MEDIA RELEASE
Win-win for buyers - own home and help hospice
29 February 2008: People interested in investing in Hibiscus Coast property are being urged to attend a special auction
next week at which a ‘free’ home built for the local hospice will go under the hammer, with all of the proceeds going to
the charity.
The brand new three-bedroom home at 126 Grand Drive in Orewa, 30km north of Auckland, is being auctioned on-site for
Hibiscus Coast Hospice by Harcourts’ top auctioneer on Thursday 6 March, marking the end of a three-year project
inspired by Rodney businessman Ross Morley the owner of the G J Gardner (Rodney) franchise. With help from the more
than 50 tradespeople and suppliers he got the house built for free last year, following the earlier donation of the
section by three local property property developers - Sir Ross Jansen, Leigh Hopper and Ian Boocock.
Today Mr Morley and Hibiscus Coast Hospice Chairman Howard Jury both urged would-be buyers to attend this weekend’s open
homes and then to come prepared for next week’s auction.
“The lucky person who buys this home will get a top-class property and have the added bonus of knowing that the money
they paid for it will be directly benefiting the local community. How many home buyers boast that?” the pair asks.
Mr Jury says the Free Home for Hospice is the one of the most generous donations ever bestowed on Hospice and it would
be great to achieve a successful auction result next week in order to help fund the hospices much-needed services.
Mr Jury says that the Free Home for Hospice project has been particularly special because of the great many people who
have given their time and expertise at no cost.
“Trades people, landscapers plus a number of building products suppliers donated time and material – a number of whom
have since been able to use the property as a show-home to exhibit products new to New Zealand. Harcourts Orewa, a
long-term supporter, has also been heavily involved – providing sales and marketing support for free.
“Many of the people helping us are based here on the Hibiscus Coast and this makes the Free Home for Hospice a truly
remarkable community effort,” says Mr
At 6pm on Thursday 6 March champion auctioneer Phil McGoldrick from Harcourts will start the bidding. Mr McGoldrick,
who is making a special trip from Christchurch to sell the Orewa property, won the Real Estate Institute of New
Zealand’s Auctioneering Championship in 2006, was runner-up 2007, and has twice represented the country and been a
finalist in the Australasian Auction Championships.
Harcourts Orewa Branch Manager Sabine Davison says her team is thrilled to be able to support such worthy cause and
pleased to be able to involve the company’s top auctioneer for this special auction.
Harcourts Orewa is a long-time supporter of Hibiscus Coast Hospice and has previously sold two properties for the
charity in addition to conducting other fundraising activity over the years. Both sales, and the upcoming sale of the
Free Home for Hospice, have been done at no cost to Hospice, Ms Davison says, explaining that the campaign Harcourts has
worked on for this property has included organising significant free advertising with support from PMP Maxum (publishers
of Harcourts Bluebooks), Hibiscus Coast Property Press and The Outlook, organising free signage courtesy of ABC
Photosigns, direct marketing to Harcourts extensive database along with working and negotiating with current and new
buyers, and conducting numerous open homes in the lead up to the auction.
ENDS