What is the rea - Real Estate Authority - and what does it do in New Zealand?

What Is the REA and What Does It Do?
The REA is the government regulator of New Zealand real estate agents. Here is what it does and why it matters to property buyers and sellers.

What the REA is
The Real Estate Authority (REA) is the independent, Crown-funded statutory body responsible for regulating New Zealand’s real estate industry under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008. The REA issues licences to individual real estate agents (both salespersons and agents), maintains the public register of licensed agents, sets and enforces professional standards, and handles complaints about real estate agents.

Licensing
The REA assesses and issues licences to individuals who want to work as real estate agents in New Zealand. To obtain a licence, applicants must complete required coursework, pass the REA’s assessment, and meet character and fitness requirements. Licences must be renewed annually and licensees must complete continuing education requirements to maintain their licence.

Professional standards and the code of conduct
The REA administers the Real Estate Agents Act (Professional Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2012, which sets out the code of conduct that all licensed agents must follow. This code covers: duties to clients (vendors and buyers), disclosure obligations, conflicts of interest, advertising standards, and handling of trust money. Breach of the code can result in disciplinary action.

Complaints and discipline
If you have a complaint about a real estate agent’s conduct, you can make a formal complaint to the REA. The REA’s complaints and discipline process involves: initial assessment of the complaint, investigation, and if warranted, referral to a Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC) or the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal. Possible outcomes include: censure, fine, suspension, or cancellation of licence.

The public register
The REA maintains a publicly searchable register of all current and former licensed real estate agents in New Zealand (reaa.govt.nz). The register shows the agent’s current licence status, licence type, and any disciplinary findings.
​Checking the register before appointing an agent takes 60 seconds and is straightforward due diligence.

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Paul Sumich is a Whangarei-based real estate professional with local Northland expertise. Find more at paulsumich.co.nz/blog