A life journey
Avenues sits down with Lynette and John McFadden, partners in life and business.
Lynette’s career began far from property listings, working full-time as a senior staff nurse on a surgical ward. Even then, real estate was quietly weaving its way into their lives. Together, Lynette and John were renovating homes – what we’d now call “flipping” – and developing a growing fascination with property. It was during a holiday that John suggested Lynette would be well-suited to real estate. She trusted his insight, took the leap, and never imagined it would lead to a 33-year journey culminating in Harcourts Gold.
That journey took a defining turn in the 1990s when the couple purchased the Harcourts Papanui office. At the time, it was a small operation, and the opportunity came under tragic circumstances following the death of its owner. Financially, the decision was daunting. “We weren’t in a position to afford it easily,” Lynette recalls. “It had to work.” They poured every dollar and every waking hour into building the business. Their commitment didn’t go unnoticed. Harcourts founder Stephen Collins recognised their drive and offered them the chance to secure three additional offices – an endorsement that cemented their confidence and direction.
Central to Harcourts Gold’s success is its philosophy of hiring for “attitude and energy.” Skills can be taught, they believe, but spark and intent cannot. “We have a talent for finding talent,” Lynette says, “but it also has a way of finding us. Those who join the business often know where they want to go and trust us to help get them there.”
The pair are acutely aware of the pressures of the industry. Long hours, rejection, and weekend work can all contribute to burnout. Over many years, they’ve invested heavily in wellbeing, working with mentors such as performance psychologist Gilbert Enoka and clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Anticich. These “not-so-secret weapons,” as John calls them, have helped embed sustainable strategies for balance across the team. For Lynette personally, family, lifelong friendships, and the grounding influence of her parents have kept her steady.
Papanui itself is deeply personal. Both Lynette and John attended Papanui High School, and Lynette’s father grew up nearby. To now lead the number one real estate office in New Zealand – and the top Harcourts office globally – from Papanui is profoundly meaningful. “I think my grandparents would be very proud,” Lynette says.
Their success was recognised again with the 2025 REINZ Large Residential Office of the Year award, their third consecutive win. John says it reflects exhaustive planning, strong leadership, and a deeply embedded workplace culture. “There’s a sense of panache at Gold,” Lynette says. “Everything we do, we do with style.”
Working together remains one of the couple’s greatest rewards. “It’s a privilege to work with John,” Lynette says. Her advice to other couples in business is simple: “Stay in your lane. Your relationship has to be rock solid and built on deep respect.”
Looking ahead, Lynette states that she wants to keep working but on her own terms. John hopes for happiness and health for his family – and for Harcourts Gold to continue leading from the front and contributing positively to people’s lives.