The Wellington power list

National affairs editor Andrea Vance’s definitive index of the most influential figures and forces who drive the capital. Continuing from page 1, this is who ranks 11 to 50.

The McGuinness family have been a force in the capital’s property scene since the 1950s, behind some of the city’s current biggest developments, like the new Tākina convention centre, Victoria Lane apartments, Blue Mountains campus, as well as the National Archives building, new Central Library and a Living Pa for Victoria University. Mark, the youngest of four brothers, founded Willis Bond in 1988. He and wife Wendy are also behind the McGuinness Institute, a sustainability think tank. The construction side of the business – LT McGuinness – is run by brothers Jim, Peter and Brian.

12. Anita Baker

Into her second term as Porirua mayor, no-nonsense Baker now chairs the region’s mayoral forum. With National likely to have a more combative relationship with Tory Whanau, Baker will be the region’s most important progressive voice as the local government sector pushes for reform (possibly amalgamations) and investment.

13. Nick Leggett

The best mayor Wellington never had? Leggett unsuccessfully ran against Justin Lester in 2016, after serving two terms as Porirua’s mayor, and local government observers often lament what might have been. Now the boss of influential Infrastructure NZ, representing the country’s biggest industry, legal and consultancy players, and Wellington Water board chairperson, he wields considerable behind-the-scenes power, with none of the hassle of democracy.

14. Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh

They’ve built a billion-dollar entertainment empire, convinced governments to change laws to get films made, and turned the capital’s mayoralty race upside down by funding Andy Foster’s campaign. Now that they’ve earned the gratitude of Miramar locals by saving Shelly Bay from development, it seems inevitable Jackson will finally get to build his long-hoped-for movie museum, after buying up real estate near Lyall Bay, to provide another tourism and local economy drawcard.

15. Tim Grafton

The Insurance Council boss is stepping down in April, but Grafton and his successor represent an industry that holds the fate of thousands of Wellington homeowners in its hands. There are grave warnings that city properties – and even its assets – will be uninsurable as climate change increases the frequency of severe weather events and sea level rise threatens.

16. Helmut Modlik

The former corporate financier is now chief executive of Ngāti Toa. Since its Treaty settlement in 2014, the iwi has taken on ambitious projects. It is the landlord of more than 900 state homes in Porirua’s western suburbs, expects to deliver nearly 900 homes at Kenepuru Landing in 2025, and bought 40 schools in the northern suburbs, re-leasing them to the Ministry of Education.

17. Ian Cassels

Belfast-born Cassels hasn’t fulfilled his childhood ambition to become prime minister, but the man behind The Wellington Company still has clout. With partner Caitlin Taylor, he is behind some of the capital’s most recognisable developments: Todd Tower, Hannah’s Laneway, Spark Central, Conservation House, ARO townhouses, Island Bay’s Mews. With his $500m Shelly Bay project now on the scrapheap, it will be fascinating to see what he does next. A vocal opponent of LGWM (he threatened to stop investing in the city if it wasn’t tweaked), he has his own vision for a green, urban city. Something of a ‘marmite’ figure, that rather depends on who he can get onside.

18. Wayne Eagleson

The former chief of staff to Sir John Key and Sir Bill English has cemented his influence by interviewing potential ministerial staffers on behalf of Luxon. His connections make him invaluable to lobbying firm Thompson Lewis, and its corporate clients. Eagleson is also one of two WCC-appointed directors on Wellington airport’s board, making him a crucial voice at the table if the council’s share of the asset is to be sold.

19. Daran Ponter

With the axing of LGWM, and a fresh transport package for the capital from National, the chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council will oversee some of the most significant investment in transport for decades. But, with the ‘bustrophe’ and problems with bus drivers’ pay still on commuters’ minds, Ponter has a mountain to climb to repair public trust and confidence in both the network and GWRC’s ability to deliver.

