Mike is a rarity. Or so he is told every time he goes out in Queenstown. As a local, born and raised in the district, he is a bit of a novelty for his generation in such a transient and evolving area. Whilst making friends from all over the world is one of the highlights of living here, it often means having to say “goodbye” with heartbreaking frequency. The double-edged sword of living in a tourist destination is that social bubbles can inadvertently create an overall disconnect. This is one of the key factors that drew Mike to a real estate career: an opportunity to build a stronger connection to the broader community.
Mike grew up on Coronet Peak Station farm run by his parents, and his grandparents before that. Although his brother and he had no desire to take on career farming, he will always value the experience of that lifestyle, being an ideal family environment. He attended Arrowtown Primary, back when it was on Caernarvon Street, and fondly recalls folk dancing at the Autumn Festival, trips out to Goldfields, Friday ski school, and being crowned snow prince at Winter Fest. Just missing out on the new school at Chalmers Place and its intermediate expansion, Mike completed his high school education as a boarder at John McGlashan College in Dunedin.
Developing a passion for film, art, and literature, Mike took a practical film course in Wellington before settling back into Queenstown life, only leaving to escape the occasional winter and explore new parts of the world. Lucky to have visited some of the most excellent galleries in Europe, temples and castles of Japan, and beaches of the Pacific, Mike is still in awe of the sight of home enveloped by mountains when returning. The people who call this place home will never take these incredible surroundings for granted. It would be hard to find a property in the area that doesn’t have at least one majestic view, but any you may be missing can be captured by one of our many talented local artists and brought right into your home. Mike is rekindling his love of art by connecting with local painters, sculptors, photographers, and galleries in the area, connecting them with homeowners seeking the right aesthetic for their interiors and exteriors.
In This Series… Ray White agent and creator of the Arrowtown Audio Tour, Nick Fifield, details the stories of our streets. Because buying or selling a home in Arrowtown isn’t only about price, it’s about place and the stories we’re part of. Buckingham Street, 1905. Muir & Moodie. Te Papa … Read more
We’re thrilled to welcome Nick Fifield to the Ray White Arrowtown team. In a place like Arrowtown, real estate is never just about boundaries and bedrooms, it’s about people, place, and the stories that tie them together and few people understand that insight better than Nick Fifield. As Chairperson of … Read more