New survey suggests medals key to winning trust

Caroline and Georgina Evers Swindell were among four of the top five most trusted who had medals. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Winning a medal appears to be a key factor in gaining New Zealanders' trust, a new survey suggests.

The top spots in the 2009 Reader's Digest New Zealand's Most Trusted survey were taken by Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata, and Olympic medallists Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Barbara Kendall and Peter Snell.

Further down the list, at numbers 10 and 13 respectively, were more Olympic medallists in Valerie Vili and Hamish Carter, while former squash world champion Dame Susan Devoy was fifth.

The survey, in its ninth year, asked 500 adult New Zealanders to rank a list of 85 people in order of whom they trusted most.

Social researcher Jill Caldwell said this year's results showed how New Zealanders valued international recognition.

"Four out of the top five are either gold medallists or world champions. And Willie Apiata has the gold medal for bravery with his Victoria Cross," she said.

"We trust these people because they're hard working and determined and, most importantly, they're humble."

Former All Black and mental health spokesman John Kirwan placed seventh.

The list, which was completed before the David Bain trial, put Bain supporter and former All Black Joe Karam 48th, while Bain himself was number 70.

The All Blacks and Wallabies coaches fared evenly, with Graham Henry just ahead of Robbie Deans at 42 and 43 respectively.

Prime Minister John Key climbed 15 places from 2008 to 53, to sit just behind former Prime Minister Helen Clark, up 14 places from 2008 at 52. Labour leader Phil Goff was 73rd.

The most trusted politician was Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt at 46, while Sue Bradford, Sir Roger Douglas and Winston Peters all came in near the tail end in places 81, 82 and 83.

Activist Titewhai Harawira was 84th, while Blue Chip founder Mark Bryers rounded off the list in last place.

- NZPA

The full list:

1. Corporal Bill Apiata VC
2. Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell
3. Barbara Kendall
4. Peter Snell
5. Dame Susan Devoy
6. Colin Meads
7. John Kirwan
8. Irene van Dyk
9. Margaret Mahy
10. Valerie Vili
11. Alison Holst
12. Sir Richard Handlee
13. Hamish Carter
14. Judy Bailey
15. Peter Jackson
16. Richie McCaw
17. Hayley Westernra
18. Dame Malvina Major
19. Queen Elizabeth II
20. Daniel Vettori
21. Sir Brian Lochore
22. Peter Hillary
23. The Honourable Anand Satyanand
24. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
25. Greg Murphy
26. Michael Campbell
27. Dr Peter Gluckman
28. Neil Finn
29. Sir Howard Morrison
30. Tim Finn
31. Jason Gunn
32. Gareth Morgan
33. Dave Dobbyn
34. Stephen Tindall
35. Anthony Randerson QC
36. Peta Mathias
37. Professor Paul Gallaghan
38. A J Hackett
39. Gareth McVicar
40. John Campbell
41. Ruben Wiki
42. Graham Henry
43. Robbie Deans
44. Dame Kate Harcourt
45. Mark Sainsbury
46. Tim Shadbolt
47. Mark Todd
48. Joe Karam
49. Keisha Castle-Hughes
50. Jock Hobbs
51. Karen Walker
52. Helen Clark
53. John Key
54. Dr David Collins QC
55. Guyon Espiner
56. Celia Lashlie
57. Alan Duff
58. Dr Alan Bollard
59. Dominic Bowden
60. Paul Henry
61. Howard Broad
62. Lloyd Jones
63. Oliver Driver
64. Louise Nicholas
65. Graeme Hart
66. Sir Bob Jones
67. Jeanette Fitzsimmons
68. Mark Ellis
69. Russell Crowe
70. David Bain
71. Bill English
72. Terry Serepisos
73. Phil Goff
74. Dr Pita Sharples
75. Russel Norman
76. Eric Watson
77. John Banks
78. Matthew Ridge
79. Rodney Hide
80. Tariana Turia
81. Sue Bradford
82. Sir Roger Douglas
83. Winston Peters
84. Titewhai Harawira
85. Mark Bryers