20. Eyal Aharoni

If you work in the CBD, chances are

your desk sits in one of Aharoni’s Prime Property buildings. The property and hotel group owns the closed Amora Hotel in Wakefield St, a new office and retail block planned for Molesworth St, the heritage-listed St George Hotel and the building that houses The Post’s Wellington office. The Israeli-born geophysicist’s companies also hold properties in Rongotai that are leased by Bunnings, The Warehouse and Wellington International Airport. With a portfolio said to be valued at $700m, Aharoni has a track record of snapping up earthquake-prone or damaged buildings at a bargain price and then refurbishing them.

21. Liz Mellish

An accomplished businesswoman, Mellish has served as executive officer for the

Wellington Tenths Trust, and now chairs the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust, administering millions of dollars of assets. It’s widely understood that if you want to get anything done in the city, or need access to its power players, you pick up the phone to Mellish.

22. Kara Puketapu-Dentice

One of Wellington Māori’s most influential figures, Puketapu-Dentice is the grandson of the late Te Atiawa leader Ihakara Puketapu. As chair of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, he manages Taranaki Whānui’s Treaty settlement, including plans for a 700-home papakāinga development on Miramar Peninsula. And, as director of economy and development at Hutt City Council, he is responsible for housing, community facilities and projects such

as the $700m Riverlink infrastructure project, which is set to transform Lower Hutt’s city centre, with an interchange at Melling, relocated rail station and new bridges.

23. Campbell Barry

His influence now on the slide with Labour leaving office, Barry still has a cordial relationship with local MP and powerful Cabinet minister Chris Bishop. Earlier this year, he was also voted vicepresident of advocacy body LGNZ, with a key role in setting policy.

24. Dame Fran Wilde

A former Cabinet minister, the first woman to serve as mayor of Wellington, and ex-chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wilde chairs Te

Papa’s board and the Nikau Foundation, controlling roughly a half-billion-dollar fortune bequeathed by philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik. Wilde’s huge contribution shows no sign of slowing, with friends saying she is the very definition of a ‘can-do attitude’.

25. Wendy Walker

Porirua city’s chief executive was former director of citizen engagement at Wellington City Council and is the region’s MP whisperer when it comes to water infrastructure. She is the conduit between the four councils and the Beehive – a vital role as a summer drought looms and National looks to overhaul Labour’s three waters reforms.

26. Dame Kerry Prendergast

The formidable ex-mayor’s governance appointments are too numerous to list, but as former chair of Tourism NZ and vice-president of Local Government NZ, she’s on the speed dial of everyone who is everyone in Wellington. She’s still a vocal champion of the city, but has been publicly critical of the city council. Prendergast also fundraised $32m to help pay for the fit-out of the New Zealand School of Music in the Town Hall complex.

27. Jason Boyes

The Infratil chief executive heads one of New Zealand’s largest companies, a $5 billion owner of airports, renewableenergy businesses, telecommunications companies, data centres and healthcare. With the city council now consulting the public over the possible sale of its stake in the airport, Infratil could increase its 66% holding in the critical infrastructure.

28. Glenda Hughes

The ultimate backroom PR fixer, Hughes is the person whom high-profile people call when they want a problem to go away. She’s far too discreet to reveal her clients, but the former policewoman and Commonwealth Games shot put champion is deeply connected within political circles. Most recently she served on the regional council, and is a driving force behind the KidsCan and Pet Refuge charities.

29. Sir Richard Taylor

If Tory Whanau is to achieve her vision of bolstering Wellington’s creative essence, then the Wētā Workshop co-founder is a central figure. Taylor and Jackson put Wellywood on the film-world map. His enduring love of the city saw the creative director and head of the film prop and special effects company resist temptation to relocate, keeping almost 400 staff in the city. Around 50 films, TV series and digital games are made in the city each year by the company, and the workshop is still a huge draw for tourists.

30. Sir Bill English

The former prime minister has kept a low profile since retiring from politics in 2018, but has been a long-time mentor to Nicola Willis. The new finance minister has promised to revive English’s vision of social investment (highly targeted and data-driven welfare spending) which means the man considered the right’s intellectual heft will have an influence well into the future.

