I was the recipient of the top place in the first two “power” lists. I didn’t ask to be on the list, and I felt awkward being judged by the Press as the most powerful person in Christchurch. A reporter rang me the second time and asked what my goal for the next year was. My response was “I look forward to being right off your list in 12 months’ time”. This was not printed in the paper, but when I was nowhere near the next list, I rang the journalist and gleefully reported that I was 100% correct in my predictions.
There’s something pathetic about an exercise like this. Why was I seen as powerful? I was merely doing my job. Hana and Tipene O’Regan deserve their listing, but there are others who deserve a mention. I find it irksome that wealth seems an important determinant. In the back of my mind is the Gandhi quote “what does it benefit a man if they gain the whole world and suffer the loss of their soul”. Having property developers leading the last two lists reflects something scary in our society. Bernard Hickey’s description of our economy as a “housing market, with an economy tacked on” sure complies with this list.
When I look at the list I think about those who seek no fame but are the glue holding our society together and are nowhere near the list. The people who service our ambulances. The people who work in the health sector. Those who teach at all levels of education. Those who work on the streets alongside our most vulnerable. Those speaking on behalf of the environment seem oddly missing. Where are those who are running businesses employing people, especially those taking risks with new and entrepreneurial enterprises?
I see large holes in the list like Mary Richardson who has stabilized the executive of CCC an employer of 3000 people and with the largest spending budget in the South Island. What about Bryan Pearson who chairs the CCHL companies which together account for billions of value. Stand them alongside a property developer on the list who says his job is to identify communists in our society.
The emerging list made interesting reading. Some of the people on it are genuinely interesting.
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