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.

Summit's auction marketing programme achieves one of the highest success rates in the real estate industry, consistently delivering results that exceed vendor expectations. The auction method is suited to all properties, especially those with unique features, sought-after locations, and situations of high buyer demand.

Auctions let the market determine your property's true value through competitive bidding. Compare this with private treaty where your price may be so high that no one will make an offer, or it could be so low that you run the risk of underselling your property. Through buyers actively bidding and openly competing, Summit has produced some fantastic auction sales with prices well over the vendor's expectations.

The deadline for auction day creates a sense of urgency and helps buyers who may otherwise procrastinate to make a buying decision. When buyers compete openly, competitive bidding often drives prices beyond initial expectations. If there's a premium in the market for your property, the auction method is the most effective means of securing it through this competitive environment.

Auctions eliminate complicated conditions and lengthy negotiations - it's a binding contract on the fall of the hammer with no cooling-off periods, no subject-to-sale clauses, and no last-minute renegotiations.

Marketing without an asking price means buyers judge the features and benefits that the property offers them and removes any objections regarding price. This method exposes the property to the broadest possible range of prospective purchasers.

Your Summit salesperson will provide you with regular market feedback so you will be fully informed when setting your reserve with the auctioneer. We will assist you in setting the terms, conditions and auction day deadline including any specific instructions you have, such as possession date and chattels (your solicitor will vet these).

The auction method has proven time and again to deliver exceptional results for property sellers. If you are considering selling and would like to talk to one of our salespeople about the benefits of auction marketing,

Get in touch today.

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 Rural Sales and Marketing Consultant Angus Malcolm, from our Richmond office on the current Rural Market. Here is what Angus had to say.

The rural market, impacted by different drivers to the residential market, has seen stock levels falling over the past six months and prices have remained strong in most sectors. With just 17 rural properties over 2ha in size listed in the Tasman District and 19 lifestyle properties, buyers are limited for choice.

Some of the main drivers for this change are:

- Supply volume remains constrained due to strong commodity prices in most sectors meaning vendors aren’t selling as their cash flows remain strong.
- Banks are keen to lend to rural properties with a proven cash flow, keeping their risk low.
- Rural demand has increased as people realise what can be bought for the same money as in town.
- Working remotely and flexible work options have become more common. This is enabling migration from cities to the countryside.

Although some of the rural sectors have increased uncertainty due to the Ukraine conflict, rising fuel costs, rising interest rates and disrupted supply lines, the overall sentiment is still relatively strong. Below we highlight three of the largest sectors:


1. Dairy. The industry has had a succession of payout forecast increases this season. Fonterra now sits at a mid-range forecast of $9.30 per kg of milk solids, making it the highest ever.

2. Beef. The strong overseas demand and a tightening of global beef supply are increasing prices and have led Beef and Lamb NZ to lift farm profit forecasts by 29% in 2021/22. Competition for traditional dry stock pasture land has seen significant pressure from forestry interests as the carbon price has strengthened over the past year.

3. Forestry. The industry has seen a highly volatile log market over the past year with overall profitability now also impacted by cost increases due to rising fuel prices.

Offsetting this is a massive expansion of new plantings on the back of carbon prices lifting 68% in the past year to over $76/tonne.

Overall, the strong commodity prices in many of the rural sectors will result in significant debt reduction, improved cash flows and improving bank balance sheets which will in turn free up lending for the rural sector. The Summit rural team is available to cast a fresh pair of eyes over your property to give you an up-to-date appraisal of its current value.

This article is from realestate.co.nz and the original one can be viewed by clicking here.

If you own a rental property, it’s likely you already know about the new healthy homes standards that came into effect on 1 July 2019. Landlords must already maintain their rental properties, but under the new standards, some will need to improve the quality of their property too. While it will ensure better and healthier homes for Kiwis, it can seem a bit overwhelming in the short-term. You might have questions like ‘What does this mean for me and my property?’ or ‘Is owning a rental property still a smart investment?’

The good news is that real estate is still a great asset. If you are willing to invest in keeping it healthy you won’t need to do as much maintenance in the long run. Plus, happy and healthy tenants are more likely to stick around and pay rent on time. Keeping your rental healthy will also remove any last-minute stress if your circumstances change and you were to sell the property.

Get ahead of the game and sort out your property now, by investing in a few key areas. Here are four easy steps to help make sure your investment is healthy and ticks all the boxes.

