Real estate education

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 5

Real estate education

PA Wellington After two years of debate, the New Zealand Real Estate Institute has cleared the way for the introduction of mandatory continuing education of real estate licensees and salespeople. The institute has also decided to collate real estate statistics. ■ The institute’s executive director, Mr Eric Keys, said these two measures were a triumph of the patience and negotiating skills of the institute’s retiring president, Mr Bill

Matthewson. Speaking after the institute’s annual conference in Wellington, Mr Keys said there was a general acceptance within the industry of the need for continuing education, and to surrender in-office sales information to provide a “live” statistical base on real estate. “However, real estate people value their business independence, so introducing these two major advances, which either included or implied the words ‘mandatory’ and ‘compulsory,’ meant that

we had to mount a very sensitive and convincing campaign,” Mr Keys said. Details as to the agent who made each sale would remain confidential to protect their business interests, Mr Keys said.

The institute’s new national president is Mr Peter Cook, of Christchurch. He will serve a two-year term.

The institute has also appointed a full-time education officer to step up voluntary national training. The first seminars will be held next month.