Wednesday, 06 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Honey turns sour over complaint from his old firm

Herald on Sunday
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Martin Honey in a still from a video posted on his website.

Martin Honey in a still from a video posted on his website.

One of the country's top real estate agents is under investigation by the Real Estate Agents Authority - and has retaliated by laying a complaint of harassment.

The authority is investigating a claim that Martin Honey continued to run a Remax website after he moved to a competing company. Browsers who clicked on listings on Honey's Remax page were allegedly diverted to Honey's new Ray White site, effectively siphoning business away from the new Remax franchisees in the area.

Honey has a long list of accolades from his 20-year career. One year he was Remax's No 1 salesperson. Last year he sold $21 million worth of property, also winning the Ray White "premium" award.

The Herald on Sunday has been given a video recording showing computer users calling up a Honey-fronted, Remax-branded website marketing his new listings - but linking viewers to his Ray White website when they click on the listings.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Honey says any linking was inadvertent. In a statement given to the authority as evidence, his website designer Hemi Taka says the website issue was caused by the way search engine Google "cached" or retained website information even after it had been removed.

But a digital investigation report, commissioned by the authority and obtained by the Herald on Sunday, says the references to "Google and caching are confused". Digital forensics consultant Mike Spence says: "The Remax pages have been left active within the website." He concludes that a person who typed "Remax Onehunga" into a search engine would have been presented with Honey's website, even though he was working for a competitor.

The new Remax franchisees, Dermot Nottingham and Earle McKinney, claim the business lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions during the 14 months the website was online.

Nottingham says its listing rate increased dramatically after Honey's Remax website was taken down in April 2010.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Honey laid a counter-complaint against Nottingham with the REAA, alleging harassment.

The authority's Complaints Assessment Committee met on Thursday to discuss the case but could take two to three weeks to rule. Honey did not want to comment.

Related articles

New Zealand

Top real estate agent escapes penalty for website 'error'

14 Apr 05:35 PM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Child seriously injured after struck by car Auckland’s North Shore

06 Dec 04:13 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones interviews Te Whatu Ora staffer charged over Covid-19 data leak

06 Dec 04:07 AM
New Zealand

'One that bites': Fisherman's $20k fine for removing boat's monitoring device

06 Dec 04:00 AM
New Zealand

Colin proves old adage: You never forget how to ride a bike

06 Dec 03:43 AM

Toy trends for Christmas

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Child seriously injured after struck by car Auckland’s North Shore

Child seriously injured after struck by car Auckland’s North Shore

06 Dec 04:13 AM

An investigation will be conducted into the circumstances of the crash, police said.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones interviews Te Whatu Ora staffer charged over Covid-19 data leak

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones interviews Te Whatu Ora staffer charged over Covid-19 data leak

06 Dec 04:07 AM
'One that bites': Fisherman's $20k fine for removing boat's monitoring device

'One that bites': Fisherman's $20k fine for removing boat's monitoring device

06 Dec 04:00 AM
Colin proves old adage: You never forget how to ride a bike

Colin proves old adage: You never forget how to ride a bike

06 Dec 03:43 AM
More houses coming
sponsored

More houses coming

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP