Bayleys Palmerston North

Real estate is about far more than property - it’s about people, relationships and life-changing moments. Maura Tootill is known for her energy, authenticity and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. With a reputation for going above and beyond, Maura combines sharp marketing instincts, strong negotiation skills and genuine care for her clients to consistently deliver exceptional results. Passionate about property and deeply connected to the Manawatū community, Maura understands that every home has a story - and every client deserves a tailored approach. Whether working with first-home buyers, families upsizing, investors or vendors preparing to make their next move, she brings professionalism, creativity and relentless commitment to every campaign. Maura’s marketing stands out for its modern, engaging and highly effective approach, helping properties capture attention in a crowded market. Her honest communication, strategic thinking and determination have earned the trust of clients who value both results and a positive experience throughout the process. Known for her warmth, humour and tireless work ethic, Maura believes real estate should feel personal, empowering and exciting. When you work with Maura, you’re not just hiring a real estate agent - you’re gaining a passionate advocate dedicated to achieving the very best outcome for you and your property.

John van Lienen, together with his wife and real estate partner Michelle, offer real estate credentials that are deeply seated in their unrivalled experience and understanding of the Manawatu real estate market. They have skilfully transacted over 6,500 property sales to date, proof of their undeniable success and dedication to their clients. John’s approach to real estate is characterised by enthusiastic energy, innovation, experience, and integrity. Together with Michelle, they have the proven ability to navigate all markets and economic conditions with a high level of experience to get their clients' properties sold effectively. John’s expertise as an Auctioneer is peerless in the Manawatu. He has been honoured as Australasian Auctioneer of the Year by the Real Estate Results Network and has also served as a judge for the REINZ New Zealand Auctioneer of the Year. John contributed 10 years of service to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand as a committee member and was on the Real Estate Results Network advisory board throughout Australasia. John has contributed a decade of service to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, participating for the Manawatu-Whanganui region and on the advisory board for the Real Estate Results Network throughout Australasia. Family is the cornerstone of John and Michelle’s life. Their son Jake graduated with an aviation degree from Massey University, and their daughter Gorgi was awarded a soccer scholarship in the US, where she completed her business degree. Exploring a world of opportunities before them in different parts of the world. John’s impressive credentials in the real estate industry include the fifteen-year ownership of the award-winning boutique agency, JVL Prestige Realty, before Bayleys Realty Group purchased Michelle and John's business in 2014. Today, John and Michelle are backed by a formidable team, including Sales Associate Kristen Lowndes and Administrator Tracey Eagles.

Kristen is a valued real estate professional who John and Michelle van Lienen are proud to have as part of their team. Kristen began her real estate career with JVL Prestige Realty as Sales Support in 2011. After spending two years working in real estate in London, Kristen returned to her hometown of Palmerston North in 2015 to join the team as Sales Associate to John and Michelle van Lienen. Behind the wheels of a successful team lies an incredible workload between four complementary team members and their roles and responsibilities. Kristen holds a full real estate licence and plays an important role across all aspects of the team, including sales. You may receive a call from her talking over the little things that really make a difference to the service, which is what makes the team's relationship with clients mean so much. You will enjoy Kristen and her fresh, calm, warm and friendly character to complement an all-round professional team service. Unrivalled in their experience, John and Michelle, together with their dedicated team, bring together the expertise, local knowledge and commitment that deliver unrivalled results to their clients.

Raised in the heart of the Manawatū, Lily Beck has a long-standing connection to the local community and a strong reputation for delivering exceptional results. As a high-performing salesperson, she understands that buying or selling a home isn’t just a transaction, it’s a major life decision. That’s why she’s committed to making the process clear, confident, and stress-free for her clients. With a distinguished background in media and advertising spanning decades, Lily brings a powerful edge to every campaign. Her expertise and communication skills help properties stand out and attract the right buyers. Clients benefit from her strategic thinking and her ability to tailor each campaign to fit their unique goals. Lily is known for her calm professionalism, honest guidance, and methodical approach, qualities that make clients feel supported from the first meeting through to settlement. They appreciate her transparency, reliability, and the genuine care she brings to every relationship. Working with Lily means having a dedicated advocate who listens closely, solves problems quickly. She excels at identifying the right solutions, negotiating strongly on behalf of her clients, and always keeping their priorities in focus. Beyond her professional work, Lily is an active member of the community, supporting the local Chinese Association and the Hokowhitu Bowling Club. When she’s not working hard for her clients, food is her love language, and she enjoys spending time with family and friends, bringing the same warmth and commitment to her work as she does to her personal life. If you're looking for a dependable agent who holds herself to the highest standards and puts your needs first, Lily Beck is the trusted partner you want on your side. She believes every client deserves nothing less than an exceptional real estate experience from beginning to end.

Michelle van Lienen began her impressive real estate career at 19, quickly rising to the top in residential sales at a national level at that time. Her deep ties to the Manawatu region - her home turf - have been pivotal in her success alongside her husband, John. Their combined experience, energetic approach, and steadfast dedication to client satisfaction have set them apart. Michelle's client-centred approach and John's renowned industry reputation offer a powerful blend of strategy and integrity. Together, they're a dynamic duo, bolstered by a skilled team, ensuring a smooth property transaction process. With an unrivalled depth of experience and understanding of the Manawatū property market, Michelle and John have been involved in more than 6,500 property sales to date. Their extensive experience, local knowledge and commitment to their clients underpin a proven approach focused on achieving the best possible outcome for those they represent. Known for navigating market shifts and providing reliable advice, Michelle and John’s partnership stands out for its innovation and expertise in the property sphere. Michelle prides herself on the attention to detail for all clients, which is a rare quality in the real estate profession. She protects clients throughout their property transactions by ensuring all contractual documentation, including legal contracts, are correct. This provides confidence to the purchaser or vendor before signing such important documents. One of the many valuable skills Michelle offers her clients is her flair and advice in preparing and staging a home for sale. This regularly makes a significant difference to the saleability and value of a home, helping it sell more quickly. For real estate service that combines a personal and determined touch with professional excellence, connect with Michelle van Lienen - a name synonymous with trust and standout results.

Bede Blatchford brings an international perspective and proven track record to Bayleys Manawatu, with more than 11 years of experience across commercial and industrial real estate. Beginning his career with Bayleys Manawatu, Bede spent seven years on the Gold Coast, one of Australia’s strongest office markets, where he built significant market share and led major leasing commitments. During this time, he transacted more than 100,000sqm and worked across office sales, development transactions, leasing, and advisory. A standout achievement was the sale of a $32.35 million A-grade office building, one of the largest commercial transactions the Gold Coast market had seen in two years. His performance was recognised with the Centuria Leasing Agent of the Year (QLD) award and being named Top Revenue Writer in 2024. Now back in the Manawatu and servicing the wider Palmerston North market, Bede combines strong analytical capability with practical market expertise and relationships spanning private investors to institutional clients. His experience spans commercial and industrial property, adding value across advisory and transactional work. Committed to professional development, Bede has continued his studies through Massey University and completed digital coursework through Harvard Business School. Commercially astute, collaborative, and solutions focused, he is known for delivering outcomes aligned with clients’ objectives. Bede is passionate about helping clients achieve results across the Palmerston North and Manawatu commercial property market, bringing a strategic approach backed by local knowledge and international experience.