Top real estate agent reveals his little-known charitable side

New Zealand’s relative enforced isolation as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic has allowed high-performing Bayleys Ponsonby salesperson Blair Haddow time to reflect on some of the more important things in his life outside of work.

Over the past decade, the list of charities receiving support from Blair Haddow includes Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children who have critical illnesses – giving them hope, strength and joy.

Make-A-Wish New Zealand is a national charity with more than 140 volunteers throughout New Zealand – granting more than 150 wishes locally each year. Like Make-A-Wish, Blair believes that these wishes are transformational for the child recipient.

Blair has also been a long-standing supporter of the SPCA – donating monthly to assist the organisation in its care for abandoned, lost, injured, and stray animals.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some 40 centres in New Zealand. These centres are run by paid staff and volunteers – with approximately one staff member to every 10 volunteers, helping more than 35,000 animals annually. With very little government funding, the SPCA is reliant on donations such as Blair’s to continue its admirable day-to-day operations.

Blair’s love for animals also stretches back to the years when Bayleys Real Estate was the primary sponsor of the Guide Dogs branch of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.

“I believe it’s morally important to have an ethical work-life balance and give something back to society,” says Blair, who specialises in marketing residences in Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, and Grey Lynn.

“Normally, like many Kiwis, I spend July and August abroad on holiday – taking advantage of the quiet residential real estate selling period. Obviously that’s just not possible this year because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, so it’s given me the opportunity to self-reflect on my life and what I’m doing.

“June, July and August have always traditionally been the quieter selling months on the residential real estate calendar across Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay, Ponsonby and Grey Lynn, and indeed across New Zealand – apart from last year because of Covid-19’s impact when sales volumes spiked. However, this year has seen a return to that historical pattern,” said Blair.

“That’s given everyone a chance to take a bit of a breather and just come back to earth and look at our lives a bit closer.”

For Blair, in addition to busily networking with multiple potential Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, and Grey Lynn vendors assisting them in preparing to take their homes to market in spring, that has included looking back warmly on his philanthropic affiliations.

“I think it’s a good, and very closely linked balance. On one side, in my professional life I’m bringing happiness to my vendors by selling their property assets for them. And at the same time I’m bringing happiness to the purchasers – giving them the next step in their lives as they buy their new home. That balances perfectly with my charity support – helping organisations which do so much good work for others. They both leave me feeling very comfortable with what I’m doing in life,” said Blair.

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Published 6 August 2021