Sharnika Dowthwaite

What started as a personal interest in property quickly became a professional calling. But Sharnika didn't stroll into real estate through the front door; she entered as a first-home buyer, renovator, and multi-time owner-occupier. The early challenges of buying and selling as a young family–like not knowing the right questions to ask–pushed her to earn the highest real estate qualifications in New Zealand: Branch Manager and Agent. Still, she'll tell you the best reward is becoming a trusted agent people turn to, all with a purist's belief that people come first.

Her day kicks off before the sky even thinks about turning blue–5 am sharp. That early start isn't just about being organised—as she always is—it's how she stays one step ahead: managing a household with four sons, a husband, two dogs, and the regular stream of school friends who feel right at home popping in.

One of Sharnika's success stories was masterminded during COVID. In the middle of an auction campaign and lockdowns, her sellers were suddenly unable to stay in their beachfront home. Seeing the bigger picture, Sharnika quickly pulled the parachute by relocating them, kept the campaign from falling through, and sealed a result north of the vendor's expectations. A win for the area, the owners, and a dream come true for the buyers.

She's not just a "local"; she's part of the fabric of Ōhope. Elected the local school’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, connected to old and new families arriving in the area, she's a welcoming advocate for everything that makes the beachside town tick–from luxury waterfront homes to the rough-cut gems and everything in between.