By Joseph Nathan, Staff Writer
4 February 2025
Real estate agent Janet Dickson has lost her legal battle against the Real Estate Agents Authority (REA), with the High Court dismissing her claims over a compulsory Māori cultural training requirement.
Dickson had refused to complete Te Kākano (The Seed), a professional development module introducing real estate agents to Māori culture, language, customs, and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008, failing to complete required training results in an automatic five-year ban from the profession.
She applied for an exemption, was denied, and took the case to court—unsuccessfully.
Minister Criticizes Harsh Penality
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says the case exposes a disproportionate punishment that effectively forces agents out of work.
“I made it clear to the Real Estate Authority Board last February that CPD requirements should be relevant to the job,” McKee said. “I did not consider Te Kākano to meet that standard.”
She questioned why real estate agents face harsher consequences than other regulated professions.
“No other industry imposes a five-year ban for failing to complete professional development. It’s an excessive penalty that unfairly stops people from working.”
Law Change Already in Motion
McKee says the government is already acting to fix the issue.
In December, she introduced the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill, which removes the five-year disqualification rule from the Real Estate Agents Act 2008. The change will bring real estate in line with other professions, ensuring CPD requirements remain fair and reasonable.
The case has reignited debate over the role of cultural competency training in professional sectors, particularly when non-compliance leads to severe career consequences.
The Paper 