Willie Apiata, VC, has been named as New Zealand’s most trusted person.
The 10th annual New Zealand Reader’s Digest Trust Survey has just been released with the list dominated by sports stars and emergency service workers.
Mr Apiata took out the top spot as the most trusted of 100 well-known Kiwis.
In second place was Northland doctor and champion of Maori health care Lance O’Sullivan, with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in 3rd palce.
Mr Apiata also won the accolade in 2008, 2009 and 2010, making him the most trusted Kiwi since the survey started.
Firefighters, paramedics, rescue volunteers and nurses were the five most trusted of 50 professions. At the other end of the list were politicians, door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers.
Prime Minister John Key came in at 86th, a drop from his position at 80 last year.
Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Survey – Top 20
1. Willie Apiata VC, solider
2. Lance O’Sullivan, doctor, 2014 New Zealander of the Year
3. Richie McCaw, All Blacks’ captain
4. Judy Bailey, charity worker
5. John Kirwan, former All Black player
6. Kevin Milne, former TV host
7. Valerie Adams (formerly Vili), shot-putter
8. Jim Hickey, TV weather presenter
9. Alison Holst, food writer
10. Peter Snell, former athlete
11. Peter Leitch, businessman, charity worker
12. Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General
13. Peter Jackson, film director
13. Dan Carter, All Black player
15. Sarah Ulmer, cyclist
15. Colin Meads, former All Black
17. Sam Johnson, leader of Student Volunteer Army
18. Hamish Bond, rower, Olympic gold medalist
18. Brian Lochore, former All Black captain and coach
20. John Campbell, TV journalist
Bill Henry “Willie” Apiata is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service. He became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. He received the award on 2 July 2007 for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004, after carrying a gravely wounded comrade across a battlefield, under fire, to safety.
Apiata is the only recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand.
