Well-heeled need platforms to make rich list

Despite the tougher threshold, the list has grown to 187 individuals and families, after 29 new entries eclipsed 25 who fell off from last year.

(One casualty is Auckland City Mayor John Banks, who squeezed into last year's list with an estimated net minimum worth of $16 million.)

A $4 billion increase in the combined net worth of those listed this year to more than $22 billion has the compilers gushing about an "explosion" of wealth in what they call a time of exceptional prosperity.

Topping the list of individuals for the third year running is food tycoon Graeme Hart, whose estimated worth has grown from $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion.

He is more than twice as rich as runner-up Douglas Myers, but the liquor baron has edged $20 million ahead of merchant bankers Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite to a net worth of $650 million.

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