Bishop Gielen named among South Island’s most influential

Bishop Gielen was named at number 29 in “The Press Power List 2026”. The bishop was described as having been born in the North Island and being a “youthful-seeming, positive and likeable figure”, who is leading a cathedral rebuild in Christchurch.

“Notably, he consulted local Catholics about what they wanted, and it turned out they wanted to go back to the Catholic heartland of Barbadoes St.”

The Press stated that not all of the figures on its list are wealthy, although some are.

“Power is not the same as wealth, and this is not a South Island rich list. All have some form of influence, although even influence can be hard to define.

“Sometimes influence is out in the open and sometimes it operates behind the scenes. As in international relations, there is hard power and there is soft power. We could call this a list of influencers, if that word had not been used to describe less worthy people.”

Among other figures on the list with links to faith organisations are Laura Black, the chief executive of the Methodist Mission Southern in Dunedin, and Corinne Haines, who is Christchurch’s first ever woman City Missioner.

The top spot on the list went to Richard Peebles from Christchurch.

“The announcement of the major, mixed-use Downtown project has confirmed the Peebles Group is one of the most important players in the central Christchurch rebuild, with ideas that are more imaginative and stylish than the city’s other leading developers,” the citation stated.

Justin Tipa, kaiwhakahaere (chairman) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, took the second place on the list.

Also named in the top 10 were former finance minister Grant Robertson, who is now vice-chancellor of The University of Otago, and actor Sam Neill, who is described as “someone New Zealanders trust and listen to”.

Only three national politicians appeared in the top 50 and none in the top 10. Only three mayors made the list.

FULL STORY

The Press Power List 2026: Whose power has increased, who has lost their way? (By Philip Matthews/The Press)

The Press Power List names the South Island’s most influential individual (The Press – subscription required)

Entertainment visionary, a philanthropist and a rural leader named on The Press Power List 2026 (The Press – subscription required)

A banker, a bishop and a business giant named on The Press Power List (The Press – subscription required)

Who are the two power couples named on The Press Power List 2026? (The Press – subscription required)

The unveiling of The Press Power List begins: Numbers 50-41 (The Press – subscription required)