The capital's most powerful people have been compiled, filed and ranked by "Wellington's magazine".

FishHead magazine has put together the first edition of what it says will become an annual list "of our region's most powerful people".

The star-studded 50-strong list features politicians, restaurateurs, movie moguls, an architect, an athlete and seven knights of the realm.

FishHead editor Richard Aindow said the list was designed to generate discussion.

"It's a talking point. People care about the region and are interested in the people that shape it," he said.

He devised the list with Wellington journalist and author Max Rashbrooke and the help of an advisory board — made up of property developer Ian Cassells, restaurateur Mike Egan and former mayor Kerry Prendergast.

Each member of the advisory board also featured in the top 50.

"It was a product of several meetings. It did take a bit of time," Mr Aindoow said.

FishHead's top 10 is dominated by politicians, six of whom are current and former councillors, and one a sitting Beehive politician.

Dominion Post editor Bernadette Courtney was ranked fourth while Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith pops up at No 48.

Notables who failed to make the top 50 were Flight of the Conchord star and Oscar-winning song writer Bret McKenzie, Hollywood mega director and new Wairarapa landowner James Cameron, and Phoenix and All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.

They missed out this time, but "may feature in coming years".

THE TOP 10

1. Sir Peter Jackson — The Oscar-winning film-maker is responsible for putting the Wellington film scene firmly on the international map.

2. Fran Wilde — Head of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, she is campaigning for a supercity to rival Auckland.

3. Celia Wade-Brown —Wellington’s mayor. She has continued to champion a clean, green image for the city and is fighting against supercity plans.

4. Bernadette Courtney — Editor of the Dominion Post.

5. Kerry Prendergast — The former mayor is now head of the International Festival of the Arts.

6. John Shewan — A key ally of Fran Wilde in the supercity debate. He in also on the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust board.

7. Ian McKinnon — Deputy mayor and chancellor of Victoria University.

8. Grant Robertson — Wellington Central MP.

9. Chris Parkin — Owner of the Museum Hotel, Parkin is also a former councillor. He is patron for several arts organisations.

10. Gareth Morgan — Fund manager, investor, philanthropist. Morgan also helped rescue the Wellington Phoenix football team.

Contact Sam Boyer
General reporter
Email: sam.boyer@dompost.co.nz
Twitter: @SamJBoyer

- © Fairfax NZ News

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