Power List: Who did we miss?
First of all, we really should have included the dolphins of Lyttelton.
Drawing up a South Island power list of just 50 people from a pool of more than 1 million was always going to be a tall order and no list could ever be definitive. With that in mind, we sought feedback and suggestions from readers. Who did we overlook? Who was out of sight?
We asked, and you responded. Here are some of the names.
He may not like the attention, but botanist Hugh Wilson was nominated by a reader. Wilson has been the manager or kaitiaki of Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula since its purchase in 1987. His work there has set the standard for regeneration of native bush and was featured in the film Fools and Dreamers.
Colin Muerk was also nominated. A reader thought The Press had done Muerk a disservice by leaving him off the list, and noted that Muerk is a world-renowned ecologist who has worked tirelessly for the natural environment in Christchurch and beyond.
“Colin was one of the main players in saving Travis Wetland and is still the president of the Trust. He is the main driver behind the 360 Trail and the proposed eco-sanctuary in the red zone. There are many more examples of things Colin has been part of and has lent his expertise to.”
Muerk and Wilson, consider yourselves included.
There was also a suggestion that the rural sector had been overlooked, starting with Wayne Langford, president of Federated Farmers and co-founder of the farmer-led charity Meat the Need, which has donated over 4 million meals to food banks across the country. A sixth generation Golden Bay farmer, Langford has talked about tackling depression by focusing on positive actions.
Other rural names that could have made the cut included Silver Fern Farms chairman Rob Hewett, outgoing Alliance Group chairman Murray Taggart, plant-based protein pioneer John Penno, the Cross family of Balclutha and South Canterbury farmer Murray Turley.
Should we also have included Grant Cochrane, chief executive of Dunedin tech company Oritain, which specialises in forensic traceability and raised $57 million last year? Sir John Key is chairman of the board of Oritain. How about Cos Bruyn, managing director of contracting company Fulton Hogan?
Of course, some of these names will activate that age-old debate. What is power? Is it the same thing as commercial weight or economic impact?
Christchurch aerospace entrepreneur Mark Rocket was a close contender, along with Max Bremner, owner of the Oxford Group. Bremner’s hospitality venues include Fat Eddie’s and The Bog in central Christchurch, which brings us to The Terrace. A reader wondered about the absence of developer Antony Gough from a list that featured some of the city’s other key property developers. “Without him taking the gamble personally there would be no rejuvenation of Oxford Tce,” the reader wrote. “He owned the land and also allowed Russley Retirement village to be built.”
The same reader thought Phil and Dame Sue Bagshaw should have been higher on the list than 48. “Amazing selfless good works they have done.” Fair call.
Veteran political activist John Minto had also been considered but narrowly missed the top 50. But his tireless work organising the protest movement in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank makes him increasingly influential.
Another expert we consulted got back in touch to say there are influential women who go under the radar. Rosemary Banks, the former New Zealand ambassador to the US, is one of them. Our expert said Banks “does an incredible job behind the scenes, linking and connecting people”. Therese Arseneau, the chairperson of ChristchurchNZ, who holds other board positions, also exercises that form of quiet power.
Were there enough writers on the list? A reader suggested a category of writers who make readers smile and nominated Press columnists Joe Bennett and Andrew Gunn. Can’t argue with that.
If there was a sporting hero we missed, it was Paul Coll, the world’s top squash player, who happens to come from Greymouth. But again, is sporting prowess the same thing as power or influence?
Coll must have been close, the correspondent said, but “just don’t ask me who to drop off your list”. Therein lies the dilemma. Should we go to a list of 100 next time?
Some readers pointed out that the list skewed overwhelmingly male. Is that still how Christchurch in particular and the South Island in general looks, one asked. We could also say the list was predominantly Pākehā, although less so than it would once have been. What we can say is that without even trying, the “ones to watch” list of 10 looks very different. That’s out on Saturday.