Raine & Horne has scored a major executive coup with Mr James Shepherd’s appointment as Supervision and Compliance Manager for New Zealand.

Mr Shepherd, who began his real estate career in 2009 after transitioning from the machinery and construction sector, has almost 16 years of experience working with two major real estate networks.

Besides his compliance role, Mr Shepherd will also assume general management responsibilities for the rapidly growing brand. Raine & Horne has quickly grown its footprint in New Zealand, with over 70 offices since launching in April 2023. 

Mr Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, is thrilled to welcome Mr Shepherd to the team. He believes his extensive background in office ownership, management, and sales will be invaluable. 

“James is a major asset for our business as we expand across New Zealand. He has a strong background in office ownership and management, sales management, and a wealth of recent sales experience in the Christchurch region,” said Mr Raine.

“With his extensive background, he will be responsible for supporting our existing offices and sales agents and helping to grow the office network. His role will, of course, also strongly focus on our compliance framework.” 

Amplifying rapid growth for Raine & Horne’s offices, sales agents and brand

Mr Shepherd said he is excited to join Raine & Horne at this point in its growth curve in New Zealand.

“The impressive growth the brand has experienced over the past 18 months, particularly after the acquisitions in 2024, shows a strong upward trajectory,” he said.

“Our new offices want to grow their businesses and are embracing Raine & Horne’s systems and processes, and there’s massive potential for them to expand. I’m excited that I’ll be helping them to unlock this potential.”

Mr Shepherd noted that one exciting opportunity for real estate businesses in New Zealand is the chance to streamline administrative processes and navigate complex regulations more efficiently.

“With my deep understanding of compliance issues, I’m confident I can help streamline the process and free up salespeople to focus on what matters – selling their vendor’s properties.” 

Having worked with two of New Zealand’s major real estate brands, Mr Shepherd is excited to be part of a company pushing beyond the status quo.

“Raine & Horne's unique edge is our advanced technology, and I am eager to drive awareness of our ecosystem of technology firsts throughout New Zealand, particularly the first-to-market AI-powered social media marketing platform, Amplify.”

Mr Shepherd also sees tremendous potential for Raine & Horne’s rural real estate division in New Zealand, drawing from his extensive rural background in farming before his stint in construction.

“New Zealand has a deep connection to rural life, so I see excellent opportunities for Raine & Horne Rural in New Zealand,” he said. 

Steady market conditions expected in 2025 

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Mr Shepherd believes vendors and buyers can expect a steady year. “While there are still some economic challenges to navigate, I expect the residential property market to remain steady and gradually build momentum.

“It won’t be a year for price surges, but this also means 2025 will be an excellent year for those ready to make moves,” he adds.  

“If you’ve got your finances in order, 2025 could be the year to jump in, while conditions remain stable.”

Mr Shepherd also sees a strong opportunity for those considering a move. Despite increased stock levels, the highest seen in a decade, he envisages the potential for better prices in 2025 than the past couple of years.

Finally, Mr Shepherd is excited about the future with Raine & Horne, saying, “I’m thrilled about the opportunities ahead. I’m eager to dive in, visit the offices, meet the teams, and help build the future of this exciting business.”