1992 Wellington mayoral election

New Zealand local election July 2025 November 2016 1992 Wellington mayoral election New Zealand Flag of Wellington.svg Presidential no 1989 Wellington mayoral election 1989 1995 Wellington mayoral election 1995 10 October 1992 57,157 (53.26%) 150x150px Fran Wilde New Zealand Labour Party 18,795 32.91% 150x150px Helene Ritchie Independent politician 9,715 17.00% 150x150px Ken Comber Wellington Citizens' Association 8,751 15.31% 150x150px Stephen Rainbow Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 6,122 10.71% Mayor Sir Jim Belich New Zealand Labour Party Fran Wilde New Zealand Labour Party The 1992 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1992, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government roles including 21 councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. The election saw Fran Wilde, the MP for Wellington Central, elected as the new mayor of Wellington replacing incumbent Sir Jim Belich who had retired after serving two terms. Wilde became Wellington's first female mayor, defeating former Deputy Mayor Helene Ritchie and her predecessor as MP for Wellington Central Ken Comber who ran for the Citizens' Association. Background In November 1991, former Deputy Mayor Helene Ritchie, was the first person to declare their candidacy.Finnegan Annette Ritchie joins mayoral hopefuls The Evening Post 12 November 1991 1 The next day incumbent mayor, Sir Jim Belich, made inferences that he was considering standing for a third term. He would not rule out standing for re-election, but stated he would not make a final decision until February.Moran Paul The Dominion Belich indicates he may stand again 13 November 1991 This was a surprise given Belich stated when he was first elected in 1986 that he wished to serve for only two terms. Ultimately Belich cited this pledge as his main reason when he decided not to stand again. He stated "I said if I couldn't do in six years what was in my power to do I'm not sure I could do more in nine. The main things on my agenda, formed after my election, have been done."Gosling Martyn Belich to quit mayoralty in October with few regrets The Dominion 3 March 1992 Following Belich's decision to retire from the mayoralty, the Labour Party chose Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde as their candidate. Initially Eastern Ward councillor Nic Dalton was favoured to replace Belich though Dalton ruled himself out of contention for both the mayoralty and council.O'Leary Eileen The Evening Post MP Wilde decides to contest mayoralty 23 March 1992 Morrison Alistair The Dominion Labour toys with the Wilde card 19 March 1992 Attention then turned to Wilde's status as an MP with the prospect of her taking both a parliamentary and mayoral salary or the prospect of a by-election at taxpayer expense. Labour leader Mike Moore made known his preference for Wilde to remain in Parliament, offering to relieve her of portfolios to help with workload, although Wilde ultimately decided to resign from Parliament if elected mayor.The Dominion Moore wants Wilde to remain MP 19 March 1992 The Citizens' Association had no shortage of people interested in being their mayoral candidate. Citizens' leader on the council Les Stephens, Eastern ward councillor Ruth Gotlieb, former councillor Bryan Weyburne, ex-deputy mayor Gavin Wilson and previous mayor Ian Lawrence were all approached by the selection committee. Insurance executive Boyd Klap, broadcaster Sharon Crosbie, management executive Basil Logan as well as two former National Party MPs, Ken Comber and Tony Friedlander, also spoke to Citizens' selectors.Belich undecided on bid The Dominion 29 February 1992 Five names (Comber, Gotlieb, Lawrence, Stephens and Weyburne) went forward for the final selection panel. The association made a surprise choice, choosing Comber as their candidate for mayor.Citizens pick Comber for mayoralty The Dominion 18 March 1992 Gotlieb ran for mayor and council regardless as an independent. Stephens in the Onslow ward, Weyburne ran in the Western ward and Lawrence for the Wellington Regional Council. Former Citizens' councillor David Bull ran for mayor again after breaking withe the ticket in 1989.Bull to seek mayoralty as independent candidate The Dominion 4 May 1992 Results The following table gives the election results: 1992 Wellington mayoral electionBly Ross 1992 City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 Wellington City Council Declaration of Results of Elections – City of Wellington – Mayor The Evening Post 17 October 1992 39 New Zealand Labour Party Fran Wilde 18,795 32.91 Independent politician Helene Ritchie 9,715 17.00 -10.12 Wellington Citizens' Association Ken Comber 8,751 15.31 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Stephen Rainbow 6,122 10.71 Independent politician Ruth Gotlieb 5,851 10.23 Independent politician David Bull 4,683 8.19 -0.12 Independent politician Rana Waitai 2,607 4.56 McGillicuddy Serious Party John Morrison 299 0.52 -1.41 Private Enterprise #43A2FF Frank Moncur 134 0.23 -0.15 Communist League (New Zealand) Patrick Brown 112 0.19 Independent politician Margaret Barry-Gellen 88 0.15 632 1.10 -1.54 9,080 15.88 57,157 53.26 +3.32 Results by ward Fran Wilde polled the highest in all seven of Wellington's electoral wards. Wards won by Wilde Fran Wilde Helene Ritchie Ken Comber Stephen Rainbow Others Total Ward # % # % # % # % # % #Eastern 3,246 28.1 2,200 19.0 1,909 16.5 1,125 9.7 3,093 26.7 11,573Lambton 3,035 43.2 737 10.5 1,020 14.5 1,015 14.4 1,221 17.4 7,028Northern 2,295 29.0 1,810 22.9 1,006 12.7 634 8.0 2,160 27.4 7,905Onslow 2,151 34.0 838 13.2 1,101 17.4 600 9.5 1,644 25.9 6,334Tawa 1,153 24.6 928 19.8 856 18.3 377 8.1 1,366 29.2 4,680Southern 3,856 37.0 1,909 18.3 1,260 12.1 1,308 12.5 2,096 20.1 10,429Western 3,041 33.1 1,291 14.0 1,597 17.4 1,060 11.5 2,211 24.0 9,200Total 18,795 32.9 9,715 17.0 8,751 15.3 6,122 10.7 13,774 24.1 57,157 Ward results 1992 Wellington City local elections Candidates were also elected from wards to the Wellington City Council. Party/ticket Councillors Citizens' 6 Labour 5 Greens 4 Independent 6 See also 1992 Wellington Central by-election References autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Wellington Category:1992 New Zealand local elections Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Category:1990s in Wellington