also publish land and capital values as part of the district valuation roll, says valuation manager Gilbert van Schaijik. He was clarifying a point in last Wednesday's Commercial Property, which indicated Auckland might change its valuation method as part of a regional re-evaluation. --Bob Dey