New Zealand Listener Power List Explained

The New Zealand Listener Power List is a list of the most powerful people in New Zealand, compiled annually by the New Zealand Listener from 2004 to 2009. From 2004 to 2007, the list covered the 50 most powerful people without separating them by field. In 2008, the list was divided into the top ten most powerful, and ten lists of five or six people each in specific fields.

Power List

Name 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
John Key – Prime Minister 2008–, Leader of the Opposition 2006–2008 ~ 09 09 03 01 01
Bill English – Deputy Prime Minister 2008–, Deputy Leader of the Opposition 2006–2008 ~ ~ ~ 05 02 02
Dr Alan Bollard – Reserve Bank Governor 04 04 10 06 03 03
Rodney HideACT New Zealand leader ~ ~ ~ ~ 07 04
Steven Joyce – National Party campaign chief ~ ~ ~ ~ 05 05
Rob FyfeAir New Zealand CEO ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 06
Michael Stiassny – Vector Energy chairman, receiver ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 07
Tariana Turia – Māori Party co-leader 18 20 ~ ~ ~ 08
John Whitehead – Secretary of the Treasury 35 24 ~ ~ ~ 09
Sir Peter Jackson – filmmaker 02 05 06 ~ ~ 10
Phil GoffLeader of the Opposition (2008–) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 11
~ ~ 07 13 04 [1]
Dr Pita SharplesMāori Party co-leader ~ 19 15 09 06
Helen Clark – Prime Minister 1999–2008 01 01 01 01 08 ~
Dr Michael Cullen – Deputy Prime Minister 2002–2008, Finance Minister 1999–2008 03 02 03 02 09 ~
Gareth Morgan – economist ~ ~ ~ ~ 10
20 25 04 04 ~ ~
Graham HenryAll Black coach 13 14 23 07 ~ ~
45 ~ ~ 08 [2] ~
Sir Geoffrey PalmerLaw Commission President ~ ~ ~ 10 [3] ~
John Barnett – television and film director ~ ~ 27 11 ~
~ 49 20 12 ~ ~
~ 42 12 14 ~ ~
Peter Talley – businessman ~ ~ 33 15 ~
Richard TaylorWeta Workshop head ~ ~ ~ 16 [4] ~
Paula RebstockCommerce Commission Chairman ~ ~ 14 17 ~ ~
Sue Bradford – politician ~ ~ ~ 18 ~ [5]
31 39 28 19 ~ ~
~ 45 34 20 ~
Jeanette Fitzsimons – politician ~ ~ ~ 21 [6] ~
Sir Stephen Tindall – founder of The Warehouse 17 26 ~ 22 ~ ~
John Palmer – Air New Zealand chairman ~ ~ ~ 23 ~
Heather Simpson – Prime Minister's Chief of Staff 1999–2008 33 21 24 24 ~ ~
Mark WeldonNew Zealand Exchange CEO ~ ~ ~ 25 ~
Willie Jackson – broadcaster ~ ~ ~ 26 ~ ~
Craig Norgate – former leader of Fonterra, current leader of Wrightson ~ 29 ~ 27 ~
Allan Hubbard – Chair of South Canterbury Finance ~ 41 18 28 ~
Graeme Hart – businessman, owner of the Rank Group 44 06 02 29 [7] ~
Phil O'Reilly – Business New Zealand leader ~ ~ 46 30 ~
Campbell Smith – Recording Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive ~ ~ ~ 31 ~
John Fellet – Sky Television Chief executive ~ 11 05 32 [8] ~
Tony Carter – Foodstuffs managing directory ~ ~ ~ 33 ~ ~
Ian WishartInvestigate magazine editor ~ ~ 29 34 ~ ~
Mark Jennings – TV3 news director ~ ~ ~ 35 ~ ~
Oscar Kightley – television and film directory and writer ~ ~ 36 36 ~ ~
Professor Bill Manhire – poet ~ ~ ~ 37 ~ ~
Joe Karam – former All Black and David Bain campaigner ~ ~ ~ 38 ~ ~
Jock HobbsNew Zealand Rugby Union Chairman ~ ~ 22 39 ~ ~
Andrew Little – General Secretary, Engineering Manufacturing and Printing Union 38 30 ~ 40 ~ ~
Nick Hill – Sport and Recreation New Zealand Chief Executive ~ ~ ~ 41 ~ ~
~ ~ ~ 42 ~ ~
Jenny Morel – venture capitalist ~ ~ ~ 43 ~ [9]
~ ~ ~ 44 ~ ~
David Skilling – New Zealand Institute thinktank founder ~ ~ 45 45 ~ ~
Paul Morgan – Federation of Māori Authorities chief executive ~ ~ ~ 46 ~ ~
~ 48 48 47 ~ ~
Grant DaltonAmerica's Cup Team Boss ~ ~ ~ 48 ~ ~
Shane Jones – Labour Party MP 09 23 ~ 49 ~ ~
Mai Chen – lawyer ~ ~ ~ 50 ~ ~
Dr Don Brash – Leader of the Opposition 2003–2006 06 03 08 ~ ~ ~
Andrew Ferrier – Fonterra CEO ~ ~ 11 ~ ~ ~
~ ~ 13 ~ ~ ~
Trevor Mallard – Minister of Economic Development, Industry and Regional Development, and Sport 19 16 16 ~ ~ ~
Tim Murphy – The New Zealand Herald editor ~ ~ 17 ~ ~ ~