Before you get started, read up on the latest changes in regulation. The standards cover heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draughts – so check what’s required in each area. There are plenty of websites where you can find useful resources and the latest information - Raise the Standard has a handy rental health checklist to get you started.

While it’s easy to do this yourself initially, some of the standards (like insulation) may require some help or professional advice. Assessors and experienced professionals are the experts and will be able to help you create an overview of your property’s health, so you can keep track of what needs to be done.

Remember to book in regular property inspections to keep on top of maintenance issues. If your tenants don’t always let you know when problems arise, spark the conversation. Work together to solve problems as they crop up, as this will ensure your property stays in better condition in the long run.

Change won’t happen overnight. It’s important to plan and prioritise what needs to be done to keep your property healthy. By outlining this before you start work, you’ll find out what needs to be completed right away and what can be looked at later down the line.

Here are a few planning tips:

Taking action is the most important step. Before you begin any work, make sure you keep your tenants in the loop. You need to give your tenants at least 24 hours’ notice if you’re entering the property or doing work in order to meet the standards. It also helps if tenants know what upgrades you’re doing and why. There’s a great info sheet you can share with them that has simple information on the standards, and how they can help keep your rental healthy.

Some things, like painting, are okay for you to DIY – but for any bigger projects, like installing a new extractor fan, call in the tradies. It will pay off, in the long run, to get the job done well by an experienced professional.

Don’t let your hard work go to waste and stay on top of your paperwork. Landlords must keep a record of all upgrades and maintenance. This includes inspection reports, water bills, tenancy agreements, rent receipts and any documentation to prove that you’re complying with the new standards. Proper documentation can make life easy at tax time - and helps if you want to list your property in the future.

Now you know the key areas to work on, you can start ticking all the boxes when it comes to keeping your rental property healthy. It will help you attract and retain great tenants, who are willing to help ensure your property stays in great shape – making life easy for you when it comes time to sell.

For all the information you need to know to level up your rental property and stay ahead of the game, head to Raise the Standard.

As Property Managers, the question we get most apart from ‘how much rent can we get?’ is
‘what checks do you conduct on prospective tenants?’

Here at Summit Property Management, we conduct credit checks, personally call employers to verify employment, call previous landlords and ask a series of questions as to how the tenancy was conducted, and in some cases check the ownership of the property and call character referees with some standing.

The biggest source of information outside the above is a comprehensive, specialist background check, this is often where we discover the important details on some applicants, sources include;

If you are looking for a supply of well-vetted tenants, contact your nearest Summit Property Management office today.

Locate your nearest Branch

Summit Real Estate has dominated the real estate market since 1992, building from a modest Stoke office into the region's most successful real estate company. Our formula for sustained market leadership isn't complicated: we recruit exceptional sales and marketing professionals who share our commitment to integrity, transparency, and delivering outstanding results for every client.

Maintaining market leadership for over three decades requires more than just ambition—it demands the right people. We specifically seek sales and marketing consultants who embrace hard work and are passionate about creating unparalleled service experiences. If you're ready to elevate your career beyond what you thought possible, Summit provides the platform for extraordinary professional growth.

The Summit difference lies in our proven development culture. We've witnessed hundreds of professionals transform their careers with us, building substantial businesses that have genuinely changed their lives. This isn't a casual opportunity—we expect dedication and strong work ethic from every team member. In return, we provide comprehensive support including industry-leading coaching, strategic management guidance, cutting-edge systems, and ongoing professional development.

Our track record speaks for itself: decade after decade of market leadership, hundreds of successful careers launched, and countless professionals who've achieved financial and personal growth they never imagined possible. The nurturing environment we've created focuses entirely on your success, providing you with every tool and resource needed to excel in today's competitive real estate market.

Ready to discover what your real estate career could become? Our management team is actively seeking motivated sales and marketing consultants who want to join a winning organisation. Don't let this opportunity pass—your future self will thank you for taking action today.

Contact our management team to start your Summit journey. We're excited to hear from ambitious professionals ready to achieve exceptional results.

Get in Touch

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.

Heat pumps are an excellent energy-efficient solution for heating and cooling New Zealand homes, but proper maintenance is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Whether you're a tenant or landlord, understanding heat pump care responsibilities can save money, prevent costly repairs, and ensure comfortable living conditions year-round.