1989 Christchurch mayoral election

New Zealand mayoral election June 2024 July 2019 1989 Christchurch mayoral election New Zealand Flag of Christchurch.svg Presidential no 1986 Christchurch mayoral election 1986 1992 Christchurch mayoral election 1992 14 October 1989 121,680 (60.56%) no 100px Vicki Buck Independent 63,824 52.45 100px Morgan Fahey United Citizens DDEEFF 30,891 25.39 100px Margaret Murray Christchurch Action FFFFAA 25,666 21.09 1989 Christchurch mayoral election.svg Results by ward Mayor Hamish Hay Christchurch Citizens' Association Vicki Buck Independent The 1989 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1989, election were held for the mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post voting method. Background Incumbent mayor Hamish Hay had first entered the city council in 1959 and has had continuous service since then. For the last five terms, he had been mayor, and he had announced his mayoral candidacy in October 1988. Less than two months out from the election, he pulled out of the contest due to ill health.Forrester Kay Councillors show interest https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890607.2.73 28 September 2025 The Press 7 June 1989 9Sir Hamish steps aside https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890823.2.78 24 September 2025 The Press 23 August 1989 16 There was deadlock on the city council with a four-way split in its membership. The Labour Party won a plurality of seats with seven seats, the United Citizens won seven, the new Christchurch Action ticket with six seats and the remaining three seats won by independent candidates. Prior to the election there was a schism on the right wing Citizens' Association resulting in two conservative tickets running against each other.Forrester Kay Split council still to set battle lines The Press 16 October 1989 1 Christchurch Action was set up, comprising former councillors from districts that merged with the city as part of the 1989 local government reforms.Scanlon Sean Crean Mike Cutting their ties; Two parties in control The Press 24 April 2004 D11 Results Hay was succeeded by Labour Party councillor Vicki Buck who became Christchurch's first female mayor.Forrester Kay Chch elects first woman as Mayor The Press 16 October 1989 1 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891016.2.2 24 September 2025 The following table gives the election results: 1989 Christchurch mayoral electionThe Press 3 Mayoralty figures 16 October 1989 The Press 88 Declaration of results of elections: Christchurch City https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891028.2.192.1 28 October 1989 24 September 2025Max Robertson Christchurch City Council http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/council/proceedings/2004/october/electoraloffcr.pdf Report of the Electoral Officer 20 October 2004 18 August 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081019080409/http://ccc.govt.nz/council/proceedings/2004/october/electoraloffcr.pdf 19 October 2008The Press 1 Sir Hamish ‘survives’ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19861013.2.6 13 October 1986 Independent politician Vicki Buck 63,824 52.45 United Citizens #DDEEFF Morgan Fahey 30,891 25.39 Christchurch Action #FFFFAA Margaret Murray 25,666 21.09 McGillicuddy Serious Party Craig Young 899 0.74 #AA6 Economic Euthenics Tubby Hansen 400 0.33 -1.72 1341 1.09 -0.32 32,933 27.07 121,680 60.56 +2.56 approx Results by ward Vicki Buck polled highest in all but one of the Christchurch Wards, Margaret Murray won her own Waimairi ward, while Fahey did not get a plurality in any ward, his highest polling ward being Heathcote.The Press 7 CHRISTCHURCH MAYORALTY: FINAL PRELIMINARY RESULTS https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891017.2.51 17 October 1989 Polling by The Star suggested Buck would dominate a majority of the wards although the opposing candidates disputed the figures during the campaign.The Press 1 Doubt cast on poll result https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890927.2.11?end_date=14-10-1989&items_per_page=10&page=3&query=vicki+buck&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev&start_date=01-01-1861&title=CHP 27 September 1989 The Press 1 Election ‘poll that counts’ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891011.2.8 11 October 1989 Vicki Buck Morgan Fahey Margaret Murray Others Total Ward # % # % # % # % #Burwood 5,885 58.80 2,269 22.67 1,782 17.80 73 0.73 10,009Fendalton4,884 41.99 3,546 30.49 3,126 26.88 75 0.64 11,631Ferrymead6,057 57.97 2,885 27.61 1,363 13.05 143 0.68 10,488Hagley4,382 59.14 1,906 25.27 980 13.23 142 1.92 7,410Heathcote5,771 53.78 3,308 30.83 1,526 14.22 125 1.16 10,730Papanui5,175 47.09 2,319 21.10 3,378 30.74 118 1.07 10,990Pegasus6,114 64.27 2,190 23.02 1,094 11.50 115 1.21 9,513Riccarton4,624 44.21 2,518 24.07 3,194 30.54 124 1.19 10,460Shirley5,307 55.89 2,861 30.13 1,239 13.05 118 0.94 9,496Spreydon5,399 56.56 2,772 29.04 1,269 13.29 105 1.10 9,545Waimairi 4,446 38.56 2,093 18.15 4,916 42.64 74 0.64 11,529Wigram4,981 57.94 1,995 25.39 1,520 17.68 101 1.17 8,597Total 63,824 52.45 30,891 25.39 25,666 21.09 1,299 1.07 121,680 City council election result 1989 Christchurch City Council election 1989CC-Council Aftermath Buck was elected the first ever female mayor of Christchurch, and four women were elected to the council. Margaret Murray and Morgan Fahey both conceded in a friendly manner in person on the night. Fahey, her nearest opponent, became the deputy mayor. Despite losing the mayoralty, Action performed very well and Citizens' lost its overall majority on council. There was accusation that Action split the centre-right vote and lead to no overall control on the council. Because of the Citizens' animosity towards the action team Labour and Citizens' formed an alliance on the council which resulted in Action missing out on a fair share of committee chairmanships.Council alliance sews up top jobs https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891107.2.2 13 June 2024 The Press 7 November 1989 1 Dennis Rich retained his position as team leader after the election, but Labour's team leader Alex Clark was replaced by Pegasus councillor David Close after Clark expressed a preference to focus on his regional council seat. Clark was also unable to secure a committee chairmanship, even in transport, despite his advocacy for a city owned bus company. Although Labour candidate Arthur Adcock had won on election night by a margin of 19 votes, independent Mike Stevens refused to concede and sought multiple rounds of recounts, eventually resulting in Adcock losing his seat to Stevens.Public notices https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891223.2.165.8 13 June 2024 The Press 23 December 1989 43 This meant Labour's election night plurality of seats was also lost. There was also legal action in the Papanui ward over the nature of election material.More election legal action? https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891124.2.65 13 June 2024 The Press 24 November 1989 7 Mayor Buck initially tried to get councillors to sit in alphabetical order next to each other, however, councillors ended up moving their own name plates around to sit in party/team blocs.Council seating, top jobs arranged https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891108.2.2 13 June 2024 The Press 8 November 1989 7 Notes References autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Christchurch Category:1989 New Zealand local elections Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:October 1989 in Oceania Category:1980s in Christchurch