Website, baby photos, TV make millions [audio report]

Trade Me founder Sam Morgan, photographer Anne Geddes and reality television queen Julie Christie are among the 21 newcomers to this year's National Business Review Rich List.

Food and timber magnate Graeme Hart remains top of the list with a $2.75 billion fortune.

He is followed by the Dubai-based but Hamilton-raised Chandler brothers, whose global investment banking empire gives them a combined worth of at least $4 billion.

The sale of Trade Me, the country's most popular website, to Fairfax this year catapulted the 30-year-old Mr Morgan into the ranks of the nation's wealthiest people, with a fortune estimated at $227.5 million.

Nine other Trade Me shareholders were also new entrants to the rich list, including Mr Morgan's father Gareth with $47.6 million - but his tenure will be short as he has announced he plans to donate the lot to charity.

Ms Geddes, whose photos mainly of babies are popular all over the world, has not appeared on previous NBR Rich Lists and is now ranked the country's 12th wealthiest woman, with $40 million. The Geddes brand has sold more than 15 million books across 77 countries and in 20 languages.

Ms Christie, founder and managing director of Touchdown Television, was rated the country's 20th wealthiest woman ($25 million) after the sale of her firm to the Dutch company Eyeworks this year.

Other newcomers included high-technology crystal manufacturers the Robinson family ($135 million), agribusiness dealmaker Craig Norgate ($40 million) and new Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson ($30 million).

NBR editor-in-chief Nevil Gibson said property had again been the biggest contributor to overall wealth.

"Of the 21 new individuals and families, nearly a third are involved in property investment," he said. "But there have also been some spectacular business deals, such as the float of the Robinson family's Rakon and the sales of the Trade Me website and Kathmandu retail chain."

The 222 entrants in this year's NBR Rich List have a collective wealth of $35.1 billion - a $3.7 billion increase on last year.

The Todd family ($2.75 billion) and Goodman family ($1.5 billion) are New Zealand's wealthiest families.

Film-maker Peter Jackson has an estimated worth of $400 million, putting him in 12th place.