By all accounts, this is not the time to be bold in Wellington. Office vacancies are up. Retail is under pressure. Hiring freezes are quietly becoming the norm. Ask around the CBD and you’ll hear the same refrain: wait it out, keep costs down, don’t expand.

Which makes Jim Wana something of a contradiction.

While much of the city is pulling back, Jim is hiring. Growing. Investing. And doing it without apology. Around the commercial property scene, he’s earned a nickname that sticks — Jim the SPACE Man. Not because he’s detached from reality, but because he understands commercial space, and more importantly, timing.

So the obvious question needs asking: is this guy crazy?

Jim Wana doesn’t look like someone guessing his way through a downturn. He’s 20 years deep in commercial real estate, specialising in commercial sales and retail leasing across Wellington and wider New Zealand. From CBD office and character properties to strip retail and large-format sites, he’s worked through multiple market cycles. Booms, busts, recoveries — he’s seen them all.

And that’s precisely why he’s moving now.

Jim’s approach is old-school and unapologetically client-focused. One-on-one conversations. Clear advice. No fluff. Vendors, buyers, tenants and landlords all get the same treatment: disciplined thinking and straight talk. In a market clouded by fear, that clarity is valuable.

The confidence didn’t appear overnight. Long before commercial property, Jim was competing on the world stage as a New Zealand Softball representative. He won a Junior World Series in 1985 and a Men’s World Series in 2004 — pitching the championship game. Later, he coached the New Zealand Black Sox to silver at the 2009 World Championships and gold in 2017. In 2019, he was inducted into the ISC World Hall of Fame.

High-pressure environments don’t rattle him.

Neither does business risk. Jim is a proven self-starter, having established five Subway restaurants across Wellington and Whakatāne before committing fully to commercial real estate. That entrepreneurial background matters. He understands leases from both sides of the table — tenant and landlord — because he’s lived it.

So why hire now, when Wellington feels cautious?

Because downturns create opportunity. Retail leasing doesn’t stop — it reshuffles. Office space doesn’t disappear — it needs repositioning. Smart landlords still need experienced operators who can cut through noise and get deals done. Jim the SPACE Man sees movement where others see paralysis.

Those close to him describe a fast-paced, competitive operator who values hard work and preparation over headlines. “You don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for perfect conditions,” says one industry peer. “You build capability so you’re ready when the market turns.”

Outside work, Jim is grounded. Family time matters. So does the gym, fishing, and plenty of hours on golf courses around Wellington, often following his son Robbie, a keen and competitive golfer. There’s no bravado here — just consistency.

So no, Jim Wana isn’t crazy. He’s experienced. And in a Wellington market desperate for confidence grounded in reality, that might be exactly what stands out.

For businesses, landlords or tenants navigating commercial property and retail leasing in Wellington, Jim the SPACE Man isn’t waiting for permission. He’s already moving — and inviting others to do the same.