Full Breakdown
Tribunal Rejects Real Estate Agent’s Exemption Request Over Mandatory Cultural Course
9/5/2026, 4:00:40 AM
Mandatory Course Triggers Industry Backlash
In late 2023 the Real Estate Authority introduced a compulsory 90-minute training called Te Kakano (the Seed), covering Maori language, the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori land. The authority framed the course as essential for all roughly 17,000 New Zealand real-estate agents. Many agents, including veteran broker Janet Dickson, argued the material was unrelated to everyday real-estate work and protested the requirement. Dickson, with three decades of experience, refused to attend the course in November 2023, placing her licence in jeopardy.
Tribunal Decision and Authority’s Position
After a nearly three-year legal battle that moved through the Real Estate Authority, the High Court and finally the Real Estate Tribunal, the tribunal this week denied Dickson’s request for an exemption. The authority has indicated it is unlikely to reinstate her licence, despite Dickson’s claim that the authority has not suspended or cancelled licences of other agents found guilty of “seriously negligent real-estate agency work.” The authority maintains that completion of Te Kakano remains a condition of licencing.
Reactions from Dickson and Supporters
She reported receiving supportive emails nationwide, with many expressing admiration for her stance. Legal representation is being handled by Stephen Franks, while former politician Don Brash of Hobson’s Pledge, which funded the case, is also involved in decisions about a possible appeal.
Wider Impact on the Profession
The dispute has highlighted tension between cultural competency mandates and professional autonomy within New Zealand’s real-estate sector. According to the authority, agents who refuse the course risk losing the ability to work, prompting some colleagues to take early retirement. The outcome of Dickson’s case may set a precedent for how mandatory cultural training is enforced across regulated professions.
