New Zealand's most powerful people

Power can be fickle and the NZ Listener's second annual list of the most influential New Zealanders certainly goes to show it.

The magazine, out today, reveals that Prime Minister Helen Clark retains her grasp on the number one spot - but others who previously made the grade as the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand have had a rough ride: up, down, or out.

More than 40 per cent of those on this year's list are new and there has been substantial movement in the top 10; only two from last year remain in the same slots.

The selection panel comprised former Labour minister and historian Michael Bassett, award-winning Listener political columnist Jane Clifton, Leadership NZ trustee Pauline Kingi, opera singer and business leader Chris Doig, finance journalist Rod Oram, environment-alist Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and advertising industry leader Glenda Wynyard.

Listener deputy editor Tim Watkin said 2005's results were volatile. "We were surprised at the number of new people elbowing their way on to the list," he said. "The 50 from last year have changed more than I thought. When you start analysing and breaking it down, you realise things have changed this year. It's very much a transitional thing."

The fallout from the big power event of the year - the election - is notable. Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen, previously ranked third, has beaten film director Peter Jackson to the number two spot, though it's doubtful the Lord of the Rings film director will be too upset by his number five allocation. In June, Jackson was named "the most influential man in Hollywood".

Though Opposition Leader Don Brash narrowly missed out becoming the country's prime minister, he improved his fortunes from last year's power list, jumping three places to number three, while Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard was unmoved at number four.

Winston Peters' worst nightmare might have played out in the battle for Tauranga but he still went on to became a key prop of the new Government, and has consequently jumped nine places to number seven. Meanwhile, National's finance spokesman John Key, who rose from seventh to fourth place within his own party last month, made an impressive debut on the power list at number nine.

Fragmentation of power was most notable in the media industry. Paul Holmes, previously the "crown jewel" of TVNZ with a 2004 ranking of 26, jumped ship for ratings oblivion on Prime and has been banished from the list.

Meanwhile, TV3's John Campbell, a Qantas Television Award nominee for best news/current affairs presenter, made his debut at number 18.

Power can be fleeting and changing fortunes - again in media - brought some last-minute revisions for the Listener's team. TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser (last year's number five) was riding high on the list until a week ago, when his resignation began a very notable public debacle for the embattled network and saw his name consigned to the scrapheap. Happily taking up the television power vacuum was TV3's CanWest boss Brent Impey, who snuck into the number 10 position.

Meanwhile, buoyant economic times have been highlighted with the prominent presence of many business leaders. Theresa Gattung, Telecom's chief executive, made it to number eight, up 13 places. She and Helen Clark were the only twowomen in the top 10 this year. Overall, the number of women on the list fell from 10 to seven.

And nine Maori made it to the top 50, one down from last year. They include Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples (number 19), Tariana Turia (number 20) and Ngati Whatua leader Sir Hugh Kawharu (number 44).

"It was an interesting exercise," said Christchurch panellist Chris Doig. He admitted to being more than a little parochial in his selection.

"I was pretty anxious that it wasn't just an Auckland list - which it might have become."

He needn't have worried. The South Island's Tartan Mafia have made impressive inroads. The country's richest man, Graeme Hart, is number six (up 38 places), while "the less well-known but very significant South Island businessman" Alan Hubbard makes it to number 41. Judge Glenda Wynyard, managing director of ad agency Universal McCanns, said she thought the mix of names was far broader this year and "really did impact on the average New Zealander's life".

A lot of them were competing on the world stage, she said.

2005 LISTENER POWER LIST TOP 10

1. Helen Clark, Prime Minister
2. Dr Michael Cullen, Finance Minister
3. Dr Don Brash, Opposition leader
4. Dr Alan Bollard, Reserve Bank Governor
5. Peter Jackson, Movie director
6. Graeme Hart, NZ's richest man
7. Winston Peters, NZ First leader
8. Theresa Gattung, Telecom CEO
9. John Key, National finance spokesman
10. Brent Impey, CanWest CEO

POWER OUTAGE

* John Tamihere: The ex-MP ranked number 10 on the power list last year, but allegations of misspending while at the Waipereira Trust and public criticism of his Labour caucus colleagues in Investigate magazine did not boost his career prospects, especially after losing the Tamaki Makaurau seat to Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples.

* Marc Ellis: The TV celeb and former Charlie's director ranked number 49 on the Listener's inaugural list but a much-publicised drugs charge saw his star wane this year.

* Paul Holmes: Viewers didn't follow the former current affairs king - previously ranked number 26 - when he moved from TVNZ to Prime. Consequently, he's been left off the list.

* Mike Williams: The Government fixer floundered this year, especially when voters thought he'd suggested tax cuts were ahead. He was ranked at number 37 last year.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY