The National Business Review's 2009 Rich List, which showed the impact of the credit crunch and global economic slump, saw Graeme Hart - whose investments range from packaging to food - holding onto his top spot; while the slowdown cut the net worth of New Zealand's wealthiest people.

In the latest Rich List survey, a fall by NZ$500 million to an estimated NZ$5.5 billion was seen in Hart's wealth. However, this fall was not able to affect his top position on the list, which he has maintained for seven of the past eight years.

The combined wealth of Rich Listers was cut by NZ$5.7 billion to $38.7 billion, by the global financial crisis, which eventually resulted in 17 being dropped from the list.

The second position on the list was secured by the Todd family - with interests in energy, mining and media companies - with an estimated NZ$2.6 billion, unchanged from a year earlier.

While the third position was taken by Dairy farm and property investor Eamon Cleary, with his wealth falling by NZ$100 million to NZ$2 billion; the fourth was taken by Fund managers Richard and Christopher Chandler - who oversee Sovereign Asset Management - with a combined wealth of NZ$3.6 billion.

According to the NBR's annual survey, "Lynette Erceg, widow of liquor baron Michael Erceg, was sixth-ranked, at NZ$1.2 billion, down NZ$200 million. Rich List valuer Neville Glaser said it was clear 2008-2009 wasn't a good year to be wealthy."