1974 Christchurch mayoral election

New Zealand mayoral election June 2019 June 2019 1974 Christchurch mayoral election New Zealand Presidential no 1971 Christchurch mayoral election 1971 1977 Christchurch mayoral election 1977 12 October 1974 54,718 (61.00%) no 150x150px Hamish Hay Citizens' DDEEFF 26,919 49.19 150x150px Neville Pickering Labour 25,154 45.97 Mayor Neville Pickering Hamish Hay The 1974 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1974, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. A significant change was the introduction of a ward system, with city councillors elected in five wards. Background Sitting mayor Neville Pickering was defeated by Citizens' councillor Hamish Hay in a closely fought race with a large turnout. Pickering actually increased his poll but the increased voter turnout favoured Hay leading The Press to state the result was out of increased interest rather than a swing of public opinion. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19741014.2.2 The Press CXIV 33664 Cr Hay to be new Mayor after high poll ousts Labour 14 October 1974 4 September 2022 It was the second consecutive election that an incumbent mayor had been defeated. The Citizens' Association regained their majority on the city council too, resulting in the composition of the council at eleven seats to eight.The Press CXIV 33664 Citizens' Assn captures City Council, 11–8 14 October 1974 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19741014.2.17 4 September 2022 Results The final results were not released until 25 October; the following table gives the election results: 1974 Christchurch mayoral election https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19741025.2.175.3 The Press CXIV 33674 Declaration of results of election: Christchurch City Council 25 October 1974 23 4 September 2022 Citizens #DDEEFF Hamish Hay 29,482 49.70 New Zealand Labour Party Neville Pickering 27,237 45.91 -5.03 Values Party Gary Williams 2,068 3.49 Independent politician Tubby Hansen 325 0.55 -0.71 212 0.36 -0.37 2,245 3.80 -0.10 59,324 Ward results Prior to the 1971 local elections, a local government commission had recommended that Christchurch amalgamate with some of the small surrounding local authorities and the area be divided into wards for electoral purposes, with the mayor then the only position elected at large. Pickering had promised during the 1971 election campaign that wards would be introduced for the 1974 local elections. The Citizens' ticket had also been in favour of introducing wards but tied this to amalgamation going ahead. Amalgamation did not proceed but the Labour-led council introduced five wards, the maximum number permitted by law, in time for the 1974 local elections. The central area, which had been known as Avon, was renamed to Pegasus to avoid confusion with the Avon general electorate, with the Pegasus ward electing four councillors. The other four wards were named after the cardinal points of the compass, electing four councillors each apart from the West ward with three councillors. Therefore, the total number of councillors at 19 remained unchanged.The ward system https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19721012.2.119 5 September 2022 The Press CXII 33045 12 October 1972 16First step towards city ward system https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19721006.2.103 5 September 2022 The Press CXII 33040 6 October 1972 12 The overall results of the ward elections to the Christchurch City Council was as follows.Citizens' Assn captures City Council, 11–8 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19741014.2.17 5 September 2022 The Press CXIV 33664 14 October 1974 2 Party/ticket Councillors Citizens' 11 Labour 8 The results per ward are shown in the following tables: Pegasus ward (4)Public notices https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19740916.2.185.2 5 September 2022 The Press CXIV 33640 16 September 1974 25 New Zealand Labour Party Mary Batchelor 6,131 Citizens #DDEEFF Peter Dunbar 5,958 New Zealand Labour Party Bill Massey 5,700 New Zealand Labour Party Peter William Anderson 5,652 New Zealand Labour Party Vicki Buck 5,527 Citizens' #DDEEFF Alan Cockburn 4,076 Citizens' #DDEEFF Carole Evans 3,836 Citizens' #DDEEFF Alister Hogue 3,250 Values Party Robert Clarkson 1,180 Independent politician Alan Charles Easterbrook 580 170 East ward (4) Citizens #DDEEFF Peter Skellerup 7,114 Citizens #DDEEFF Bill Brittenden 6,596 New Zealand Labour Party Brian Alderdice 5,730 Citizens #DDEEFF Rex Arbuckle 5,472 Citizens' #DDEEFF Alastair Ansell 5,343 New Zealand Labour Party John F. Davidson 4,780 New Zealand Labour Party Robert John Todd 4,702 New Zealand Labour Party John Gordon Power 4,542 Independent politician Te Puke-Watson 1,241 Values Party Andy Lea 1,150 Values Party Leo Taylor 964 230 South ward (4) New Zealand Labour Party Mollie Clark 6,679 Citizens #DDEEFF Bruce Britten 6,587 New Zealand Labour Party Robert Macfarlane 6,147 New Zealand Labour Party Nancy Sutherland 5,518 New Zealand Labour Party Alex Clark 5,266 Citizens' #DDEEFF Dan Doyle 5,080 Citizens' #DDEEFF Joe Tutengaehe 5,035 Citizens' #DDEEFF Clara Crawford 4,758 Values Party Peter Heal 1,404 189 North ward (4) Citizens #DDEEFF Newton Dodge 6,246 Citizens #DDEEFF Peter Blaxall 6,235 Citizens #DDEEFF John Burn 5,824 New Zealand Labour Party David Caygill 5,800 Citizens' #DDEEFF Bill Hawkey 5,298 New Zealand Labour Party Malcolm Grenville Reid Drayton 5,226 New Zealand Labour Party David Jackson 4,256 New Zealand Labour Party Murray Charles Thomas Marshall 4,113 Values Party Hilde Wright 1,239 Values Party Chris Wilkes 1,096 217 West ward (3) Citizens #DDEEFF Helen Garrett 6,747 Citizens #DDEEFF Maurice Carter 6,678 Citizens #DDEEFF Gordon Hattaway 6,506 New Zealand Labour Party Albert Orme 2,598 New Zealand Labour Party John Patrick Gavigan 2,326 New Zealand Labour Party Lawrence Albert Mahoney 2,061 Values Party Conway Jack 1,019 135 Aftermath Councillor Massey, who represented the Pegasus ward, died in March 1975Councillor dies https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750329.2.144 5 September 2022 The Press CXV 33804 29 March 1975 16 and that triggered a by-election only because Christchurch had introduced the ward system for the 1974 election. Prior to that, when 19 councillors were elected at large, seats had just been left vacant.By-election not expected to change the balance https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750401.2.135 5 September 2022 The Press CXV 33806 1 April 1975 16 The Labour Party chose Buck to stand in the by-election.Candidate chosen https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750410.2.117 5 September 2022 The Press CXV 33814 10 April 1975 14 Aged 19, Buck won the by-election on 10 May 1975 by a large margin.Pegasus seat to student https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750512.2.6 5 September 2022 The Press 33840 12 May 1975 1 She was New Zealand's youngest city councillor at that time.Hay Hamish Hamish Hay Hay Days 1989 Caxton Press Christchurch 0908563310 94 References autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Christchurch Category:1974 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:October 1974 in Oceania Category:1970s in Christchurch