NZPIF Conference : Conference 2010 Speakers

Steve McKnight is a respected property investor, accomplished author, and media commentator. Prior to 1999, Steve, a qualified chartered accountant worked for international accounting firm Deloitte before starting his own accounting practice and specialising in audit and management consulting.

Since 1999, Steve has used his investment philosophies to acquire an incredible 260 properties. He was approached by John Wiley & Sons to write investment books, and has gone on to become one of Australia’s most successful real estate authors. His first book From 0 to 130 Properties in 3.5 Years has sold more than 150,000 copies and was the top business book in 2004. Steve’s areas of expertise include residential property, commercial property, property related finance matters, general comments about economic activity including interest rates, property related statistics. He is somewhat unique as he can approach these issues from a professional, investor and day-to-day homeowner perspective.

Steve co-founded and remains the resident expert on PropertyInvesting.com – an independent community for property investors to share ideas and help each other. Currently there are more than 65,000 registered members. His comments and opinions about real estate and finance are regularly sought by various media organisations.

Joan Baker, together with Martin Hawes, owns and operates WealthCoaches.net to help people get the life they want. They believe that everyone should have a wonderful life – not merely survive, just get by, or struggle to get the mortgage paid off and retire. People want more – more leisure time, travel, time with family, opportunities to study, write books, put something back, etc. But they find it difficult to create the time or wealth in their lives that would allow them to do those things.

A few do succeed. They are the ones who have learned to be financially free. They do not have to ‘work’, though, of course, they may choose to for a variety of reasons. They enjoy a passive income – money earned while they sleep or have lunch.

WealthCoaches.net has developed a model that allows individuals and couples to learn the secrets of this financial freedom. People can learn how to become wealthy and stay that way. The WealthCoaches programmes teach people all they need to know to manage their wealth creation so they can have secure income for life.

Joan’s role as a wealth coach is to work alongside individuals to provide the expertise and support they need to achieve financial success.

A background as a business consultant, in senior management, marketing, and human resources has been invaluable in giving her a deep appreciation of the opportunities and challenges today’s business people face. It’s also made her adept at managing change both at an individual level and in the wider commercial context.

One of her key focuses is actively demystifying the process of wealth creation and promoting understanding of financial maths (something she has explored in her recent book "Improve Your FQ”). Joan is also the author/co-author of seven other books including the popular "Smart Women, Smart Money" and “A Man is Not a Financial Plan”.

For more than thirty years, Harry Lawson has been very successful in the property investment business and is quick to share the somewhat unorthodox secrets of his success. He is also a great believer in putting something back into an industry that has been good to him. He was a foundation member of the Hawke’s Bay Property Investors’ Association, of which he was President for 13 years, and served as the President of the NZ Property Investors’ Federation for six years. During this time he founded the Auckland and Southland Property Investors’ Associations. He is therefore very qualified to look back on these years of experience and comment on how to grow a property investment portfolio and how to make it fun.

He is convinced that many hard working investors do not enjoy the full fruits of their hard work, so he is able to talk knowledgeably about knowing the right time to exit and having a strategy for doing so. At the 2010 Conference, he will outline a 10 point plan that is his recipe for making investing in property not only successful and fun as well.

Author of Residential landlording for the absolute beginner, he has a no nonsense and humorous approach to investing. It is all about getting the basics right, enjoying what you do and being professional (and successful of course).

The recipient of two business awards, Harry is Napier City’s most experienced Councillor and a former editor of a business magazine. Nowadays he spends much time travelling to China and Japan, where he has received a citation from Tomakomai, Napier's Sister City in Japan, for his service to the Sister Cities.

John Anderson was born in Wellington New Zealand, educated at Scots College and Victoria University where he studied for an accounting degree. At the age of 22 he left New Zealand for the United Kingdom on a one year “Overseas Experience”. He returned some 20 years later with his wife Alison, four children and an international business, Contiki Holidays.

After a few months in London, John’s desire to see Europe was overwhelming but he had insufficient funds to achieve this. With just 25 pounds he found a way to not only see Europe, but start his own business. When John eventually sold the company it was and remains one of the world’s major tour operators. Contiki is now firmly established as an international “brand” name. It is a household name in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. An estimated 1.6 million passengers have already travelled with Contiki.

Subsequently, as a member of the Auckland Rotary Club, John conceived the idea of a major fundraising opportunity. This became “The Ellerslie Flower Show” which is now established as the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. John travelled to London and met the “Chelsea Flower Show” organization who assisted him with the development of the New Zealand show. He was the CEO of the event for the first year. John and Alison, wanting a change of lifestyle, now live in Marlborough New Zealand. John is regularly asked to be a keynote speaker, telling the incredible story of how he developed a simple idea into one of the world’s major tour operators. He is also writing a book about his many experiences.

