Celebrating Excellence: Meet the 2025 NZPIF Awards Finalists

Jackie Thomas-Teague

Jackie manages a ten-property portfolio in Wellington and Horowhenua with an exceptional focus on sustainability and quality housing that exceeds compliance standards. Her people-centred approach combines practical property management with environmental innovation, from planting fruit trees to selecting energy-efficient materials. Beyond her management work, Jackie shares her expertise through Tawa Community Education, helping others develop responsible property practices. Her commitment to clear communication, fair processes, and professional standards creates positive outcomes for both owners and tenants, demonstrating that excellent property management and environmental stewardship can work hand-in-hand.

Jackie Kirk

Since becoming a second-chance homeowner in 2018, Jackie has built an impressive portfolio while maintaining a full-time education career. Her tenants consistently praise her responsive, respectful approach, with maintenance issues typically resolved within 48 hours. Jackie’s commitment to continuous learning through NZPIF RentSkills, mentoring, and industry associations ensures her practices remain current and professional. What distinguishes her is the broader purpose behind her investing—she’s passionate about financial literacy, setting an example for her three sons, and providing stable, quality homes that support long-term community wellbeing alongside strong investment returns.

Lydia Au

Managing four Christchurch properties since 2012, Lydia exemplifies tenant-focused property management through consistent attention to detail and genuine care. She ensures homes are impeccably maintained and move-in ready, while responding promptly to tenant needs. Lydia’s personal touches—acknowledging life milestones and handling disputes with empathy—create lasting positive relationships. Her professional approach to end-of-tenancy processes, combined with ongoing learning through industry associations, podcasts, and networking, demonstrates her dedication to both excellence in property management and tenant wellbeing. Lydia proves that professionalism and compassion are equally essential to successful long-term investing.

Muhammad Irfaan Saib

In just four years, Muhammad has established himself as a thoughtful, professional investor managing two residential properties. His comprehensive Welcome Packs, prompt maintenance responses, and structured end-of-tenancy processes reflect genuine commitment to tenant experience. Balancing property investment with full-time employment, Muhammad actively pursues professional development through NZPIF RentSkills course, webinars, and mentoring from experienced landlords. His calm, professional approach to dispute resolution and clear communication style create positive rental experiences. Muhammad’s dedication to continuous improvement and best-practice standards demonstrates the professionalism and growth mindset that defines excellent property management.

Stephanie Anne Christensen

With over 40 years of property ownership experience, Stephanie brings exceptional dedication to managing three furnished short-term rentals in Tauranga. Her hands-on approach includes weekly cleaning, proactive maintenance, and personalised support that helps tenants—particularly recent immigrants—successfully settle into their homes. Stephanie’s professional systems through MyRent ensure smooth processes, while her focus on tenant wellbeing and clear communication creates relationships that often extend beyond tenancy. Her commitment to staying current with regulations and delivering consistently high standards demonstrates how experience combined with genuine care creates outstanding tenant satisfaction and long-term success.

Tim Calder and Rosalind Love

Tim and Rosalind have pioneered New Zealand’s first publicly listed student property fund, managing 15 purpose-built flats across Dunedin and Christchurch. With 23 years’ experience managing over 1,400 student tenants, Tim has created safe, well-maintained environments tailored to student needs. Together with Rosalind’s expertise in fund structuring and innovative technology, they’ve built a model that prioritises tenant wellbeing through proactive maintenance, personalised support, and regular communication. Their approach delivers exceptional tenant satisfaction ratings of 8.3/10 while providing strong investor returns, proving that student-focused property management can achieve both social impact and financial success.

Milan and Petra Juric

Milan and Petra purchased a dated 1970s Papanui unit for $450,000 and undertook a comprehensive renovation while living onsite to minimize costs. Their transformation included removing the kitchen-lounge wall to create an open-plan layout, fully upgrading the bathroom and kitchen, replacing flooring throughout, and enhancing external appeal with new fencing and low-maintenance landscaping. The results were outstanding: property value increased to $540,000 within months, rental appraisal rose from $480–$500 to $530–$560 per week, and full Healthy Homes compliance was achieved. Their hands-on approach, combined with licensed professionals for critical work, delivered exceptional capital growth and rental returns that enabled their next investment purchase.

Melanie and Matthew Lovell

Drawing on their professional expertise as a landscape architect and builder, Melanie and Matthew transformed a deteriorating three-bedroom property with a perished roof and non-compliant damp basement into a warm, healthy five-bedroom home. Their strategic approach included organizing ten trades during a single 30-minute pre-settlement site visit, enabling seamless coordination and efficient execution. They removed unsafe features including a spiral staircase and deteriorated chimney, installed modern heating and insulation, and upgraded all major systems. The renovation converted the property into a cashflow-positive rental with strong tenant appeal, achieved significant capital growth beyond renovation costs, and reduced long-term maintenance requirements—demonstrating how professional planning and sweat equity create outstanding investment outcomes.