1956 Wellington mayoral election

New Zealand local election July 2025 December 2016 1956 Wellington mayoral election New Zealand Wellington CoA (shield only).svg Presidential no 1953 Wellington mayoral election 1953 1959 Wellington mayoral election 1959 17 November 1956 38,105 (47.68%) 150x150px Frank Kitts New Zealand Labour Party 14,674 38.50 150x150px Ernest Toop Wellington Citizens' Association 11,920 31.28 125x150px Robert Macalister Independent politician 10,783 28.29 Mayor Robert Macalister Frank Kitts The 1956 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1956, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background The 1956 mayoral election was conducted amidst a selection controversy by the right-leaning Citizens' Association. Under the impression that incumbent mayor Robert Macalister was not intending to seek a third term as Mayor, Ernest Toop applied to gain nomination as the official Citizens' candidacy. As Toop was the only applicant he was successful. However, Macalister had intended to run for mayor again and assumed he, as incumbent, would gain automatic nomination. Undeterred, Macalister ran for mayor again as an independent which split the Citizens' vote enabling Labour's Frank Kitts to win the mayoralty.Betts 1970 157 Kitts became Wellington's first Labour Mayor in 46 years following David McLaren's defeat in 1913.Taylor Kerry 3m22 McLaren, David – Biography 17 December 2011 Labour also polled more votes than the Citizens' Association for the council as well. However it won fewer seats due to a high concentration of Labour votes on several candidates with the remainder of the ticket receiving far less, compared to the Citizens' vote which was more evenly dispersed across its ticket.Betts 1970 146 This was compounded due to Kitts running jointly for both mayor and council. He topped the poll in the council vote, but his election was voided by virtue of winning the mayoralty which saw his council seat awarded to the highest polling unsuccessful candidate, Donald Griffin, who was on the Citizens' ticket. Initially it was to be awarded to another Labour candidate, Thomas Cameron, but after special votes had been counted Griffin has surpassed Cameron's tally.The Evening Post Labour Man Out on Final Count – Citizens' Majority on City Council 30 November 1956 Mayoralty results 1956 Wellington mayoral electionJames T.W. 25 November 1956 Declaration of Election Results Wellington City Council New Zealand Labour Party Frank Kitts 14,674 38.50 -6.45 Wellington Citizens' Association Ernest Toop 11,920 31.28 Independent politician Robert Macalister 10,783 28.29 -20.49 Independent politician Julius Hyde 728 1.91 -3.48 2,754 7.22 38,105 47.68 -17.51 Councillor results thumb|right|200px|Toop (right) congratulating Kitts (left) on his victory. 1956 Wellington City Council electionThe Dominion Recount Puts Citizens' In Control 1 December 1956 New Zealand Labour Party Frank Kittsnb As Kitts won the Mayoralty his election to the council was voided and his seat was awarded to the highest polling unsuccessful candidate. 20,346 53.39 +1.85 Wellington Citizens' Association Bill Arcus 18,820 49.38 +3.01 Wellington Citizens' Association Allan Highet 18,396 48.27 -5.80 Wellington Citizens' Association Barry Barton-Ginger 18,130 47.57 +3.10 New Zealand Labour Party John Churchill 17,988 47.20 +3.48 Wellington Citizens' Association Bob Archibald 17,983 47.19 +2.34 New Zealand Labour Party Jim Bateman 17,798 46.70 +5.15 New Zealand Labour Party James Roberts 17,573 46.11 +2.12 New Zealand Labour Party Mervyn Castle 17,417 45.70 +7.68 Wellington Citizens' Association Clive Drummond 17,332 45.48 Wellington Citizens' Association Berkeley Dallard 17,101 44.87 +3.25 Wellington Citizens' Association Harry Nankervis 16,934 44.44 +3.98 New Zealand Labour Party Lettie Allen 16,058 42.14 Wellington Citizens' Association Max Wall 15,239 39.99 New Zealand Labour Party Jack Arthurs 15,143 39.74 +1.27 Wellington Citizens' Association Donald Griffin 14,887 39.06 New Zealand Labour Party Thomas Cameron 14,779 38.78 New Zealand Labour Party Ethel Harris 14,614 38.35 +4.33 Wellington Citizens' Association John Barnett 14,592 38.29 New Zealand Labour Party Nigel Taylor 14,505 38.06 Wellington Citizens' Association William Birtwhistle 14,275 37.46 New Zealand Labour Party Jim Collins 14,233 37.35 +0.71 Wellington Citizens' Association Peter Howman 13,975 36.67 New Zealand Labour Party Hugh Kelleher 13,864 36.38 +0.02 Wellington Citizens' Association William Simpson 13,635 35.78 New Zealand Labour Party Allan Goldsmith 13,453 35.30 New Zealand Labour Party Edward Hodgkinson 13,292 34.88 +1.63 New Zealand Labour Party Alfred Elgar 12,480 32.75 Independent politician Gilbert MacLean 12,228 32.09 -2.41 Wellington Citizens' Association William Morgan 12,153 31.89 Wellington Citizens' Association Mark Kennington 11,995 31.47 Independent politician William Bacon 8,399 22.04 -3.59 Independent politician Leslie Austin 7,196 18.88 +4.09 Independent politician William Rea 3,871 10.15 Independent politician Charles Lethaby 3,508 9.20 Communist Party of New Zealand William Hunter 3,365 8.83 +4.45 Communist Party of New Zealand Albert Birchfield 2,465 6.46 Table footnotes: nb Notes References Betts George George Betts (political scientist) Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics 1970 A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. Wellington 0 589 00469 7 autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Wellington Category:1956 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Category:1950s in Wellington Category:November 1956 in Oceania