Sir Edmund Hillary – mountaineer 14 13 19 ~ ~ ~
28 28 21 ~ ~ ~
Tiwana Tibble – Ngāti Whātua CEO ~ ~ 25 ~ ~ ~
Sir John AndersonTVNZ Chairman and New Zealand Cricket Chair ~ 12 26 ~ ~
~ ~ 30 ~ ~ ~
John Shewan – PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand Chair ~ ~ 31 ~ ~
Garth McVicarSensible Sentencing Trust founder ~ ~ 32 ~ ~
Professor Stuart McCutcheonUniversity of Auckland Vice-Chancellor ~ 34 35 ~ ~ ~
Murray Deaker – radio host ~ 37 37 ~ ~
June Jackson – Manukau Urban Māori Authority head ~ ~ 38 ~ ~ ~
Ian Athfield – architect ~ ~ 39 ~ ~ ~
~ 31 40 ~ ~ ~
Trelise Cooper – fashion designer 36 ~ 41 ~ ~ ~
~ 46 42 ~ ~ ~
Sir John WellsSport and Recreation New Zealand Chairman ~ ~ 43 ~ [10] ~
Peter Boshier – Principal Family Court Judge ~ ~ 44 ~ ~ ~
Kaye Parker – Cure Kids fundraiser ~ ~ 47 ~ ~ ~
Ralph Hotere – artist 34 43 49 ~ ~ ~
~ 38 50 ~ ~ ~
Winston Peters – New Zealand First leader, Foreign Affairs Minister 2005–2008 16 07 ~ ~ ~ ~
Theresa Gattung – former Telecom New Zealand CEO 21 08 ~ ~ ~ ~
Brent Impey – Canwest Mediaworks CEO 24 10 ~ ~ ~ ~
Michael Campbell – golfer ~ 15 ~ ~ ~ ~
Dr Roderick Deane – company director, Telecom, ANZ and Fletcher Building 07 17 ~ ~ ~ ~
John Campbell – television presenter ~ 18 ~ ~ ~ ~
Tana Umaga – All Black captain 15 22 ~ ~ ~ ~
John Belgrave – Chief Ombudsman 50 27 ~ ~ ~ ~
Peter Dunne – United Future leader, Minister of Revenue ~ 32 ~ ~ ~ ~
Dr Mark Prebble – State Services Commissioner 40 33 ~ ~ ~ ~
Brotha D – frontman for Dawn Raid ~ 35 ~ ~ ~ ~
Rob McLeod – Business Roundtable chair 12 36 ~ ~ ~
Frances Stead – Managing Director, L'Oreal New Zealand ~ 40 ~ ~ ~ ~
Sir Hugh Kawharu – Paramount Chief of the Ngati Whatua ~ 44 ~ ~ ~ ~
Sir Eion Edgar – stockbroker 47 47 ~ ~ ~ ~
Steve Maharey – Minister of Education, Broadcasting, Science and Research ~ 50 ~ ~ ~ ~
Ian Fraser – then CEO of Television New Zealand 05 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sir Ralph Norris – then CEO of Air New Zealand 08 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
John Tamihere – then Labour Party MP and former Cabinet Minister 10 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sir Tipene O'Regan – former leader of Ngāi Tahu 11 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sarah Ulmer – Olympic gold medal cyclist 22 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scribe – rap artist 23 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Stephen Fleming – Black Caps cricket captain 25 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Paul Holmes – broadcaster 26 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tahu Potiki – CEO of Te Runanga O Ngāi Tahu 27 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
David Butler – Commissioner of Inland Revenue Department 29 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dame Te Atairangi Kaahu – Maori Queen 30 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sylvia Rumball – Chair, National Ethics Committee on Assisted Human Reproduction 32 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mike Williams – President of the New Zealand Labour Party 37 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
David Skegg – Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago 39 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Peter Leitch – The Mad Butcher 41 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dame Jenny Gibbs – art patron 42 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hugh Logan – Director-General of the Department of Conservation 43 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sir Kenneth Keith – Supreme Court Justice 46 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Richard Woods – Director, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service 48 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Marc Ellis – television personality 49 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Divisions

