Summit recently celebrated its 33rd Annual Awards, marking another year of market share growth, company expansion, and individual success. We continue to sell and manage more properties than any other agency in the Top of the South. Thank you to our entire team - this achievement is a true testament to your dedication and hard work!
We ended the financial year on a high note, with twelve of our team members achieving Champion Status:
Congratulations to Vicki Weetman, whose continued energy and positivity earned her the Excellence in Real Estate award, and to Ryan Horncastle, who received the coveted Rookie of the Year award for his excellent sales results.
Our Property Management team continues to set the standard in the region with several new innovations introduced over the past 12 months. Congratulations to our top performers: Avei Douglas and Sarah Crawford.
We also recognised the loyalty and long-standing commitment of several team members:
Samantha Buys,
Viv Smith,
Michael Fox, and
Bevan Dixon.
A long-service acknowledgment was presented to Val Cooper—thank you for your contribution, Val. Congratulations to our Richmond Office, who once again took out the title of Top Office for Sales and Property Management—a great achievement and well-deserved recognition for the whole team.
Last year, we celebrated a major milestone—20 years and 1,000 editions of the Summit Weekly, which remains a powerful tool for connecting people with real estate opportunities. This success is made possible by the strength of our team, our full-service approach, our far-reaching marketing—and most importantly, by you. To every client who has trusted us to sell, manage, buy, or rent—thank you. Your continued support keeps Summit at the forefront of the market, and we’re truly grateful you chose us.
David Turnhout, Operations Manager
The Nelson Tasman region's golfing community delivered an outstanding display of generosity last Friday, with the third annual Keir Wilkinson Memorial Golf Tournament raising an incredible $59,287.50 for Nelson Tasman Hospice.
Thirty-six teams teed off at Nelson Golf Club on September 13th for what has become one of the region's most anticipated charity golf events. The day combined friendly competition across the club's pristine fairways with an exciting post-tournament auction, creating an atmosphere of community spirit that perfectly honours Keir Wilkinson's memory.
Since launching in 2022, this heartfelt tournament has now raised over $160,000 for the local hospice – funding that directly supports specialised palliative care, emotional support, and dignity for Nelson Tasman families during life's most challenging moments. Every dollar raised stays local, benefiting our community when it's needed most.
The tournament's success reflects Nelson's remarkable community spirit. Local businesses and residents donated auction items and experiences, while golfers embraced both the competition and the cause. What started as a memorial has evolved into a cornerstone fundraising event that strengthens our region's care network.
Summit is proud to support initiatives like the Keir Wilkinson Memorial Tournament that make a real difference in our community. Nelson Tasman Hospice's compassionate end-of-life care, family support, and bereavement services represent exactly the kind of local impact we're honoured to champion.
Planning is already underway for next year's tournament, with multiple ways for the community to get involved. Golfers can watch for registration opening in mid-2025, while businesses can explore sponsorship opportunities ranging from hole sponsorships to auction donations. Community members are always welcome as volunteers or auction attendees.
The Keir Wilkinson Memorial Tournament exemplifies what makes Nelson special – neighbours supporting neighbours, businesses investing in community wellbeing, and everyone working together for causes that truly matter. It's a perfect balance of remembrance and celebration that brings out the best in our region.
A huge thanks to all the teams, sponsors, and participants who made this year's record-breaking success possible. Together, we're building a stronger, more caring community where everyone can access the support they need.
It is not often you get the opportunity to buy a stunning home with quality fixtures and fittings while getting your fix of altruism by supporting a worthy cause.
This stunning 193sqm new-build set on an easy-care, 508sqm, fully landscaped section in the sough-after Ngati Rarua subdivision was built by Signature Homes as a charity build for the Top of the South Community Foundation.
‘Community Foundations are all about leaving a personal legacy in your community, forever’ says Dave Ashcroft, Chair of the Foundation. ‘Community Foundations build long-term, reliable funding streams for their local communities by investing and growing the gifts they receive. So, you’re not really giving to a Community Foundation, but through it. And the investment model means your generosity will have benefits, forever. We encourage and inspire generous donors to connect with projects and causes that are dear to their hearts. We invest and grow donor’s gifts, distributing the income earned, so that their gift will keep giving for generations to come.’
Top of the South Community Foundation provides the charitable framework, professional financial oversight and governance to ensure your giving generates the maximum good and creates an intergenerational legacy.
Simon Bixley from Signature Homes says;
‘The charity build has received enormous support from Signature’s suppliers and contractors who recognised the positive impact this project will have in due course on our wider Nelson Tasman community.’
For the purchaser of this property, this means a number of extras such as a ducted heat pump system, 2 tiled bathrooms, skylights and a fully landscaped section.
Summit is proud to be able to support this great project which operates in the same rohe as Summit has offices; Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
Emma McCashin, from Summit Richmond’s office says;
‘We’d love our loyal client base to help spread the word about this amazing opportunity to support such a great local charity. If you know anyone looking for a new build, with lots of added extras, all ready to shift in, please let them know.’
Visit Top South Foundation
There's something wonderful happening in our local schools - kids are getting outside, having fun, and learning new skills through an exciting football program that's making a real difference in our community.
Summit Real Estate has partnered with Nelson Suburbs Football Club to launch the 'Football in Schools' program, bringing professional coaching directly to primary school students across Nelson. The initiative addresses a growing need for more sports programs in our local schools while helping kids develop fundamental movement skills and confidence.
Phil Williams, Development Officer at Nelson Suburbs FC, is thrilled with the response. "We saw a real need for more sports in school programs, and Summit's support has been incredible in making this happen. The positive feedback from schools has been fantastic, and watching kids enjoy getting outside the classroom is really rewarding." Williams works alongside Academy Director Neil Connell to deliver the program, which focuses on fundamental movement skills and coordination that benefit all sports and activities.
The beauty of this program is that it's not just about football - it's about building confidence, having fun, and getting active, which is especially important for children's wellbeing. "Kids who love basketball or other sports can relate to what we do," explains Williams. "The flow-on effect is that children really enjoy getting outside the classroom, and we focus on skills that work across all sports."
The program has already kicked off successfully at several local schools including Birchwood School, Stoke Primary, Enner Glynn, Nayland Primary, and Tahunanui Primary, with Nelson Christian Academy set to join soon. Plans are underway to expand to intermediate schools and bring the program to even more students in the coming months.
This partnership showcases what happens when local businesses and sports clubs work together for our kids. "It's about giving children opportunities to try something new and creating connections in our community," says a club representative. "Sport brings everyone together and gives kids something fun and active to look forward to during their school day."
Looking ahead, the club has exciting plans including community pop-up events where families can come together and give football a try. "We want to keep building these community connections and expanding the community side of things," promises Williams. "There's plenty more to come on the horizon."
Programs like this demonstrate the power of local partnerships in supporting our young people. When businesses like Summit invest in community initiatives, everyone benefits - kids get active, schools gain valuable programs, and our community grows stronger together. The Football in Schools program represents Summit's commitment to supporting the next generation and building a vibrant, connected community where every child has the opportunity to discover their potential and enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity.
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Summit Real Estate was delighted to be able to help out on Saturday with the Mitre10 Mega Helicopter House auction that sold under the hammer for $276,000.
Summit's Auction Manager, Ben Nalder, was the auctioneer on the day and after spirited bidding by multiple parties the house was successfully sold to Dean and Emma McCashin of McCashin's Brewery in Stoke.
During the auction, the rescue helicopter had to make an unplanned departure from the site much to onlooker's delight who got to watch the helicopter take off up close.
Click here to watch the live recording of the auction and read more about the project and happy new owners.