1842 Wellington mayoral election

Local election and first election in New Zealand August 2023 August 2023 1842 Wellington mayoral election New Zealand Flag of the United Kingdom (3-5).svg Presidential no 1874 Wellington mayoral election 1874 3 October 1842 837 (93%) 140px George Hunter Independent politician 273 32.61 Mayor None George Hunter The 1842 Wellington mayoral election was the first election ever held in New Zealand. It was held to elect a mayor and eleven member council. The mayor was not elected separately, with the position awarded to the highest polling council candidate. Background A public meeting was held on 29 July 1841 in Barrett's Hotel locals resolved to establish local government as a way of providing direct leadership to the city as well as lessening the amount of colonial government rule in the area. Subsequently, hundreds of settlers of all classes worked out the wording of an ordinance for local government at a series of pub meetings. In August 1841 William Hobson, the Governor of New Zealand, visited Wellington and heard the complaints of settlers and magistrates. He was also presented the document and passed it into law the following year, giving birth to local government in New Zealand. At the end of May 1842 Wellington was declared New Zealand's first incorporated borough after meeting the requisite population of more than 2,000 (the first place in the colony to do so). An elected council of twelve burgesses (including a mayor) was to be established and charged with the administration of public lands within its boundaries. It also had the power to make by-laws, raise loans, carry out public works and levy property taxes (rates) on all proprietors and occupiers. Any adult male could vote but had to pay a £1 registration fee, excluding many potential voters. The population at the time was around 3,500, with about 900 adult men eligible to vote.Yska 2006 25 Each voter was entitled to vote for as many or as few candidates as they wished with the twelve highest polling candidates to become Aldermen, while the remaining six were to form a reserve list from which any vacancies on the council were to be filled until the next election held. During February 1842, meetings were held at public houses to determine election 'tickets'. Both a "working men's" committee and a "gentlemen's" committee were established. Each nominated eighteen, but seven of them were on both lists.Betts 1970 27 Five candidates who appeared on both lists, three from each list, and one independent were elected to the Municipal Council of the Borough of Wellington. George Hunter topped the poll with the highest number of votes and automatically became the first Mayor of Wellington.Yska 2006 26 There was a high amount of public interest and engagement with 93 percent of those enrolled voting.Betts 1970 28 Election results The following table gives the election results: 1842 Wellington council electionhttps://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZGWS18421005.2.5.1 Borough of Wellington New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator 5 October 1842 III 182 2 Independent politician George Hunter 273 32.61 Independent politician William Lyon 237 28.31 Independent politician William Fitzherbert 220 26.28 Independent politician Johnny Wade 212 25.32 Independent politician George Scott 196 23.41 Independent politician Francis Alexander Molesworth 182 21.74 Independent politician John Dorset 176 21.02 Independent politician Robert Waitt 164 19.59 Independent politician William Guyton 155 18.51 Independent politician Abraham Hort 155 18.51 Independent politician Edward Johnson 151 18.04 Independent politician Robert Jenkins 149 17.80 Independent politician John Howard Wallace 144 17.20 Independent politician Richard Davis Hanson 126 15.05 Independent politician William Anthony Cooper 125 14.93 Independent politician Edward Daniell 124 14.81 Independent politician Thomas Milne Machattie 122 14.57 Independent politician Henry Taylor 117 13.97 837 93.00 Aftermath Hunter led the city for nine months where the appointment of council committees, employees and organising finances were his main tasks. During a council meeting in July 1843, Hunter caught a chill and died at his Willis Street home a few days later.Yska 2006 28 At a council meeting on 26 July, John Howard Wallace, the highest polling man on the reserve list, was appointed to the council to replace Hunter as an Alderman. The council then elected William Guyton to replace him as Mayor.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZCPNA18430728.2.11 Municipal Council New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser 28 July 1843 I 104 3 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 Yska Redmer Wellington: Biography of a City 2006 Reed Books Auckland 9780790011172 autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Wellington Category:1842 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Category:1840s in Wellington