REINZ RPM Sector Group

REINZ currently has five sector groups, with one dedicated to property management. Given the numerous changes we have seen regarding the property management industry, the feedback and insight from the residential property management group members are invaluable to the industry. The members represent independent companies and larger brands to provide comprehensive regional representation. Each member can serve a maximum of three two-year terms, which the REINZ Board elects.

In September 2021, three of our longer-term members retired from their positions after many years of service, including Melanie Rouse from Harcourts Hamilton Rentals, Dan Lusby from Tauranga Rentals and Tania Ellis from Whittle Knight in Christchurch. Will Alexander also recently resigned, having moved on from his role as General Manager of Property Management for Property Brokers. We want to acknowledge the time and expertise they have each provided for what spans many years.

Your current Residential Property Management Sector Group members are:

Zac Snelling

Head of Property Management, Ray White New Zealand

Initially looking to forge a career in property valuation, Zac found himself in property management in 2007 as a portfolio manager with the Ray White Group. It was a chance encounter with his property manager at the time conducting a routine inspection at home, who suggested he should look into the profession himself. Little did he know that suggestion would alter his future forever.

Since then, Zac has had several roles within the industry running portfolios for property management teams — before taking a leap of faith and starting his own property management business. Zac has always been hungry to grow and challenge his skill set and remains ever thankful that this industry continues to provide him with the opportunities to do just that.

In 2013, the CEO of Ray White approached Zac about joining the corporate team as the New Zealand Head of Property Management. He recalls reading through the job description at the time, not knowing what it really meant or whether he was capable of the challenge — but knew it was the perfect next step!

As the Head of Property Management, Zac has overseen the continued growth of the Ray White property management network and its staff, who now manage more than 20,000 properties with a portfolio value of well over $15billion. He remains incredibly passionate about the industry and its people and sees his role as a way to help support and develop the people and businesses within his network.

Jodine Clark

Operations Manager — Property Management, Harcourts New Zealand

Jodine has 30 years of experience in the New Zealand real estate industry, having worked at the coalface of property management and senior management roles in residential and commercial property management. She has extensive experience in body corporate management, holiday rentals and business management, and expertise in property management software, systems, and processes.

In her current role as the Property Management Operations Manager for Harcourts, Jodine facilitates and delivers training, events, business planning, communications and day-to-day support for over 200 Harcourts property managers, managers, and business owners throughout the country.

Christian Casbolt

Chief Executive Officer, Oxygen Group Limited

Christian’s career has included senior management roles across various industries, with the last 11 years in the real estate sector. For six years, he has headed up Oxygen which provides property management and body corporate services across the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay regions.

Prior to this, he was General Manager across Oxygen and its sister company Professionals Redcoats Limited, primarily focused on leading the shared service teams, including HR, marketing, finance, and administration functions.

In his current role, he has been instrumental in setting the strategic direction for Oxygen and navigating the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. He has focused on understanding the customer experience and delivering superior service by building strong teams with an empowered and collaborative culture coupled with leading-edge technology solutions.

Samantha Arnold

General Manager of Property Management, Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand

With over 25 years experience in the residential property management industry, Samantha (Sam) has invaluable knowledge and expertise in all aspects of property management. As part of her management strategy, she focuses on bringing out the best in her people by listening, recognising talent, and hiring people that have the right personality for the field.

Recently, she launched the Property Management Academy, an intensive practical programme intended for those new to the industry. Gold standard training modules provide a rich, hands-on education on the rules, processes and technology around taking care of both the landlord’s assets and tenants' homes.

She is constantly looking at ways to raise professional standards to ensure best practice is always followed. Sam previously designed and implemented a blended learning platform by introducing ELEVATE. The in-house accredited training programme builds employee skills across many aspects of our business, including growth, marketing, technology, systems/ operations, customer service, managing staff, coaching, personal development, and open communication.

She is also a part of the company’s ongoing programming to support and empower women to help them to succeed.

Over time, she has seen her division grow to over 18,000 properties, and in 2021, she opened a new branch in Tauranga. Sam is also an active member of the REINZ RPM steering committee, striving for change and the improvement of industry standards.

Pam Hight

Rental Division Manager, McDonald Real Estate

Pam oversees the rental division at McDonald Real Estate in Taranaki, with dedicated property managers in each of their eight branches around Mount Taranaki.

Pam’s career in property management started in 2000 in the Stratford office, where she was a property manager for many years. Her longevity in this role gave her insight into just about every aspect of this challenging industry.

In 2014, Pam became the Rental Division Manager and discovered this was the role she felt most passionate about. Pam works hard to make sure that her team is professional, successful, and result-orientated while maintaining empathy and good relationships with their clients. She aims to provide her team with the knowledge and training to be great and confident property managers. She advocates warm and healthy homes for all tenants and ensuring that tenants are treated with respect.

The McDonald family privately owns the company, and their philosophy of family values and trust is embodied in everything their team seeks to achieve within their working lives.

Hayley Stevenson

Managing Director, Housemart Queenstown

Hayley started as a receptionist in a property management business in Perth 30 years ago before working her way up to Directorship of Housemart Queenstown — working just about every property management office role in between.

Hayley has bought, sold, and grown businesses from scratch and won multiple awards for each of them.

Hayley firmly believes work within the industry should be fun. She wants to be the best in her field, values team culture, good systems and looks to create a calm work environment.

Hayley has a wide range of knowledge and experience as an administrator, property manager, manager, director, and business owner. She is passionate about seeing property managers get the support and tools they need to grow their careers and wants to see the property management sector develop further.