The New Zealand Property Investors Federation (NZPIF) has elected Martin Evans from Christchurch as their new President.
The NZPIF is a the National Body for 18 Associations around the country who have over 4,500 members and represent Property Investors interests. The Federations aim is to help investors become more professional as well as profitable, by encouraging a business and political environment conducive to their members being able to provide decent and profitable homes for New Zealanders.
As President, Evans brings many years of industry experience to the Presidents role. He has been investing for 30 years, starting with buying homes and living in them while adding value through extensions and redecoration. In addition to investment skills, Evans also has business experience, buying small businesses and building them up to on-sell when they were more profitable.
Once he had built up equity in his own home, Evans moved to a buy and hold investment property strategy. This mainly involved residential property, however he has a few commercial interests as well.
Evans say’s that his family has always been interested in property investment, being in an environment where it has been a frequent topic of conversation. “My wife Ann and I are both passionate about property investment and this has rubbed off on our 3 children who are also property investors. Our youngest son is completing a degree in property valuation and management at Lincoln University” says Evans.
Most of Evans knowledge about property investment and landlording has been gained through being a member of the Canterbury Association and also as an executive member of the NZPIF. He has been a member of the Canterbury Property Investors Association (CPIA) about 15 years and has been President since 2000. This long history with the CPIA and the benefits that Evans has gained through being a member has made him passionate about the organisation.
Putting the knowledge he gained through the CPIA to work, in 1996 Evans property portfolio was sufficient to support his family, so he retired from the airline industry he had been working in.
Retirement didn’t last long as he found himself being asked to look after previous workmates investment properties. Things progressed and he now owns a large property management company in Christchurch with around 8 staff.
“My major concern with the industry has always been the difficulty we have in enforcing tenancy tribunal orders” says Evans. “I have been on the NZPIF for 5 years with 3 years as vice president. During this time I have presented a successful oral submission to the Privacy Commissioner allowing landlords to carry out credit checks on prospective tenants and attended regular Tenancy Services meetings with other industry groups”.
Evans has also been involved with many lobbying activities through the NZPIF. He has worked on committees involved with the RTA amendments, consulted with Government Departments and MP’s to allow the new address of disappeared tenants to be provided to the Department of Courts, Helped arrange for Tenancy Tribunal orders to be put on-line, negotiated for Tribunal applications to be filed simultaneously with 10 day notices.
Enhancing unity among the NZPIF and independent Associations through New Zealand is a prime aim of Evans. “The main thing I want to achieve as the new president is to consult with each association to determine what their expectations are of the National Federation and how we can work together to achieve this. I also want to continue the important liaisons built with MP’s, Government Departments and key organisations involved in the property industry by the previous two Presidents, Craig Paddon and Darryl Fisher. Most importantly I want to see a fair deal for property investors as they manage the business they have become involved in.”
The vacant Vice President’s position made vacant by Evans has been taken up by Andrew King, President of the Auckland Property Investors Association and author of two best selling books on Investing in Property. King was elected to the Federation Executive last October.
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