New Zealand's Most Trusted 2012

In the wake of the Rugby World Cup and in the lead-up to the London Olympics, our love affair with our sports heroes is back on. And we’ve needed it. What with Christchurch’s slow, squabble-ridden recovery, politicians attempting to sell off our state assets and a lacklustre economy, the safe hands of our sporting heroes have boosted our spirits – and our self-esteem as a nation. Who could forget the night of the Rugby World Cup final last October, when we were transfixed by events, almost unable to breathe? What else could make strangers hug, cheer and party to exhaustion?

Reader’s Digest congratulates Richie McCaw, the captain of the All Blacks, who played that final game with an injured right foot. McCaw is New Zealand’s Most Trusted Person of 2012. Click here for the full list.

Richie McCaw
Rugby player, All Blacks’ captain

Richie McCaw encapsulates all that we trust in a New Zealander. He’s worked hard, showed grit and leadership. We trust him not only because he’s a great All Blacks’ captain who led his team to a World Cup win (though, yes, that helped). We trust McCaw because he represents the idealised Kiwi bloke: strong, dependable, determined, yet humble and self-effacing. He quietly gets the job done with no look-at-me fanfare. He’s never put a foot wrong. He does his bit for charity. He always makes time for a chat with his fans – and he made time to talk to Reader’s Digest about the role trust plays in his life.
Click here to read our full interview with Richie McCaw