New Zealand's Most Trusted People 2012 by category

 

 

It’s easy to forget that Parker was once the face of TV show This Is Your Life, because he’s since become the face of Christchurch. The Mayor of the quake-hit city has dropped 12 places from last year, likely due to the flak he’s copped for his leadership style, council infighting, and differences of opinion over Christchurch’s future. But he hasn’t had nearly enough credit for all the good work he’s done or the massive hours he’s put in. “He’s been very active in Christchurch’s recovery programme and is a very down-to-earth man,” noted one poll respondent. He has a very tough gig. And we trust Parker, far more than any other politician, to stick with it.

 

 

 

 

We trust sportspeople as they’re typically hard-working, humble battlers who represent us as we like to see ourselves. The six sportspeople who make up half of our top 12 also use their high profiles to do good. Cyclist Sarah Ulmer supports causes such as Plunket, shot-putter Valerie Adams (née Vili) is a hospice ambassador, and we trust John Kirwan, Sir Peter Snell and Sir Colin Meads for the lives they’ve led and the causes they’ve supported since their glory days on the field. And Richie McCaw, who lends his profile and time to numerous charities, is also a co-founder of FOR EVERYONE, which provides grants for projects promoting the health, fitness and education of New Zealanders. We like that.

 

 

 

 

You may know Sir Peter Leitch best as “The Mad Butcher”, also the name of the nationwide chain of butchers’ stores he founded. With his bladder cancer currently in remission, he chairs a community trust that’s raised millions supporting numerous charities, and has set up “Sir Peter’s Sports Museum” to house his sporting memorabilia so the public can have a nosey. Kiwis certainly appreciate what he’s done. “A good man with a good heart who does everything in his power to help anyone he can,” says one respondent, “and he’s just so funny!” A self-made, self-deprecating bloke who helps out others and is sports-mad – what could be more trustworthy than that?