My journey so far
From Lloyd’s of London to the Hokitika River.
I’m Euan Mackenzie, and if you’re considering working with me, this should give you a bit of background. I nearly became a British Airways pilot, but that dream was cut short when 9/11 happened and the sponsorship programme was cancelled. So instead I landed a spot on the graduate programme at Aon in London, packed up my Aberdeen flat in 2001, and moved south to broker insurance in Lloyd’s of London.
It didn’t take long to figure out this wasn’t forever, but it was a fine introduction to negotiating large deals with seriously sharp underwriters. You learn fast when people are counting on you not to screw it up. By 2004 I was back in Edinburgh as Private Secretary to the CEO of the soon-to-be-formed Transport Scotland — a totally different world that taught me about strategy, people, and juggling a million urgent things at once.
My first real estate job
I joined Simpson & Marwick in Edinburgh — well-established, highly respected, and bursting with opportunity. Thrown in the deep end, I discovered I genuinely enjoyed crafting the marketing copy, and grew their residential sales to nearly 300 a year. Property wasn’t just a job; it was a career I could build.
A large corporate environment
Graeme and I moved to New Zealand and I joined Harcourts as Commercial Manager in the Hutt Valley. Being part of a big national network was a great education — but I quickly learned most buyers came through my own marketing and cold-calling. That taught me self-reliance, creativity and initiative, skills I’ve carried ever since.
Self-employed bliss
I set up Mackenzies Real Estate, and in 2021 bought a section on the Hokitika River — and the run-down house next door. I moved to Hokitika permanently, taking two years off real estate to focus on renovations. In 2023 I listed my first West Coast property. You’ll notice I no longer wear a suit and tie — walking Henry on the beach in a woollen pinstripe is just bonkers.
Work-life balance
The best part of living on the West Coast is being able to get outside whenever I want — tramping through quiet valleys, camping under star-filled skies, dinghy sailing or kayaking the lakes, or diving beneath the surface. Being out in the outdoors keeps things simple and reminds me why I love this place. It’s the same approach I bring to my work: helping people find homes and lifestyles that suit them, not just properties.