Khoon has worked as an economist in various roles for over a decade, starting off in a private sector
consulting firm, and then moving to the public sector where he worked at both the New Zealand Treasury
and the Reserve Bank. He returned to “the dark side”, joining the ANZ Bank in 2006 as a Senior Economist. At the Treasury, he was the Manager of their Macroeconomic Forecasting team, and served as an Economic Advisor at the Reserve Bank. Khoon has a Master of Commerce (Hons) degree from Auckland University. At ANZ Bank, Khoon produces markets based economic research for the dealing room and bank clients, ranging from near term financial market developments to medium term economic issues. A large part
of his time is spent discussing the global and domestic economic environment with clients and the
implications of these on their businesses. Khoon writes a regular economics column for the NZ Property Investor.

Introducing Mark Withers - speaking at the post-lunch breakout session on Saturday.

Mark Withers is a chartered accountant and director of Withers Tsang & Co Limited, founded in 1998. The firm specialises in accounting services and tax advice for property investors. He was a founding member of the Auckland Property Investors' Association and served 10 years as treasurer before being made a life member. Mark is a popular speaker at Property Investors conferences and writes a monthly column in the NZ Property Investor Magazine, and provides the “Ask an expert” advice in the magazine.

He is the Author of the popular book, “Property Tax – A NZ Investor Guide”, and is a regular speaker and commentator on property tax matters.

Introducing Liz Harris speaking at the post lunch breakout sessions on Saturday

Liz Harris has been investing in property for 26 years and now has over 650 persons living in her properties in Christchurch and Nelson. She has a very positive message for property investors as she is still expanding in this economic climate when she finds something she likes. Those who missed hearing Liz speak at the 2009 NZPIF Conference will be pleased to have another opportunity to hear her inspiring story.

Introducing Tracy Hintz - speaking at The Ned.

Tracy Hintz was born in Kawarau, New Zealand and spent her childhood in different parts of New Zealand as well as overseas. She became a qualified Architect in 2002 which was also the year she purchased her first investment property. After purchasing two rentals and completing two cash flow deals in late 2002 Tracy moved from Auckland to Rotorua where the market was best suited to her property methods at the time. Since then she has completed over 150 property deals. Tracy has been successfully involved with rentals, cash flow properties, property trading, do-ups and developments of both subdivisions and building. Tracy has had experience financing her deals in a variety of ways, working with banks, money partners, vendor finance, and option agreements. Tracy’s business is currently predominantly focused on developing affordable homes and trading residential properties.

Introducing Paul Wright - speaking at Hunters Wines.

Paul began investing in property in Wellington in 1981 and has been involved in residential property ever since. He now owns 350 tenancies, all in Wellington. While he sees the advantages of commercial property investment, he has remained solely in residential as he feels it is much less risky. From the first purchase of a property with four flats, Paul has purchased other multiple unit properties, and converted two commercial buildings to flats in association with a friend. With his son Matthew, he converted a nurses’ home in Newtown into the Pickled Parrot Lodge, which has 67 bedrooms. Paul looks after all his properties with the part time assistance of two friends and has much information and advice to share with other property investors coming to the 2010 Conference.

Introducing Frank Newman speaking at Moa Brewing Company.

Frank Newman is a financial writer, author, property investor, and investment commentator. He is the creator of the New Zealand Investment Gamewhich was judged Best New Game 2009 by the NZ Games Association and widely used as an investment training tool. He has lectured in property investment at Massey University and practiced as an accountant and financial adviser. His numerous books include How to Grow Rich and the NZ Landlord’s Handbook. Frank will also have his NZ Investment Game set up during the entire Conference. Delegates will be able to explore how the Game works or play it.

Introducing Bryce Barnett speaking at Mahi Wines.

Bryce Barnett has always had a passion for property – he bought his first piece of real estate at age 16, before he owned his first car. Since then Bryce has been actively involved in property although qualifying and working as a Chartered Accountant, he worked for various companies in all aspects of property but in particular property investment and development.From this background as a Chartered Accountant, Bryce developed his ‘hobby’ business in property into what is now a successful company with a strong national focus. KCL Property manages a property portfolio in excess of $450 million worth of retail, industrial and commercial property throughout New Zealand and in Brisbane. The focus of Bryce’s presentation at the conference will be his personal story of making the transition from residential property investment to commercial property investment.

Steve McKnight will be speaking at Allan Scott Family Winemakers as well as being the keynote speaker on Saturday morning.

Introducing Bob Hargreaves

Professor Bob Hargreaves holds the Chair in Property Studies and is the Director of the Massey University Real Estate Analysis Unit. Prior to embarking on an academic career he achieved registration as a valuer. Professor Hargreaves is a member of the Land Valuation Tribunal and has been a visiting faculty member at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His research interests currently focus on analysing and forecasting real estate cycles, understanding the psychology driving the housing market, returns from investor housing and the valuation of partial interests.

Introducing Scotney Williams - speaking at the post lunch breakout sessions on Saturday.

Scotney Williams is one of the few people in the country with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. He is currently an advisor to over 1100 Property Management offices and property investors nation wide. He is the author of the Tenancy Practice Manual and Enforcing your Judgment or Money Order, a handbook of great practical assistance to landlords and property managers. Scotney also runs seminars landlord/tenant issues in many cities.