Terms & Conditions

House of Huia is a registered member of the Auctioneers Association of New Zealand and holder of a current Auctioneers Licence. Before participating in our auctions, we kindly request that you familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions to ensure a smooth and transparent bidding process.

  1. Auctioneer’s role
    1. The auctioneer acts as the agent for the vendor in relation to the sale of the auctioned lot.
    2. House of Huia reserves the right to withdraw any lot from sale without providing a reason, divide lots, or combine multiple lots before the commencement of the auction.
  2. Buyer’s registration
    1. Bidders are required to complete a buyer’s registration form before participating in an auction.
    2. Online bidders must be registered with an account on the House of Huia website.
    3. Registration for an auction may entail providing personal information and agreeing to these buyer’s terms and conditions.
  3. Bidding
    1. Bids are accepted through in-person, online, phone, or absentee bidding in each auction.
    2. The auctioneer has the discretion to decline bids, advance and regulate bidding during the auction.
    3. Once acknowledged by the auctioneer, a bid cannot be withdrawn.
    4. Each bid must meet or exceed a minimum amount specified by the auctioneer.
    5. An item may be subject to an undisclosed reserve price set by the vendor.
    6. The auctioneer may place a bid on behalf of the vendor.
    7. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be recognised as the buyer.
    8. In case of a dispute, the auctioneer’s decision is final.
    9. If the highest bid does not meet the reserve price, the item is considered unsold, and will be up for post auction negotiation
  4. Absentee
    1. An absentee bidder may submit written instructions authorising the auctioneer to bid up to a specified maximum amount. The auctioneer will execute the absentee bid at the lowest possible price, taking the reserve and other bidders into account.
    2. Telephone bids may be placed on behalf of prospective buyers during the live auction.
    3. House of Huia is not responsible for communication errors or misunderstandings in the execution of absentee or telephone bids.
  5. Buyer’s premium
    1. A buyer’s premium of 17% of the hammer price plus G.S.T. will be applied (totalling 19.55%).
  6. Payment
    1. Payment is due within seven days of the conclusion of the auction.
    2. Accepted payment methods include cash, internet banking, EFTPOS, and PayPal. The buyer is responsible for any associated bank or card fees.
    3. If the buyer fails to pay or collect the items, the auctioneer may elect to resell the item in public or private sale without notifying the defaulting buyer.
    4. Items may not be collected until the company has received the full payment.
  7. Collection
    1. Items must be collected within five business days following the conclusion of the auction.
    2. Complimentary delivery is provided for invoices over $1000 within the Christchurch area.
    3. Shipping can be arranged by the company at the buyers’ expense. An invoice will be sent to the buyer once the item is ready for delivery.
  8. Risk of loss
    1. Upon the fall of the hammer, a contract of sale is made between the buyer and the vendor.
    2. Risk for the lot passes to the buyer upon the fall of the hammer, and House of Huia is not liable for loss, theft, or damage to items beyond this point.
    3. Ownership of the item is transferred to the buyer upon receipt of full payment by the company.
    4. Buyers are responsible for understanding and complying with all laws and regulations related to their purchases.
  9. Condition
    1. All items are sold in their existing condition, inclusive of any faults, imperfections, and errors in their description.
    2. Descriptions, photographs, and illustrations serve as guidance only. Buyers are encouraged to inspect items themselves or seek clarification on descriptions before the auction.
    3. House of Huia makes every effort to provide accurate descriptions but does not guarantee the accuracy of descriptions, including the condition, size, authenticity, quality, or quantity of items.