New Zealand Listener Power List

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

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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 StiassnyVector 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
Sir Tumu Te Heuheu – Paramount chief of Tuwharetoa iwi ~ ~ 07 13 04 [Note 1]
Dr Pita SharplesMāori Party co-leader ~ 19 15 09 06 [Note 1]
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 [Note 2]
Sam Morgan – founder of TradeMe 20 25 04 04 ~ ~
Graham HenryAll Black coach 13 14 23 07 ~ ~
Sir Henry van der Heyden – Chairman, Fonterra 45 ~ ~ 08 [Note 3] ~
Sir Geoffrey PalmerLaw Commission President ~ ~ ~ 10 [Note 4] ~
John Barnett – television and film director ~ ~ 27 11 [Note 5] ~
Lloyd Morrison – Managing Director, Infratil ~ 49 20 12 ~ ~
Dr Keith Turner – Chief Executive, Meridian Energy ~ 42 12 14 ~ ~
Peter Talley – businessman ~ ~ 33 15 ~ [Note 3]
Richard TaylorWeta Workshop head ~ ~ ~ 16 [Note 6] ~
Paula RebstockCommerce Commission Chairman ~ ~ 14 17 ~ ~
Sue Bradford – politician ~ ~ ~ 18 ~ [Note 7]
Professor Sir Paul Callaghan – Director of the MacDiarmid Institute 31 39 28 19 ~ ~
Dr Andy West – CEO of AgResearch ~ 45 34 20 [Note 3] ~
Jeanette Fitzsimons – politician ~ ~ ~ 21 [Note 2] ~
Sir Stephen Tindall – founder of The Warehouse 17 26 ~ 22 ~ ~
John PalmerAir New Zealand chairman ~ ~ ~ 23 ~ [Note 8]
Heather Simpson – Prime Minister's Chief of Staff 1999–2008 33 21 24 24 ~ ~
Mark WeldonNew Zealand Exchange CEO ~ ~ ~ 25 [Note 8] ~
Willie Jackson – broadcaster ~ ~ ~ 26 ~ ~
Craig Norgate – former leader of Fonterra, current leader of Wrightson ~ 29 ~ 27 [Note 8] ~
Allan Hubbard – Chair of South Canterbury Finance ~ 41 18 28 ~ [Note 3]
Graeme Hart – businessman, owner of the Rank Group 44 06 02 29 [Note 8] ~
Phil O'ReillyBusiness New Zealand leader ~ ~ 46 30 ~ [Note 8]
Campbell Smith – Recording Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive ~ ~ ~ 31 [Note 6] ~
John FelletSky Television Chief executive ~ 11 05 32 [Note 5] ~
Tony Carter – Foodstuffs managing directory ~ ~ ~ 33 ~ ~
Ian WishartInvestigate magazine editor ~ ~ 29 34 ~ ~
Mark JenningsTV3 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 ~ ~
Jeremy Moon – founder of Icebreaker ~ ~ ~ 42 ~ ~
Jenny Morel – venture capitalist ~ ~ ~ 43 ~ [Note 9]
Justice Joe WilliamsWaitangi Tribunal Chair and Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court ~ ~ ~ 44 ~ ~
David SkillingNew Zealand Institute thinktank founder ~ ~ 45 45 ~ ~
Paul MorganFederation of Māori Authorities chief executive ~ ~ ~ 46 ~ ~
Professor Graeme Fraser – Chair, Health Research Council ~ 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 FerrierFonterra CEO ~ ~ 11 ~ ~ ~
Kevin BradyAuditor-General ~ ~ 13 ~ ~ ~
Trevor Mallard – Minister of Economic Development, Industry and Regional Development, and Sport 19 16 16 ~ ~ ~
Tim MurphyThe New Zealand Herald editor ~ ~ 17 ~ ~ ~
Sir Edmund Hillary – mountaineer 14 13 19 ~ ~ ~
Dame Sian EliasChief Justice 28 28 21 ~ ~ ~
Tiwana TibbleNgāti Whātua CEO ~ ~ 25 ~ ~ ~
Sir John AndersonTVNZ Chairman and New Zealand Cricket Chair ~ 12 26 ~ ~ [Note 7]
Julie Christie – Managing Director, Eyeworks ~ ~ 30 ~ ~ ~
John ShewanPricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand Chair ~ ~ 31 ~ ~ [Note 8]
Garth McVicarSensible Sentencing Trust founder ~ ~ 32 ~ ~ [Note 4]
Professor Stuart McCutcheonUniversity of Auckland Vice-Chancellor ~ 34 35 ~ ~ ~
Murray Deaker – radio host ~ 37 37 ~ ~ [Note 5]
June Jackson – Manukau Urban Māori Authority head ~ ~ 38 ~ ~ ~
Ian Athfield – architect ~ ~ 39 ~ ~ ~
Kerry PrendergastMayor of Wellington ~ 31 40 ~ ~ ~
Trelise Cooper – fashion designer 36 ~ 41 ~ ~ ~
Mark Solomon – Chair, Te Runanga O Ngāi Tahu ~ 46 42 ~ ~ ~
Sir John WellsSport and Recreation New Zealand Chairman ~ ~ 43 ~ [Note 10] ~
Peter Boshier – Principal Family Court Judge ~ ~ 44 ~ ~ ~
Kaye ParkerCure Kids fundraiser ~ ~ 47 ~ ~ ~
Ralph Hotere – artist 34 43 49 ~ ~ ~
Murray Sherwin – Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ~ 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 ~ ~ ~ [Note 1]
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

