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Useful experience for auctioneers includes:

• work as an auctioneer understudy, bidding assistant or auction room attendant
• office work in an auction house
• knowledge of industries in which auctions are held – for example, working with livestock is useful experience for stock and station auctioneers
• work in sales.

Auctioneers may do some or all of the following:

• inspect goods for auction and estimate their value
• arrange the place, date and advertising for an auction
• call for bids and look for bidding signals
• keep a database of goods for auction
• create online and print auction catalogues
• group items into lots for sale, and decide what order to sell lots at the auction
• organise online auctions
• provide information on goods to buyers
• keep a record of sales.

Few opportunities for auctioneers

It is difficult to get work as an auctioneer due to low staff turnover and the small size of the occupation in New Zealand.

Sales work best way to become an auctioneer

Your chances of securing a job as an auctioneer are best if you work as a salesperson:

• in real estate
• at a motor vehicle auction house
• for a stock and station company such as PGG Wrightson or Elders.

Sales staff in these industries who are interested in becoming auctioneers may work with mentors, or be offered in-house training or a chance to practise calling auctions. They can then become licensed auctioneers or named sellers for registered companies.

According to the Census, 138 auctioneers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Auctioneers work for auction houses and other merchants

Most auctioneers work for:

• real estate companies
• stock and station agents, auctioning livestock
• motor vehicle auction houses
• auction houses selling general goods or art and antiques
• fruit and produce merchants.

Many auction houses are owned by auctioneers and run as family businesses.

Auctioneers Association of NZ Inc

0800 289 282 - secretary@auctioneers.org.nz - www.auctioneers.org.nz

Real Estate Institute of NZ

0800 473 469 - info@reinz.co.nz - www.reinz.org.nz

Auctioneers may be either licensed auctioneers or named sellers.

Licensed auctioneers can work freelance, but named sellers can conduct auctions for their employer only. Named sellers may progress to become licensed auctioneers by getting an individual licence.

Experienced auctioneers may progress to become valuers.

• Valuer job information

Both licensed auctioneers and named sellers may specialise in the following areas:

Arts and Collectables Auctioneer

Arts and collectables auctioneers auction antique goods, fine arts and rare collectable items. Within this area of auctioneering it is possible to specialise further in areas such as silver, Persian rugs, furniture, jewellery, fine art, paintings, tribal art and artefacts or dolls.

Fruit and Produce Auctioneer

Fruit and produce auctioneers auction edible goods.

Auto Auctioneer

Auto auctioneers auction vehicles and vehicle parts.

General Auctioneer

General auctioneers auction items such as whiteware or furniture.

Real Estate Auctioneer

Real estate auctioneers auction houses and buildings.

Stock and Station Auctioneer

Stock and station auctioneers auction livestock.

Auctioneers need to be:

• excellent at public speaking and holding people's attention
• observant
• willing to learn
• persuasive and persistent
• able to work well under pressure, think quickly, and show initiative
• patient and trustworthy
• good with numbers
• skilled at organising and making decisions.

They also need to have a good memory.