Business and economy

Name 2008 2009
01 01
~ 02
Phil O'Reilly – Business New Zealand CEO ~ 03
John Palmer – Air New Zealand chairman ~ 04
John Shewan – PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand Chair ~ 05
Adrian Orr – CEO of New Zealand Superannuation Fund management company 02 ~
Mark WeldonNew Zealand Exchange CEO 03 ~
Craig Norgate – former leader of Fonterra, current leader of Wrightson 04 ~
05 ~

Māoridom

Name 2008 2009
~ 01
Dr Pita SharplesMāori Party co-leader ~ 01
Rob McLeod – Business Roundtable chair ~ 03
Hone Kaa – Te Kahui Mana Ririki chair and campaigner against child abuse ~ 04
Katerina MatairaMāori language revival pioneer ~ 05
01 ~
02
Wharehuia Milroy – linguist 03 ~
04 ~
Willie Jackson – radio and television broadcaster 05 ~

Government and law

Name 2008 2009
~ 01
Sir Geoffrey PalmerLaw Commission President 01 02
~ 03
Rob Cameron – investment banker ~ 04
Garth McVicarSensible Sentencing Trust founder ~ 05
02 ~
Annette SykesTe Arawa lawyer 03 ~
Greg King – criminal lawyer 04 ~
Greg O'Connor – President of the Police Association 05 ~

Primary sector

Name 2008 2009
01 01
02 02
Peter Talley and Andrew Talley – businessmen ~ 03
Allan Hubbard – Chair of South Canterbury Finance ~ 04
~ 05
03 ~
04 ~
Dean Nikora – Hawke's Bay farmer 05 ~

Health, education and social issues

Name 2008 2009
~ 01
Sue Bradford – activist ~ 02
Sir John AndersonTVNZ and Capital and Coast District Health Board Chairman ~ 03
Rod CarrUniversity of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor ~ 04
Nigel Latta – child psychologist ~ 05
Ron Paterson – Health and Disability Commissioner 01 ~
Stephen McKernan – Director-General of Health 02 ~
03 ~
04 ~
05= ~
05= ~

Culture

Name 2008 2009
Richard TaylorWeta Workshop head 03 01
Flight of the Conchords – television comedy duo 01 02
~ 03
~ 04
Campbell Smith – Recording Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive 04 05
Derek Lardelli – artist 02 ~
Imogen Johnson – actors' agent 05 ~

Science and technology

Name 2008 2009
Sir Peter Gluckman – Chief Science Advisor 03 01
Shaun Coffey – Industrial Research Limited chief executive ~ 02
Rod Drury – entrepreneur ~ 03
04 04
Jenny Morel – venture capitalist ~ 05
01 ~
02 ~
Jim Anderton – Fast Forward fund promoter 05 ~

Media

Name 2008 2009
John Fellet – CEO at Sky Television Chief executive 04 01
~ 02
John Armstrong – columnist at The New Zealand Herald ~ 03
David Farrar – blogger ~ 04
Murray Deaker – radio host ~ 05
Tim Pankhurst – Editor, The Dominion Post 01 ~
02 ~
03 ~
05

Environment

Name 2008 2009
~ 01
Gareth Morgan – economist and author ~ 02
George Clement – fisheries consultant ~ 03
Brent Clothier – Plant and Food Research scientist ~ 04
~ 05
David Parker – Minister responsible for the Emissions Trading Act 01 ~
02 ~
03 ~
04 ~
05 ~

Sport

Name 2008 2009
Martin Snedden – Rugby New Zealand CEO ~ 01
Daniel VettoriBlack Caps captain ~ 02
Ricki HerbertAll Whites coach ~ 03
Valerie Vili – World shot put champion 04 04
Peter Dale – New Zealand Community Trust chairman ~ 05
John WellsSport and Recreation New Zealand Chairman 01 ~
Scott DixonIndianapolis 500 winner 02 ~
03 ~
05 ~

Notes

  1. Moved to the Māoridom list
  2. Moved to the Primary sector list
  3. Moved to the Government and law list
  4. Moved to the Culture list
  5. Moved to the Health, education and social issues list
  6. Moved to the Environment list
  7. Moved to the Business and economy list
  8. Moved to the Media list
  9. Moved to the Science and technology list
  10. Moved to the Sport list

External links