Donna Hewitt never planned to become a real‑estate agent. During the global financial crisis she worked on a mortgagee recovery team in the UK, guiding families through distressing home‑foreclosure cases. That experience taught her how to listen deeply, stay calm under pressure and help people navigate life‑changing transitions. When she relocated to New Zealand she started as a personal assistant to a top agent, soaking up every lesson. Within eighteen months she had sold 37 houses – not through slick sales tricks, but through empathy, discipline and an unwavering commitment to fairness.

Out of these experiences she created Connect Realty: a brand built on generosity, transparency and community. Donna’s model shares commissions 50/50 with any agent who introduces a buyer, welcomes every qualified buyer, and cultivates a nationwide network of agents who collaborate rather than compete. She writes regular guides and resources to educate vendors and agents about the unseen cost of non‑collaboration. Donna’s goal isn’t just to sell homes; it’s to make real estate fairer and more human for everyone involved.