Meet the Team
The key to successful investing is employing experienced advisors. This approach extends to New Zealand Property Solutions. We only employ ethically minded professionals who share the same investment principles as our clients, and who give total commitment to everything they do.
Please contact us if you're thinking about investing in New Zealand. We believe the New Zealand property market offers many exciting opportunities and that New Zealand Property Solutions can save you not only time and money but also help you make a wise investment for your future.
Chris Swann BCom, CA (PP), MBA
Director
Chris is a Chartered Accountant and is a Principal and Director of New Zealand Property Solutions Limited. Presently a Consultant for Deloitte he also has a number of private company Directorships and is Chairman of a publicly listed company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
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Chris has extensive experience in advising on property investments and developments including investment analysis, taxation advice, how to structure these investments and the best possible way to financing property transactions.
From this experience Chris has a strong knowledge and understanding of the property market and a strong appreciation of issues confronting property investors. The focus of New Zealand Property Solutions is in addressing these issues for its clients.
As a Chartered Accountant, Chris is a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Chris holds the highest ethical standards through these memberships of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and Institute of Directors in New Zealand. These ethical standards are upheld within NZPS.
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Graham Smolenski LLB
Director
A Principal and Director of New Zealand Property Solutions, Graham has over 35 years experience in the property industry in New Zealand and Australia having undertaken a number of commercial, residential and resort developments. From this experience Graham has gained considerable knowledge of the property market and a strong appreciation of the issues confronting property buyers in buying, selling and managing their real estate portfolios. He sees the focus of New Zealand Property solution as addressing these issues for its clients.
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Graham Smolenski, a trained lawyer and barrister, has a background in business start up; company management, corporate governance and strategic planning; corporate financing, property development and private equity investment.
He graduated with a Law Degree from Otago University in 1973 and after initial practice in Dunedin and Auckland he went overseas. Additional studies saw the completion of two years Post Graduate work at Melbourne University, Australia, specialising in resource management and local government law/administration. On finishing his studies in 1977 he stayed on at Melbourne University for a further two years lecturing in these courses.
His law career has seen a focus on commercial and corporate law/local government and resource management law in both New Zealand and Australia. In Australia he became a solicitor with Mallesons in Melbourne then, after reading for the bar, became a barrister specialising in these areas. He practiced as a barrister in Australia and New Zealand until 1986 when he gave up formal legal practice to pursue a career in business in his own right. However, he continues to act as a consultant with the law firm Berry & Co in his specialist areas.
The change in 1986 to business saw Graham working with a Hong Kong based Private Equity investment and development company – specialising in business analysis, strategic planning, corporate structuring and analysing investment opportunities – over a period of five years. He was founder and CEO for 12 years of the award winning Millbrook Golf and Country Club resort development in Queenstown (which hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat in 1995 and the US Presidential visit in 1999). Before that he was responsible for the development of the Nugget Point Hotel (Queenstown), also the winner of a number of tourism awards.
The development of the Nugget Point boutique apartment hotel in the late 1980’s was the first title based fractional ownership apartment scheme. This was followed in the 1990’s by the development of unit tilted hotel management arrangements for the hotel at Millbrook, together with the commercial property, land and housing packages associates with the development of the golf course resort. The activities gave a unique insight into the legal and management of key factors affecting developers and apartment hotels as well as a deep understanding of the economic factors underlying the respective operations.
Prior to these projects Graham has been involved in a diverse range of property projects from the subdivision and sale of land in Queenstown and Tauranga to the development of mountain ski lodges in Australia and New Zealand. Since Millbrook Graham has been involved in two apartment developments in New Zealand as well as two of his own personal housing projects.
These days Graham has turned his focus to being an investor in his own right and in the course of this activity is constantly viewing and researching property opportunities throughout the country. In this regard his interests are in line with those of the clients of New Zealand Property Solutions in which he is an enthusiastic participant.
Past corporate community activities include Queenstown Airport Corporation (Vice Chairman 13 years), Queenstown Promotion Board (Chairman 7 years), Waitaki Development Board (Director 6 years), 50k of Coronet Ltd (a ski event raising money for charity – Shareholder and Director 4 years), Queenstown Winter Marketing Group (Director 4 years) and Wakatipu High School Board Member.
As a Lawyer, Graham Smolenski is a member of the New Zealand Law Society, a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Australia and a member of the Victorian Bar Association.
