A conversation with a friend sparked a career in the property industry for Greg Goldfinch who notches 20 years at Colliers this month.
After leaving high school, Goldfinch moved from plumbing into the New Zealand Police, where he worked for a number of years before leaving for London on an extended working holiday.
On his return to New Zealand, he initially planned to return to the police force.
“A mate who had only been at Colliers four weeks himself suggested I might be okay at commercial real estate,” Goldfinch says.
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“He suggested I have a coffee with Charles Cooper, and the rest is history.”
That history includes establishing himself as one of the premier commercial and industrial property Brokers in New Zealand, while being recognised with multiple industry awards along the way.
Goldfinch is now the National Director of Industrial for Colliers and is well-known in the market for brokering some of the biggest industrial deals in the country during the past two decades.
Cooper, Auckland Managing Director at Colliers, who previously worked in the Highbrook Industrial team says Goldfinch’s upbringing and then background in the police force contributed to his success in the property industry, teaching him how to ask questions and how to listen.
“Even as a completely new junior Broker in the industrial market, his teamwork and leadership capabilities showed early on,” Cooper says.
“When the opportunity to lead the South Auckland industrial team came along, he put his hand up. He was determined to be that person.
"We were planning to go out to the market and find someone new, but he convinced us that he could do it. We gave him the opportunity, and from there he and the team found another two gears and took off.
"They took advantage of the rising market and have gone from strength to strength ever since.”
Goldfinch was promoted to General Manager of the Auckland South Industrial Sales and Leasing team at Highbrook in 2010, taking over the role from Cooper.
“Greg learned how to recruit, train, coach, and motivate an office of commission-only salespeople to work as one team, who have held a market-leading position for many years.
"He is highly respected by his key clients, who value his input and understanding of the market. Many of his clients will not use anyone else and now counts them as good friends.
“As he’s grown both the Colliers industrial brand and his personal brand, he has become more and more successful, adding value to clients and the market.”
The Highbrook office has won the REINZ Medium Commercial & Industrial Office of the Year nine times in the past 10 years, and multiple RICS awards.
Goldfinch has also personally won the Colliers Top Revenue Award seven times and taken home the REINZ Commercial & Industrial Salesperson of the Year award four times.
While noting his personal successes, Goldfinch stresses the success of his team has been his biggest career highlight.
“Over and above the individual awards, winning the team awards both at Colliers and at the REINZ Awards for Excellence is so incredibly rewarding, and gives me huge pride in the troops,” Goldfinch says.
“It’s very humbling and puts a big smile on your face when you see your staff doing well and achieving their goals and dreams. Without a doubt, the friends my wife and I have made at Colliers and in the market have been a highlight as well. It’s been life changing.
“It’s been a privilege leading the Highbrook team these past 14 years, being a part of the executive team at Colliers, and having a part to play in the growth of the business.”
At the Colliers Highbrook office there is an honours board marking team members who have passed 10, 15, and 20 years of service at Colliers.
Currently there is only one name in the 20-year column, the late Andrew Hooper who passed away in 2022.
“It will be an honour to have my name alongside the legend ‘Hoops’ who I worked with very closely over many years.”
- Supplied by Colliers
