Who do Kiwis trust the most?

Sir John Kirwan beat Victoria Cross winner Willie Apiata to top the 'Most Trusted' list. Photo / NZ Herald

Sir John Kirwan has topped the Reader's Digest Most Trusted list.

Victoria Cross winner Willie Apiata has come in at second place, ahead of last year's winner Richie McCaw.

Kiwi sports heroes make up nearly half of the top 20 most trusted New Zealanders, with Sir Peter Snell and Sarah Ulmer in seventh and 10th place respectively.

Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams and All Black Dan Carter took out 12th and 13th place.

Politicians, however, are trailing the list of Most Trusted people.

A number of politicians failed to generate support and make up a large portion of the tail end.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is in 95th place, followed by former Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters comes in at 97th with ACT Party leader John Banks in 99th place.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira is at the bottom of the list at 100th place.

Full list:

1. John Kirwan, former All Black, depression awareness spokesperson
2. Willie Apiata, Victoria Cross recipient
3. Richie McCaw, All Blacks' captain
4. Alison Holst, food writer
5. Judy Bailey, TV presenter, charity worker
6. Peter Leitch, businessman, charity worker
7. Peter Snell, former athlete, scientist
8. Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General
9. Kevin Milne, former TV host, consumer advocate
10. Sarah Ulmer, cyclist
11. Jim Hickey, TV weather presenter
12. Valerie Adams (née Vili), shot-putter
13. Dan Carter, All Black
14. Nigel Latta, psychologist, TV personality
15. Colin Meads, former All Black
16. Mahé Drysdale, rower
17. Susan Devoy, Race Relations Commissioner
18. Peter Jackson, director
19. Jo Seagar, chef
20. Sian Elias, Chief Justice
21. John Walker, former athlete
22. Sam Johnson, leader of Student Volunteer Army
23. Ian Grant, parenting and relationships expert
24. Lisa Carrington, rower
25. Hayley Westenra, singer
26. Richard Hadlee, former cricketer
27. Anne Salmond, writer, environmentalist and 2013 New Zealander of the Year
28. Annabel Langbein, cookbook author, TV personality
29. Brian Lochore, former All Black player and coach
30. Graham Henry, former All Blacks' coach
31. Mike McRoberts, TV journalist
32. John Campbell, TV journalist
33. Neil Finn, singer/songwriter
34. Brad Thorn, All Black
35. Dave Dobbyn, musician
36. Pippa Wetzell, TV presenter
37. Stephen Tindall, retail businessman
38. Simon Dallow, TV presenter
39. Greg Murphy, race car driver
40. Paul Callaghan, physicist
41. Simon Barnett, TV and radio personality
42. Peter Gluckman, scientist
43. Rhys Darby, actor, comedian
44. Garth McVicar, Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson
45. Jim Mora, radio personality
46. Kiri Te Kanawa, opera singer
47. Te Radar, comedian, TV personality
48. The Topp Twins, entertainers
49. Simon Gault, chef
50. Scott Dixon, IndyCar driver
51. Maggie Barry, TV personality and MP
52. Jemaine Clement, comedian, musician
53. Tim Shadbolt, Mayor of Invercargill
54. Peta Mathias, chef, author
55. Peter Marshall, Police Commissioner
56. Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch
57. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister
58. Maurice Gee, author
59. Bret McKenzie, comedian, musician
60. Robyn Malcolm, actor
61. Jonah Lomu, former All Black
62. Alan Bollard, APEC executive director, former Reserve Bank governor
63. Rosie Horton, philanthropist
64. Leighton Smith, radio personality
65. Mary Holm, financial writer and newspaper columnist
66. Tony Kokshoorn, Mayor of Grey District
67. John Graham, former All- Black, educator
68. Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop co-founder
69. Ruben Wiki, former rugby league player
70. Grant Kereama, radio host
71. Lucy Lawless, actor, environmentalist
72. Marcus Lush, TV and radio personality
73. Stephen Donald, All Black
74. Chris Cairns, former cricketer
75. Kim Hill, radio journalist
76. Mai Chen, lawyer and writer
77. Anika Moa, singer
78. Lockwood Smith, High Commissioner of NZ to UK
79. Alan Gibbs, entrepreneur
80. John Key, Prime Minister
81. Gareth Morgan, businessman, philanthropist
82. Billy Graham, motivational speaker
83. Russel Norman, Green Party co-leader
84. Graeme Hart, businessman
85. James Wallace, businessman, philanthropist
86. Bob Jones, businessman
87. David Shearer, Labour Party leader
88. Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland
89. Metiria Turei, Green Party co-leader
90. Pita Sharples, Minister of Maori Affairs
91. Sonny Bill Williams, rugby league player, former All Black
92. Matt McCarten, trade unionist, politician
93. Tariana Turia, Maori Party co-leader
94. Michael Fay, businessman
95. Gerry Brownlee, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
96. Michael Laws, former Mayor of Wanganui
97. Winston Peters, New Zealand First leader
98. Kim Dotcom, internet entrepreneur
99. John Banks, politician, former Mayor of Auckland
100. Hone Harawira, Mana Party leader