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Lyndon Fairbairn BCom DFP
CEO/Senior Property Consultant
New Zealand Property Solutions formed when Lyndon Fairbairn experienced first hand just how difficult it was to buy an investment property in New Zealand whilst temporarily residing overseas. “There was no one available to steer me in the right direction or provide me with expert advice on all aspects of securing an investment property.” This formed the basis of New Zealand Property Solutions and many years on our continued focus is to assist off-shore client’s purchase New Zealand Property.
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Lyndon’s background has been in the financial services industry. Graduating from Otago University in Economics and then gaining further education with a Diploma in Financial Planning has provided Lyndon an excellent understanding of the financial markets. Quickly he learnt that one of the best investment vehicles was in fact property. “Because of the amount banks will lend on property your investment returns are magnified compared to other financial products”. Naturally property is less risky than the likes of the share market too. “The right property is always in demand”.
“Founding New Zealand Property Solutions has provided great satisfaction in knowing our clients are investing wisely and into a fantastic country. We have so many benefits (like no stamp duty or capital gains tax) that other countries don’t have when buying property, it amplifies your overall investment returns”.
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Feel free to email me at Lyndon@nzpropertysolutions.co.nz
Farrell Cameron BEd BA
Senior New Zealand Property Consultant
Farrell has an extensive background in property and knows that investing from overseas requires an extra element of consideration and communication. Farrell understands the importance of providing instant information and answers to client queries. “We like to make sure our overseas based clients can make a full comprehensive confident investment decision.”
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Alongside helping his personal clients, Farrell manages our business partnerships with individuals and businesses who have clients wishing to buy New Zealand Property. Farrell provides full support to business partners and their clients, developing strategies and providing all the information required to confidently and competently offer New Zealand property to their clientele. He is always available to provide ongoing support and his flexible approach allows him to work with various business models.
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Feel free to email me at Farrell@nzpropertysolutions.co.nz
Kat Geeves BSc
Senior New Zealand Property Consultant
Over the years Kat has gained a vast knowledge of the New Zealand property market both from her work in the industry and personally managing her own property portfolio. She brings a high level of service and dedication to her clients and understands her client's needs in making an informed decision when investing from overseas. Kat achieves great satisfaction from building a relationship with each client to help them achieve their New Zealand property investment goals.
Feel free to email me at Kat@nzpropertysolutions.co.nz
Michael Knowles
Lending Specialist
A key element of investment property is structuring your finance correctly. Michael Knowles from Mortgage Match is an expert in this area. An avid investor himself, he understands the importance of managing your cash flows and property lending.
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In New Zealand, mortgage broking is a FREE service so it makes sense to utilise the services of a Mortgage Consultant. New Zealand has many different lending institutions, creating a competitive mortgage environment. Banks and other lenders often change their lending criteria, so you may need our help to ensure you find the most cost effective and flexible loan.
Michael over the years has assisted many overseas based clients with their lending requirements. He is a specialist in this area.
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Anne Needham
Senior Registered Legal Executive
Anne Needham has over 20 years experience with Glaister Ennor in residential property transactions. Her area of expertise is working on behalf of internationally based clients during their purchase of New Zealand property. She is a Senior Registered Legal Executive who is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives and a Justice of the Peace.
Glaister Ennor
Senior Registered Legal Executive
Glaister Ennor is a full commercial and property service law firm, based in the heart of downtown Auckland and has assisted many New Zealand Property Solutions clients with their legal requirements. They have over 80 staff and their success is built on culture of offering a comprehensive personalised service to clients combined with insightful, practical advice. Glaister Ennor won the New Zealand Law Awards ASB Mid size Law Firm of the Year 2005 and was runner up in 2006.
Clive Knauf & Associates
Clive Knauf & Associates are a holistic chartered accounting firm and specialist property taxation advisers. They have developed a unique system for assisting overseas based investors with their taxation requirements. Clive Knauf & Associates team are effective and have been in operation in Auckland's, North Shore City, since 1990.
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The principal, Clive Knauf, has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand since 1973, and holds a Public Practice certificate issued by the Institute. He maintains an interest in the Public Practice, and Business Development special interest groups of the Institute's Auckland branch.
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Quinovic Property Managers
Quinovic is a nation-wide property management service and have specialist property managers in each major New Zealand city. They ensure peace of mind for our property investors, and have the most professional and effective system of residential property management in the market today.
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Quinovic emphasis for owners is on good quality tenants, strict rent management, market-leading property management and financial management.
Excellent property and tenant management ensures peace of mind in the knowledge that your most important asset is being kept safe and is well managed. Accessing Quinovic's online Property Management systems allow you to keep your finger on the pulse no matter where you reside around the world.
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