An Auckland real estate agent has apologised for an "unacceptable" post where he offered unvaccinated Kiwis discounted rates.
Tim Webb, who markets himself as an Agent of Change, posted to his Facebook page on Thursday that as a "formal protest" he was going to increase his usual 2 percent fee to 4 percent for clients who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, unvaccinated clients would receive a discounted fee of 1.8 percent.
The post was shared on social media where Kiwis ridiculed the discount as a "highly exploitable marketing gimmick".
"I thought this was a bad joke, until I realised that he was the bad joke," one person wrote.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Webb said he woke up this morning with "a heavy heart".
"I love my country and the people who make it the best country in the world. No BS, I would die for each of you today, if I knew the division that separates our country ended tomorrow. I want peace.
"With that said, I'm removing the offer and stand I took yesterday because I'm aggravating the situation, rather acknowledging, accepting and embracing the disharmony and discord amongst us. We need love, not war."
Webb also issued an apology.
"I apologise to you all. And I mean ALL of you. I crossed the line yesterday and that’s unacceptable to me, as it was for many of you."
As a result he will be "scaling down" his real estate sales business.
Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) chief executive Jen Baird, said REINZ continues to advise its members to follow the Government guidelines to keep themselves and the people they come into contact with in the course of their business safe.
"Like all businesses across New Zealand, real estate firms are working through their health and safety risk assessments, considering the views of their teams and the perspectives of their customers and will make informed decisions about vaccinations in their workplaces."