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Business and economy

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Name 2008 2009
Graeme Hart – businessman, owner of Rank Group 01 01
Sam Knowles – Chief Executive of Kiwibank ~ 02
Phil O'ReillyBusiness New Zealand CEO ~ 03
John PalmerAir New Zealand chairman ~ 04
John ShewanPricewaterhouseCoopers 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 ~
Jim Bolger – Prime Minister 1990–1997, Chairman of New Zealand Post, Kiwibank and KiwiRail 05 ~

Māoridom

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Name 2008 2009
Sir Tumu Te Heuheu – Paramount chief of Tuwharetoa iwi ~ 01
Dr Pita SharplesMāori Party co-leader ~ 01
Rob McLeod – Business Roundtable chair ~ 03
Hone KaaTe Kahui Mana Ririki chair and campaigner against child abuse ~ 04
Katerina MatairaMāori language revival pioneer ~ 05
Paul Morgan – CEO of Federation of Maori Authorities 01 ~
Jim Mather – CEO of Māori Television 02 [Note 5]
Wharehuia Milroy – linguist 03 ~
Hinerangi Raumati – CFO of Tainui 04 ~
Willie Jackson – radio and television broadcaster 05 ~

Government and law

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Name 2008 2009
Simon PowerMinister of Justice ~ 01
Sir Geoffrey PalmerLaw Commission President 01 02
Judith CollinsMinister of Corrections and Minister of Police ~ 03
Rob Cameron – investment banker ~ 04
Garth McVicarSensible Sentencing Trust founder ~ 05
David CollinsSolicitor-General 02 ~
Annette SykesTe Arawa lawyer 03 ~
Greg King – criminal lawyer 04 ~
Greg O'Connor – President of the Police Association 05 ~

Primary sector

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Name 2008 2009
Chris Kelly – CEO of Landcorp 01 01
Sir Henry van der Heyden – Chairman, Fonterra 02 02
Peter Talley and Andrew Talley – businessmen ~ 03
Allan Hubbard – Chair of South Canterbury Finance ~ 04
Keith Cooper – Former Chief Executive of Silver Fern Farms ~ 05
Andy West – CEO of AgResearch 03 ~
Frank Brenmuhl – Vice-President of Federated Farmers 04 ~
Dean Nikora – Hawke's Bay farmer 05 ~

Health, education and social issues

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Name 2008 2009
Tony RyallMinister of Health ~ 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 ~
Len Cook – Chairman of the Medical Training Board 03 ~
Pat Sneddon – Chairman of the Quality Improvement Board and of the Auckland District Health Board 04 ~
Deborah Powell – General Secretary, Resident Doctors' Association 05= ~
Ian Powell – Executive Director, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists 05= ~

Culture

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Name 2008 2009
Richard TaylorWeta Workshop head 03 01
Flight of the Conchords – television comedy duo 01 02
John Barnett – chief executive at South Pacific Pictures ~ 03
Jane Wrightson – chief executive, New Zealand on Air ~ 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

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Name 2008 2009
Sir Peter Gluckman – Chief Science Advisor 03 01
Shaun CoffeyIndustrial Research Limited chief executive ~ 02
Rod Drury – entrepreneur ~ 03
Stephen Goldson – Chief Scientist at AgResearch 04 04
Jenny Morel – venture capitalist ~ 05
Jim Watson – Chair of the National Science Panel 01 ~
Garth Carnaby – upcoming President of the Royal Society of New Zealand 02 ~
Jim AndertonFast Forward fund promoter 05 ~

Media

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Name 2008 2009
John Fellet – CEO at Sky Television Chief executive 04 01
Jim Mather – CEO of Māori Television ~ 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 ~
Jeff Latch – Head of Television at Television New Zealand 02 ~
Bill Francis – General Manager at Newstalk ZB 03 ~
John Barnett – chief executive at South Pacific Pictures 05 [Note 6]

Environment

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Name 2008 2009
Nick SmithMinister for the Environment ~ 01
Gareth Morgan – economist and author ~ 02
George Clement – fisheries consultant ~ 03
Brent ClothierPlant and Food Research scientist ~ 04
Gary Taylor – executive director, Environmental Defence Society ~ 05
David Parker – Minister responsible for the Emissions Trading Act 01 ~
Jeanette Fitzsimons – co-leader of the Green Party 02 ~
Russel Norman – co-leader of the Green Party 03 ~
Jan WrightParliamentary Commissioner for the Environment 04 ~
David Wratt – leader of the National Climate Centre at NIWA 05 ~

Sport

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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 DaleNew Zealand Community Trust chairman ~ 05
John WellsSport and Recreation New Zealand Chairman 01 ~
Scott DixonIndianapolis 500 winner 02 ~
Steve Price – Captain of the New Zealand Warriors 03 ~
Alan Isaac – Chairman, New Zealand Cricket 05 ~

Notes

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

References

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