Property empire breaks up with mortgagee auction

A mortgagee auction of part of the property empire amassed by the colourful publican Zita Cameron saw a house go for $65,000 and a Whangaroa motel for $420,000.

About 30 people attended the auction at Bayleys Real Estate in Kerikeri on behalf of ANZ Bank.

A three-bedroom house on Wihongi St in Kaikohe sold for $65,000 (not including GST) to a Mid North investor, as did the historic former Masonic Hall on Kaeo's Waikare Ave. A home on 2230sq m of land at Whangaroa went to a Palmerston North buyer for $270,000, while the adjacent six-unit Pacific Harbour Lodge sold for $420,000 to a man moving from Orewa.

The backpackers/laundromat on Leigh St in Kaeo was passed in. Negotiations are continuing with interested parties.

The Kaikohe Hotel was also part of the late Mrs Cameron's empire and is still listed under her company, Cameron Enterprises, but was not included in the auction.

Cameron Enterprises' sole director, Mrs Cameron's daughter Frances MacCulloch, referred inquiries to the ANZ bank.