Whowields the power?

The most powerful Wellingtonians you may never have heard of: Andrea Vance reveals the 50 people actually running the city.

Wellington is New Zealand's political centre, but who really holds power in the capital? Who are the people who can open doors, whose phone calls get answered, and who can find ways to get things done?

Today we bring you our list of Wellington’s 50 most powerful people. Some of them are household names, some – like filmmaker Peter Jackson – even have names that are recognisable world wide. Others – like Finance Minister Nicola Willis, or Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr – are decision makers who will hold a huge sway over the city’s future.

But most of the power players on our list are people you may have never heard of. They are people who get things done just by picking up the phone.

They are the city’s quiet movers and shakers. They make things happen, but don’t seek the limelight.

It’s important to note what this list is not, however: it’s not a rich list. It’s not a list of the most famous or powerful New Zealanders. It’s very specifically a Wellington list. And we deliberately excluded many captains of industry because, well, they belong on another list. We’ll tell you more about that in the New Year.

There are many, many others, meanwhile, who make a huge difference to peoples’ lives – philanthropists, charity organisers, food bank volunteers, the leaders of non government organisations and others who don’t wield power in the traditional sense but who nonetheless make a huge difference to peoples’ lives on an almost daily basis. They too will feature in their own powerlist next year.

The Post’s National Affairs editor Andrea Vance has worked as a senior journalist in New Zealand for more than a decade, including a number of years in the Press Gallery. Drawing on her own knowledge of the Wellington political scene, and after consulting some of her extensive list of contacts, she pulled together the definitive index of the 50 most influential figures and forces who drive the Capital.

Tracy Watkins, The Post Editor

The new finance minister is Wellington born and raised – good news if the city is to unlock much-needed investment for transport and infrastructure. But she has very different ideas to the left-leaning council, with plans to scrap the longgestating Let’s Get Wellington Moving package and focus on new roads and an additional Mt Victoria tunnel.

2. Simeon Brown

Although local boy Chris Bishop outranks him in Cabinet, as Transport Minister Brown will oversee the roll-out of National’s $4 billion transport plan for the city, which includes a new Petone to Grenada road, and a cross-valley link to ease congestion. That’s awkward for mayor Tory Whanau, who publicly said she’d be concerned if he was elevated to the ministry. Also on his watch is local government, and with the parlous state of the city council’s finances, Brown will have to decide if some kind of intervention – likely just observers as a first step – is warranted. With $2b required over the next decade to repair the ancient pipe network, the capital also urgently needs him to get to work on a replacement three waters regime.

3. Cam Burrows

As chief of staff to Christopher Luxon, Burrows is gatekeeper to the real power. Those wanting to reach the ear of the prime minister must convince Burrows it’s worth his time. The unflappable economist worked for former PM’s Sir John Key and Sir Bill English, as well as Treasury, and in the British civil service. This job involves identifying and solving problems before they reach Luxon’s desk.

4. Chris Bishop

A crucial member of Luxon’s inner circle, Hutt South MP Bishop will be responsible for delivering much-needed housing and infrastructure – including the new Cook Strait mega-ferry terminal – to the region. His philosophy – greater development of greenfield land on the city fringes – is also likely to rub up against the Greenled council, which has pursued inner city intensification.

5. Adrian Orr

Grab your popcorn, the dynamics between the Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor and Willis are set to be fascinating, as the new Government gets to grips with the economy. Orr will be a central figure as the Government battles to bring down inflation – its key priority. Willis and Luxon have been critical of Orr’s Covid-19 monetary policy, and promised a review. Orr says he’s got no plans to quit. But there’s another source of tension looming: the central bank may wish to enforce debt-toincome ratio (DTI) restrictions on banks’ mortgage lending if the housing market takes off again. And if Wellingtonians aren’t gossiping about politics, they are talking about property prices. Orr is also behind ambitious plans to build a Fale Malae on the waterfront. 6.

Barbara McKerrow

While, in theory, the chief executive is expected to serve the mayor, sources say it is McKerrow who holds the real power at the city council. New to the job, and with no track record in local government, Whanau leans on McKerrow’s nearly 40 years of experience. Officials report to McKerrow, and it is she who has the relationship with councillors, controlling the flow of information and resources.

7. Tory Whanau

Elected on bold promises of transforming the city, the shine has worn off Whanau’s mayoralty. Inheriting a financial mess, and faced with a new Government that is not sympathetic to her agenda, Whanau has had to curtail some of her plans. In the last week, she has admitted to a drinking problem after weeks of torrid rumours about her behaviour, which has thrown her political future in jeopardy. In her favour, she is still popular, and friends say she has a determination to restore the city to its former, vibrant glory.

8. Tonia Haskell

The newly appointed chief executive of Wellington Water has an unenviable job ahead. Haskell has been blunt about the challenges, not least that the financial model for the city’s water services is not sustainable. While the country waits for the Government to make decisions about three waters reform, Haskell recently put a win on the board, by convincing Whanau to investigate further funding to fix leaky pipes. 9.

Chris Hipkins

The Leader of the Opposition is a job that, done well, can have enormous influence, not least making the government uncomfortable. As Remutaka MP, and a leading light in Wellington Labour for many years, Hipkins can still get s... done – even though he has a huge job ahead in rebuilding his party, both nationally and locally. With his job secure for now, all eyes are on the future of ex-deputy PM Grant Robertson. Will the former Wellington Central MP quit the city altogether for a new job in Dunedin – or could he be our next mayor?

10. Sir Brian Roche

The Labour Government’s fix-it man of choice, Roche is tipped to be the next Public Service Commissioner, boss of the top 39 government CEs. The former NZ Post boss has taken on some huge challenges in the last few years (reviews on how the health bureaucracy responded to Covid-19 and the cyclone recovery) but taking the helm of a public service that’s about to be dramatically shrunk is the very definition of a poisoned chalice. Getting bureaucrats back to city centre offices and filling up cafes, sandwich bars and pubs, will also be vital to stop the capital plunging into a mini-recession. Also in contention for the job is the commission’s current deputy Rebecca Kitteridge, former Cabinet Secretary and Security Intelligence Service boss.