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- Former Hamilton Labour MP Jamie Strange has started a new career in real estate.
- Strange joined Bayleys Hamilton, working with agent Aman Bali, and is taking his first listing to auction.
- He balances his real estate work with his commitments as a Hamilton city councillor.
A fleeting rock star who ditched church work and teaching for politics is now trying his hand at selling property.
Fresh from completing his real estate papers, former Hamilton Labour MP Jamie Strange told OneRoof that his new job as an agent was a natural fit.
“I see real estate as being similar [to my previous jobs]. You are helping people to achieve their goals,” he said.
Strange has joined forces with Bayleys Hamilton agent Aman Bali and is taking his first listing to auction next week. He has pitched the four-bedroom house at 13 Charles Edwards Street, in Ohaupo, as a family home offering “exceptional space, comfort, and lifestyle appeal in a peaceful, semi-rural setting”.
Strange says he first saw Bayleys real estate agent Aman Bali in an ad on the back of a bus. He is now working in Bali’s team. Photo / Supplied
Strange is taking 13 Charles Edwards Street, in Ohaupo, to auction on February 26. Photo / Supplied
Bali sponsors Strange’s football club, Melville United, but Strange first came across the experienced agent while out driving. “Basically, I saw him [Bali] on the back of a bus," he said.
Strange and wife Angela, a Waikato regional councillor, had just completed a major renovation of their home, and they were looking for an agent to appraise it.
“[Bali] came and did an appraisal for us. I was very impressed with his energy. He brings high energy to every situation,” Strange told OneRoof.
“His passion for property, creative thinking and prompt responsiveness immediately distinguished him from others in the field.”
Strange said it was early days but that he was enjoying his new profession. “It’s something I’ve been interested in for a long time, so it’s nice to finally be involved.”
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There have also been some nice surprises. The 49-year-old father of four teens said he was pleasantly surprised by how many first-home buyers were in the market. “I’m talking with them about their first step on the property ladder, which is such a big purchase.”
Strange has a packed CV. He first trained as a youth minister before becoming a music teacher and then trying his hand as a rock star. He even released his own album in 2010.
He became a list MP in 2018 and worked on various parliamentary select committees before being elected Hamilton East’s MP in 2020. He decided not to seek re-election in 2023, and in 2024 he returned to teaching before being voted in as a Hamilton city councillor last year.
Strange is also a passionate footballer. Photo / NZME
Strange said his job may seem varied, but he doesn’t see it that way. “People say, ‘oh that’s a bit unusual’, but actually they are all very similar because what they are doing is advocating for people, helping people, supporting the community.”
Strange said he had been interested in real estate for a long time, having bought and sold several properties over the years. The flexibility of the job allowed him to fulfil his city council commitments.
“Hamilton City Council is my main priority. I will be attending all the required meetings, and I will continue to do so for the three-year term. And also, I will do the real estate when I don’t have council commitments.”
Strange said he had no plans to add anything new to his packed life. “I have had a few jobs looking back. I’m certainly getting closer to the end of my career than the beginning, so I don’t know how many more, but I’m really happy with how things are sitting at the moment,” he said.
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