31. Jamie Williams

From one Khandallah pub to 35 venues, Williams is at the helm of Kāpura – the fastest-growing hospitality group in New Zealand, with 800 staff, the Fortune Favours brewery, Gorilla Burger chain and a training centre. As the beleaguered sector flexes its muscles at plans to revamp the Golden Mile, and frustration over liquor licences, Williams will continue to be a prominent voice.

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32. Sean Kinsler

A former Cabinet Office legal adviser in John Key’s government, Kinsler is now head partner at Meredith Connell in Wellington, the law firm that does more government work than any other. He’s also a top litigator, called in by the Crown for the toughest gigs, including the Wakatū case, the country’s oldest property claim. Esler is married to Lisa Fong, director of the GCSB’s National Cyber Security Centre.

33. Tracy Watkins, Sinead Boucher and Paul Thompson

One of the country’s most experienced and respected journalists, the

Sunday Star-Times editor also took on editing The Post earlier this year. Formerly Stuff’s political editor, she has had the ear of the country’s most powerful for well over a decade and has transformed the capital’s nowpaywalled Post website into a must-read for Wellingtonians. The Post is owned by Stuff Group’s owner, Sinead Boucher, herself a Wellington-based media powerhouse, with a lot of sway over the country’s biggest news site. Morning Report, on RNZ, is the other staple of the city’s media diet, and after a decade as RNZ’s inscrutable chief executive, Paul Thompson plays a considerable role in shaping the media landscape. With a recent boost to government-funded coffers and some recent impressive hires, the broadcaster will continue to matter quite a lot.

34. Audrey Sonerson

A congested and failing transport network is among Wellington’s greatest problems. As the new Government sets its priorities, the Transport Ministry will play a key role in policy development, as National looks to embark on its roadbuilding and mass-transit plans, as well as unwinding projects like light rail and the LGWM. Former diplomat, now Transport Secretary, Sonerson will also have to help KiwiRail get the mega-ferry terminal development back on track and budget.

35. Neil Paviour-Smith

Managing director of investment house Forsyth Barr and former Chancellor of Victoria University, Paviour-Smith is a director of the economic think-tank New Zealand Initiative, NZ Art Show Ltd and advises He Ringa Āwhina, a planned charity hospital for the region. Paviour-Smith, formerly board chair at Wadestown School for a decade, also has a keen interest in education policy, an important area of focus for the Government.

36. Paul Retimanu

If you’ve been to an event in Welly, chances are it was catered by the hospitality guru’s Manaaki Management Ltd. He also operates the Wharewaka function centre, Pipitea marae and function centre, Wellington rowing club and the popular Karaka cafe and is on a host of boards, including Hospitality NZ, WellingtonNZ and the Pasifika Business Trust.

37. Tim Clarke

One of Wellington’s most influential lobbyists, Russell McVeagh’s top government and public lawyer largely flies under the radar. Rumour has it, it was he who wrote the new voluntary code of conduct for lobbyists after the last government vowed to increase transparency.

38. Carolyn Tremain

As the chief of the government’s super ministry, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Tremain’s position will take on new significance if the Government follows through on promises for local and central government to work closely together on regional development. With more than 6000 staff, most of whom are headquartered in Wellington, MBIE is itself a key employer.

39. Chris Finlayson

As well as being a successful barrister, former Attorney-General Finlayson is set to become the go-to expert on Treaty matters as the new Government wades into a full-blown race row. As the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations in the last National government, he’ll bring sense and reason to the debate.

40. David Farrar and David Talbot

Nothing gets Wellington quivering like rumours of a new poll. When either of the Davids go into the field, the news will rumble around Molesworth Triangle cafes for days, and can make or break party leaderships. Farrar runs Curia, which polls for both the National Party and the Taxpayers’ Union, and Talbot polls both for Labour and corporate clients. Both men are irritatingly discreet about their numbers.

41. Holly Whittaker

The great-granddaughter of JH Whittaker runs the family chocolate business with her brother Matt. It is one of the largest employers in the region, with all the treats made in a Porirua factory, and Holly Whittaker’s flair for marketing has opened up the Kiwi favourite to

international markets, now exporting to Australia, Canada, China and the Middle East.

