Campbell Dunoon is a transplant from across the Tasman who moved to New Zealand in 2004 and became auction manager for Barfoot and Thompson. Real estate was never part of his grand plan, but it’s worked out very well for him.
When did you get into real estate?
Not until I was in my early 30s. I spent most of my 20s travelling around the world, which I don’t regret for a moment. I was backpacking, picking up odd jobs and seeing as many countries and meeting as many people as I could. I pretty much went everywhere and I lived in Sweden and San Francisco for a while. I loved it.
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When I was back in Melbourne after my travels my friends kept saying to me, You should do real estate, you’d be great at it. I’d never really considered it but I decided to give being a salesperson a go.
What prompted you to become an auctioneer?
In inner-city Melbourne a lot of sales people are their own auctioneer, unlike here in New Zealand where it is more of a specialised profession. I started off doing auctions for properties I was selling and then calling for colleagues. I remember the first auction I did – I was so nervous I thought I was going to be ill. It’s second nature now.
Then through an Australian contact in New Zealand I got noticed by some Kiwis, flown over to meet them and asked to become an auctioneer for their company. I had only been to New Zealand once before – on a skiing trip to Queenstown – and I didn’t know the place, but I thought, ‘Why not go and see what happens?’ Sixteen years later I’m still here.
Do you ever get a hard time for being an Aussie?
I do when the rugby is on. My arrival in the country seems to have coincided with the Wallabies self-destructing and that’s led to a lot of grief. I am constantly invited out to test matches as the token Australian to ridicule. I’m kind of used to it. When I get a hard time my response is to say, ‘I wish we were at the cricket.’
Why do you enjoy auctioneering?
I know it sounds like a cliché but I get a lot of satisfaction out of being directly involved in people’s lives and being able to help them with something that is really important. The auctioneer helps to get things across the line and that is a really great feeling.
What’s the most important skill an auctioneer needs?
I think the primary role of an auctioneer is to relax the buyers. A relaxed buyer will feel more confident about parting with money than someone who is feeling uncomfortable and defensive. You also need to have a sense of humour. You can’t predict what is going to happen at an auction – something could come completely out of left field and you just have to deal with it. It does help to be able to think on your feet.
Dunoon: “The auctioneer helps to get things across the line and that is a really great feeling.” Photo / Fiona Goodall
Have you ever been on the other side of the auctioneer’s podium?
I bought my house at auction three years ago. I ended up paying more than I intended to but there were five or six other bidders and the competition pushed me to keep going.
It was good to see things from the other side. It gave me a better appreciation of what people go through when they’re trying to buy a house at auction, and it re-sets the way you deal with buyers.
What do you do when you’re not auctioning off houses?
As far as hobbies go, I like to run. I have always been a runner but I hadn’t been doing it much and then in 2018 I was diagnosed with cancer. I had treatment throughout most of 2019 and a friend suggested I start running regularly again, and training for the Tarawera half-marathon in February this year. I was still suffering side effects from the treatment but I thought, Hell, why not? I absolutely loved it. My body gave out with about 7km to go and I stumbled across the finishing line but I felt exhilarated that I had done it.
Are you training for anything else?
I’m training for an ultra-marathon in October this year. Running has become a form of escape for me. It has distracted me and given me something to try to achieve. When you’re going through treatment you tend to lose your spark. But thanks to running I’m stronger than I was, and I’ve got more energy. I go running most mornings at 6am and I don’t mind it all, which is crazy because a few years ago I would have complained a lot.
How are you doing now?
Hopefully I am through it now. I lost about 8kg and I have started putting that back on now, which is good.
Another thing that helped me through is the support I got from Barfoot and Thompson. My colleagues have been great, and [managing director] Peter Thompson has been incredible. He said, Whatever you need to do to get better, just do it. That meant a lot.
What are you looking forward to most about life getting back to normal after the pandemic?
I’ve got two daughters in Australia and it’s been hard not seeing them. I usually go over once a month but I haven’t been since January. I can’t wait to see them again. Travelling is a big passion for me so I’m looking forward to being able to go overseas again.
Best place you’ve been to?
Iceland. I went in 2018, and it was amazing. It’s similar to New Zealand in some ways, with the glaciers and rivers and black sand. It’s a stunning place, and the people are wonderful.
The other thing I am into is ancient history – anything to do with ancient Greeks, Romans, Saxons, Vikings… you name it. After that trip to Iceland I ended up in Eastern Europe following in the footsteps of the Second Auxillary Legion under the leadership of [Roman emperor] Marcus Aurelius in his Germanic campaign. I’ve studied him for many years and I thought since I was in that part of the world I would go where they went through Austria and Slovakia. It was great.
With all that geography and ancient history knowledge, you’d be great to have in a pub quiz team.
My mother keeps saying I should quit real estate and set up my own YouTube channel on ancient history but I’m not sure if there is any money in that. Maybe when I retire.
