The National Business Review has published its 2024 list of New Zealand’s wealthiest families and individuals, including those with interests in the transport sector.
Among notable names, the founder of global logistics operator Mainfreight, Bruce Plested, comes in with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion and ranks 11 on list.
The Richardson, O’Donnell family, owners of Invercargill-based H.W. Richardson Group – the country’s largest privately owned transport business – come in at 39 on the list with an estimated net worth of $500m.
The Goodman Family, which controls commercial and industrial property assets including warehousing and offices for transport and logistics operators, comes in at number four with an estimated $3.8b.
Don Braid, Mainfreight group managing director with over 40 years of service with the firm, ranks number 98 with net worth of around $220m.
The Higgins family, known for New Zealand civil construction company Higgins which sold to Fletcher Building in 2016, ranks 31 with $570m.
The Smith family, involved in cranes and construction which includes Christchurch-based company Smith Crane and Construction, ranks 70 with $320m.
The Gough family, rank 35 on list with $550m. The family previously owned transport, agricultural, forestry, mining and construction equipment businesses notably with the Caterpillar brand.
The Porter family, with business in selling and hiring heavy equipment plus heavy haulage, rank 62 on the list with an estimated net worth of $350m.
The NBR List also includes family groups with current or former automotive holdings.
The Todd Family, which sold the Todd Motors Group to Mitsubishi in 1987, is listed at three with an estimated net worth of $4.3b, thanks to its investments in minerals, energy, property, healthcare and technology.
The Fukutaka family, which provided launch funding for Drive Electric, came in eighth on the list with an estimated net worth of $1.6b.
The Giltrap Family came in at 41 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $480m.
A former Nissan dealer in Morrinsville, the Maber family, which owns the multinational Power Farming Group, came in at 67 on the list with an estimated net worth of $340m.
The family of the late Peter Spencer, which holds the local distribution rights for Hyundai, Isuzu Ute and Renault, is absent from the 2024 list.