42. Mark Unsworth

If the capital’s best-known lobbyist isn’t on the invite list, is it even a party? Once a parliamentary private secretary, no-one knows the corridors of power better than Unsworth. Warm and funny, he’s earned the trust of hundreds of politicians, interviewing every new MP over the last quarter century for a guide for clients. Sadly, the coveted book is no more: Unsworth has decided to discontinue the project.

43. Capital NZ

With offices in the shadow of the Beehive, Ben Thomas and Neale Jones are two of the city’s best-connected political operatives. A former NBR political editor, press secretary in the John Key-government, adviser to ACT and Wayne Brown’s Auckland mayoralty campaign, Thomas also specialises in work involving iwi and the Crown-Māori relationship. Jones, ex-chief of staff to Jacinda Ardern and Andrew Little, is an experienced campaigner with deep links to Labour and the trade union movement. Both men also shape the political discourse, in demand for their thoughtful commentary and opinion writing. The team was recently joined by former NZ First MP Fletcher Tabuteau, who, as a drinking buddy of new deputy PM Winston Peters, is now probably the most influential of all.

44. Rachel Taulelei

One of Wellington’s most prominent and accomplished business leaders, Taulelei chairs the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust, serves on the boards of The Warehouse Group, ANZCO, Sealord and Queen Margaret College, as well as being an adviser to venture capital firm Movac. Returning to New Zealand after eight years as US trade commissioner, she founded Yellow Brick Road, a sustainable fishing company, and co-owns Tokomanawa Queens, a female basketball team. 45. Eric Crampton

The stocks of the chief economist at think tank New Zealand Initiative have soared with the ascendancy of ACT into power. The Canadian is a prolific report writer and commentator, with a free-market bent, and incoming ministers are sure to be paying attention to his sharp, original (and often witty) thinking.

46. Shay Peters

Even if the Government’s much-touted bonfire of the consultants is lit, UK-based recruitment firm Robert Walters will continue to supply the public service with an army of staffers. In the year 2021-22 it billed $64m, making Australia/New Zealand managing director Peters a loyal friend to every overpaid and underworked contractor. Peters recently hired former Cabinet minister Stuart Nash as commercial director, based in the capital.

47. Kevin Jenkins

It's commonly accepted that consultancy firm MartinJenkins is the third branch of government, behind the legislature and judiciary. Whether that remains the case under the scrutiny of new Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis is unclear. But co-founder Jenkins (along with Doug Martin) is also an Island Bay identity,

chair of the Real Estate Institute of NZ, trustee of the Parliamentary Education Trust (which skills up MPs) and media commentator. He’s also the man behind possibly the most-Wellington business ever established: an artisan cheese delivery service.

48. Julie Moore

It is unlikely that Wellington could function without the bread, posh cheeses, coffee and orange juice sold by Moore Wilson’s. If you want to rub shoulders with one of the city’s power players there are two places you need to be seen: Wellington Airport Koru lounge on a Thursday evening as MPs fly home for the weekend; and prowling the aisles of the Te Aro foodie emporium on a Saturday.

49. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy

She might live 10,000km away in San Francisco, but Xero’s chief executive is as important to the city as any resident. The accounting giant is still headquartered in Wellington, employing hundreds of locals. But the business also fosters an important ecosystem influencing tech start-ups, vital if tech is to become the country’s biggest export earner, easing away from the dominance of agriculture and tourism.

50. Eugene Doyle

The capital’s own Erin Brockovich, Doyle, an environmental activist and head of the Ōwhiro Bay Residents Association, is a thorn in the side of local government. He took on Wellington Water over fecal contamination on the south coast, and his campaigning saw significant change in the way the authority works. He was appointed to the Mayoral Taskforce on the Three Waters Report, established after pipe failures in 2020 sent hundreds of thousands of litres of sewage pouring into the harbour. Now he has turned his attention to pushing authorities to prepare for sea level rise.