3. What happened to your father?
He flew to New Zealand every year and visited us. At one stage [the children] told him to stop coming because there was a fair bit of bitterness, but we moved on. The longest he stayed was when my mother was dying. He stayed with her at her house for a year. He had never met anyone either. It was very sad. They'd had 27 years apart but at the end they held each other's hand. It made me want to cry. Mum said "Michael don't be troubled by this. I have had all the joy and fun of the children. He missed out. He lost."
4. What were you like at school?
Andrea - my twin - and I were very popular with our group of friends. Yes, I was a model student. Well, a bit ADD at the time. I had to sit at the front of the class. My mum was forever talking to the teachers about whether I needed glasses or had attention difficulties but my brain moves too fast. I was bored. I was a step ahead. What I did before the recession was I went back to my old school, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, and I taught a class there once a week, teaching them computer studies and public speaking. It's very different now. I decided I was going to do an assignment on then and now at the school and when I pulled out my old photos, [there was] shock, horror and screams of laughter from the children. They said, "There are so many Palangi in the photos!"
5. When did you know you were gay?
I didn't come out until I was 29 when I told my girlfriend. She was shocked. We're best friends now. I babysit her children. There was always a curiosity there but I'd had my fair share of girlfriends and had lots of fun. It was a choice. Mum cried, then the next day she rang me still crying but saying her motto was always "live and let live" and she'd be a hypocrite if she did any different. I hardly have any gay friends. My partner and I live a suburban life, we go to Ponsonby occasionally for dinner but we have nothing to do with the scene. I'm just a businessman. I have three dogs, two horses, I play polo all summer, hunt in the winter, I sing as a baritone. I'm happy with my life.
6. You're handsome and successful: don't you have men swarming over you?
I've never had many. I probably got the odd proposition from housewives but it's not until later I look back and think, "oh, that's what was going on".
7. You've been in property since you were 18: have you ever fallen out of love with the industry?
Oh yes. When you're in sales, the whole day is rejection, no matter what you're selling. I'm only human and I could be a cold, bitter prick with my job, but I remain forever optimistic and always try to laugh and see the upside. I put my heart and soul into my job but in the luxury market the ill manners are soul-destroying. I recently listed a big house through a guy I met at the gym. I told him it would be worth $4 million-plus. He said, "don't be stupid it has to be over five". I stood there at open homes for three months and he called and harassed me every day as to why it wasn't selling. He fired me at the end of the 90 days, listed with another agency and sold it for $3.6 million. I could have done that blindfolded. And he never even rang to say thank you.
8. Are people too greedy?
It's not the way things worked 20 years ago. Back then the neighbours in Remuera would have lunch waiting for me after an open home. But the nouveau riche market has moved in and people can't see beyond their greed. Their property is their ticket to riches.
9. When have you been at your lowest and how did you pull yourself out?
When the recession hit and 150 real estate offices closed in 12 months. I quickly saw what was happening and I had just come out of a long-term relationship so finances weren't what they should be. I thought the world was against me. But the Otara came out in me and I rented my house out in town for $1250 a week and rented a cottage in Pokeno for $150 a week. I'd be on the motorway at 6am and couldn't leave the office until 8pm for traffic. My mother always said "life's an adventure" so I treated it like that. I decided it was my chance at a lifestyle despite the humbleness. Nothing sold over $2 million for six months in Remuera. My luxury market stopped.
10. How do you cope with stress?
In my 20s booze was my outlet. In my 30s I exercised vigorously. Now in my 40s I have a more subtle approach to dealing with stress. I've started going back to Mass on Sunday. It gives me a bit of focus. It helps me where I can be quick to criticise or judge, it allows me to show a bit more compassion. I want to have a better outlook with people and I enjoy it.
11. You had a court case with a former employer in 2009, and a drink-driving charge. Was that your annus horribilis?
The DIC didn't worry me. I liked bussing around. It was only humiliating when all the TV cameras turned up to the court and it made front-page news. It taught me a lesson and I saw more real estate looking out the big window of a bus than ever before. [The court case] was most unfortunate. If I had the knowledge I had today about the world, well, but that's life. It doesn't affect me today. I always bounce back.
12. What do you think about the Government's decision to sell off state housing stock?
The land values are so high in some areas - that money could be used to build more. I've seen a lot of people abuse the system and I encourage people to be means-tested and go and get jobs. I'm from Otara. I've worked hard to survive.
When times are tougher I just work harder.
