Such is the ‘pull’ of the Central Otago and Queenstown region that two of Harcourts’ most celebrated lifestyle property agents have returned to take up residence – like a good wine for which the region is renowned.
After almost 30 years’ living in Queenstown and Arrowtown Richard and Sue Woerlee made the move to Christchurch way back in 2006. They’d played an important role in opening and successfully establishing the multi-award-winning Harcourts Arrowtown office, but Sue wanted to pursue her passion for equestrian dressage and their son was at boarding school in Christchurch.
Sue admits she “didn’t make a good boarding school parent” and the move resolved that, while also enabling her to eventually compete at the NZ Dressage Championships.
Their business flourished – spending several years in the top 5% of national salespeople and eventually specialising in lifestyle properties and quality residential homes in and around North Canterbury for Harcourts. Business success continued, recognised as Harcourts’ Top Lifestyle Property Sales Team in Canterbury and featuring in national awards from 2018 to 2024.
And now they’re back down south.
“We’ve been wanting to come back for quite some time but the Canterbury business had grown so much and there were so many referrals and repeat clients it was hard to leave!” says Sue.
“But what brought us back is quite simply that this region is home. We couldn’t procrastinate any more, we just needed to do it.
“We loved the idea of being closer to family and where we’re living in Queensberry means we have land for us and the horses and we’re handy to everything.”
