PHOTO: First National real estate agent Andrea Fenton has produced bilingual signs in te reo and English for her listings.
Gen Z wahine-Māori Andrea Fenton is on a mission to demonstrate that homeownership is within reach for everyone in her community.
According to the NZHERALD a 27-year-old real estate agent with First National Rotorua, Fenton has opted to incorporate te reo into some of her marketing signs, embracing a policy that aims to empower indigenous homeowners through a face-to-face approach.
Her te reo signage has garnered attention in Rotorua, earning praise from the mayor and one seller who remarked, “We’re a bilingual country and we need te reo to be out there.”
Fenton, a mother of three, hails from Ngāti Whātua, while her partner is Te Arawa. Currently renting, they are diligently working towards the goal of purchasing their own home.
She is determined to challenge the notion held by some that homeownership is exclusively reserved for Pākehā or the affluent.
Recent figures from Stats NZ indicate that approximately 1.4 million New Zealanders reside in non-owner-occupied housing. Among ethnic groups, Pacific peoples and Māori are less likely to own their homes or hold them in family trusts.
Fenton’s journey in real estate began as an administrator in 2021, gradually transitioning into sales at the onset of this year. She believes in laying a solid foundation of knowledge and understanding the industry before advancing.
Navigating an industry primarily dominated by Pākehā and older individuals was initially daunting for Fenton, who found few examples of friends or family owning homes. However, her determination to make homeownership accessible to all has only grown stronger.
One of Fenton’s clients, Jo-Anne Edmonds, expressed delight at the option of a te reo sign, emphasizing the importance of embracing bilingualism in a multicultural community like Rotorua.
Matt Pryor, marketing manager at Whāriki – Māori Business Network Aotearoa, lauded the integration of te reo in business, noting its role in fostering cultural maturity in New Zealand.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell commended Fenton’s innovative approach to promoting houses for sale, emphasizing Rotorua’s status as the first bilingual city in New Zealand.
Mariana Vercoe, deputy chair of Te Tatau o Te Arawa, praised Fenton’s initiative in supporting Māori homeownership and celebrated her efforts in advancing te reo Māori through bilingual signage, aligning with the vision of Rotorua Reorua.