Family baffled by 'ghost buyer' ownership claims

The Hokianga relatives of a man dubbed the "ghost buyer" for reportedly making false agreements to buy luxury homes and cars in Auckland are saddened he is using their farm as part of his alleged deception.

Blair Michael Bawden, 23, from Auckland, and his fiancee, Toni Morgan Trethewey, have been outed as the mystery buyers, who have reportedly been making bids on Auckland homes and booking overseas trips but failing to pay when it came time.

Mr Bawden has allegedly been visiting Auckland car dealerships making offers on cars including a $140,000 Maserati GranTurismo. He has been telling those he has allegedly fooled that he owned a cattle farm on the Hokianga Harbour that had been left to him by a relative. He also gave the address as Hawkins Rd, Hokianga.

But the Hawkins Rd farm is owned by Mr Bawden's father's cousin, John Bawden, and his father, Stan Bawden.

John Bawden told the Northern Advocate Blair Bawden had no connection with the farm.

"I don't even know if he's been on the farm and I don't know what he's trying to do [by saying he had claim on the farm] as he doesn't have any interest in the property at all," John Bawden said. "He has never lived here and there's no reason why he would give this address."

John Bawden was not particularly angry or upset by his distant relative's claim.

"I think it's just sad really and I don't know what he is trying to achieve. I just feel very sorry for his family, who are honest, hard-working people," John Bawden said.

"His actions will be hurting those family members."

Stanley Bawden was bemused by Blair Bawden's claims to the family farm. "It's our son who owns the farm, John," Stanley Bawden said.

Blair Bawden and Ms Trethewey have been named to alert other firms to the activities of the couple. The Northern Advocate rang Blair Bawden several times on his cellphone, but despite leaving messages, he did not return the calls asking him for comment.

He told the NZ Herald he hadn't tried to purchase any cars. "It is very, very bizarre. I've had enough of it. I don't even know where it's coming from ... I'm trying to figure everything out myself ... I don't know where to go from here," he said.

The couple have reportedly been kicked out of two rental properties, in Silverdale and Massey, for unpaid rent.

Rob Noakes from Wynn Williams Lawyers said the couple weren't doing anything criminal but under contract law, the car dealers could sue Mr Bawden for the cost of the vehicles he signed agreements to buy because they were legally binding. If the dealers ended up reselling the cars for less than what Mr Bawden had agreed to pay, they could go after him for the balance.