A would-be buyer is threatening legal action after being told by a real estate agency he'd missed out on a plot in an Auckland subdivision sale despite queuing all night.
About 20 cars queued overnight for the chance to buy one of the 12 sections in Beachlands. Photo: RNZ / Carla Penman
About 20 carloads of people spent the night outside Ti Toki Lanes in Beachlands. Only the first 12 in the queue were given numbered tickets ensuring them priority for one of 12 sections selling for up to $480,000.
The gates opened at 9am and the first 12 cars streamed in, single file.
But hopeful buyer Arun Sethi, who said he had been sixth in line since about 2pm yesterday, didn't make the cut.
He said his wife had to borrow the car this morning to take his children to football while he stayed in the queue.
"My wife took away my car, at the moment - she has to go to drop my kids - and I'm just sitting at number six and you're just passing me away. This is not fair."
He said his family moved here just two months ago from India and he did not expect to be treated this way in New Zealand.
Brothers Troy (left) and Ryan Larsen were among the first in line to buy one of the sites in Beachlands. Photo: RNZ / Carla Penman
The Larsen family held the first two spots in line.
Ryan Larsen, 24, said it was a freezing, uncomfortable night but his family - including his brother, parents and grandparents - came prepared with plenty of blankets.
"So we got here at 1pm yesterday afternoon. We were the first cars here and then there were a few that showed up about 2.30, 3pm," he said.
"I think most of the cars showed up about 4pm, 5pm."
Mr Larsen said he wasn't sure what he and his 21-year-old brother, Troy, would do with their sections but they hoped to build houses on them in the near future.
The sections range from 800 to 1300 square metres, with buyers paying a 5 percent deposit today and the balance when they get title late next year.
