Dollars and sense for rich

Goodman Fielder, founded by Sir Patrick, owns Glen Nevis Station in Queenstown. Photo / Supplied

Property is sexy again, and the bigtime property investors are back on the Rich List with a vengeance.

Five years of mixed fortunes, scandal and bankruptcy may have claimed many of the biggest names in New Zealand property like David Henderson, Andrew Krukziener and Terry Serepisos.

But this year's National Business Review Rich List, which will go on sale on Friday, will reveal that some of the biggest wealth gains in the past year have been made by commercial property investors.

The Goodman family, which controls property here and in Australia, has jumped $100m. Last year they were placed 10th on the list, with $850m. This year they came in just short of $1 billion.

Sir Patrick Goodman set up Goodman Fielder in the 1970s, but the Goodman Group is now an international property heavyweight. The family also own the 2425ha Glen Nevis Station at Lake Wakatipu.

Not far behind the Goodmans was Sir Robert Jones (19th-equal with $400m last year) and Auckland's Manson family (45th placed last year on $210m).

Expatriate investment company owner Richard Chandler ($5b) was No 2 behind Graeme Hart last year, but is now challenging Hart for the title of New Zealand's richest man.

- Herald on Sunday