By One Network Wellington Live

In this article, we introduce you to the Top 5 Richest New Zealanders in 2025, based on the latest National Business Review (NBR) Rich List. We explain who they are, how they made their money, and how their success affects New Zealand.

Let’s take a closer look at these financial giants of Aotearoa.

🥇 Top 5 Wealthiest

1. Nick & Mat Mowbray (with sister Anna) – NZ $20 billion
   
2. Graeme Hart – NZ $12.1 billion
3. Todd Family -net worth: NZ$3.5 billion 
4. Sir Peter Jackson & Dame Fran Walsh Net worth: NZ$2.6 billion
5. Trevor Farmer (Farmer/Gibbs family) Net worth: ~NZ$1.2 billion.

         🥇 1. Nick & Mat Mowbray (with sister Anna Mowbray)

Net worth: NZ$20 billion
Source: Co-founders of Zuru Toys, established in 2003; aiming to rival large global brands .

The Mowbray siblings — Nick, Mat, and Anna — top Richest the 2025 Rich List. Together, they founded ZURU, one of the world’s largest privately-owned toy companies. The company was launched in 2003 when the siblings were in their early 20s.

What Is ZURU?

ZURU is best known for creating popular toys like Bunch O Balloons, X-Shot blasters, and Rainbocorns. The company sells millions of products in more than 120 countries. ZURU is not just about toys anymore. It also makes consumer goods like shampoo, cleaning products, and packaging through its branch ZURU Edge.

How They Got So Rich

The Mowbrays started with humble beginnings, building early prototypes in their parents’ garage in Cambridge, Waikato. After moving operations to China, they focused on automation and speed, reducing costs and beating competitors. Today, ZURU has more than 8,000 employees worldwide and billions in annual revenue.

Why It Matters for NZ

Although their main factories are overseas, the Mowbrays continue to invest in New Zealand. They own property, fund tech start-ups, and support education initiatives. Nick Mowbray has also donated millions to health charities, especially around rare diseases.

Their story shows how Kiwi innovation can take on the world.

🥈 2. Graeme Hart

Net worth: NZ$12.1 billion
Source: Packaging empire built through leveraged acquisitions, including Reynolds Packaging .

Graeme Hart has been New Zealand’s richest man for years, though the Mowbrays have recently overtaken him. He built his empire through packaging businesses, and he is known for his low public profile.

How He Made His Money

Hart started with a small printing business and used smart borrowing to buy undervalued companies. He made his biggest gains through Reynolds Group Holdings, which owns packaging firms across the US and Europe. He also owns stakes in food companies and timber processing firms.

In the 1980s, Hart famously bought the Government Printing Office for just $23 million during the public asset sales period. That move became a key part of his rise.

What He Owns

• A 102-metre superyacht worth hundreds of millions
• Luxury homes in Auckland and Queenstown
• Investments in energy drinks, packaging, and logistics

Impact on NZ

While Hart’s businesses operate globally, his success has sparked debates about wealth inequality in New Zealand. He has made large political donations and been active in business circles. His lifestyle and investments are often used as examples of how the ultra-wealthy live.

🥉 3. Todd Family

Net worth: NZ$3.5 billion
Source: Todd Corporation, especially in energy and automotive since the 1880s .

The Todd family has been on Richest the Rich List for decades. Their wealth dates back to the early 1900s and has grown through energy production, real estate, and smart investments.

History of the Todd Family

The Todd Corporation began as a car importing company in 1884. Over the years, the family moved into oil and gas (Todd Energy), property development, and telecommunications. They have stakes in everything from farmland to tech start-ups.

Key Assets

• Todd Energy, which supplies gas to much of the country
• Envision Ventures, which invests in technology and clean energy
• Real estate in Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown

Community Impact

The Todd Foundation gives millions to education, health, and social causes every year. The family is known for their philanthropy and long-term approach to business.

Interesting Fact

The family wealth is shared across multiple generations, making it one of New Zealand’s few true dynasties.

4. Sir Peter Jackson & Dame Fran Walsh

Estimated Net Worth: NZ$2.6 Billion
Industry: Film and Entertainment

You may know him as the man behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Sir Peter Jackson, along with his partner Dame Fran Walsh, is one of New Zealand’s most successful filmmakers.

Their Rise to Wealth

Jackson started as an indie filmmaker in the 1980s. In the early 2000s, he directed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which made billions worldwide. He followed with The Hobbit films and King Kong.

In 2021, he sold his visual effects company Weta Digital to Unity Technologies for over NZ$2 billion, making headlines around the globe.

What They Own

• Multiple properties in Wellington

• Co-owners of Weta Workshop and Park Road Post

• A private Gulfstream jet

Contribution to Wellington

Jackson has turned Wellington into a global hub for film. Miramar now hosts studios, post-production houses, and effects companies thanks to his vision. He has helped employ thousands in the creative industry.

His success has brought international recognition to Kiwi filmmaking and opened doors for others.

5. Trevor Farmer (Farmer/Gibbs Family)

Estimated Net Worth: ~NZ$1.2 Billion
Industry: Investments, Infrastructure, and Property

Trevor Farmer is part of the wealthy Farmer/Gibbs family, who made their fortune through smart investments and business leadership.

Business Activities

The family is known for investing in:

• Viaduct Harbour Holdings, a major property developer in Auckland

• Infrastructure projects and energy companies

• Agricultural and export businesses

Wealth Management

They are long-term investors with a focus on sustainability. Farmer is also connected with private equity groups that manage large portfolios around the world.

Local Impact

Though less high-profile than others on this list, the Farmer family’s influence is felt in many parts of NZ’s economy, especially Auckland and the North Island.

Final Thoughts: What Does This Mean for New Zealand?

According to Statistics NZ, the richest 5% of Kiwis own 43.1% of the country’s wealth, while the bottom 50% owns only 2.1%. The gap is growing, and it raises important questions about fairness and opportunity.

At the same time, the stories of these top 5 wealthiest New Zealanders are stories of vision, risk-taking, and hard work. Whether you agree with how they got there or not, they have shaped New Zealand’s economy, identity, and global reputation.

Quick Facts

• NZ now has 18 billionaires, up from 16 in 2024.
• The 2025 NBR Rich List includes 119 individuals/families worth a total of NZ$102.1 billion.
• That’s more than 40% of New Zealand’s GDP.

As we look to the future, it’s important to keep talking about how wealth is made, shared, and used. Let’s also celebrate the stories of Kiwis who succeed, while remembering that true success lifts up communities and future generations.

Stay tuned with One Network Wellington Live for more on the people shaping Aotearoa’s future.