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.
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.[1] 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.[2]
Results
The final results were not released until 25 October; the following table gives the election 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.[4][5]
Councillor Massey, who represented the Pegasus ward, died in March 1975[8] 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.[9] The Labour Party chose Buck to stand in the by-election.[10] Aged 19, Buck won the by-election on 10 May 1975 by a large margin.[11] She was New Zealand's youngest city councillor at that time.[12]
References
^"Cr Hay to be new Mayor after high poll ousts Labour". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33664. 14 October 1974. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
^ abcdefg"Citizens' Assn captures City Council, 11–8". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33664. 14 October 1974. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
^"Declaration of results of election: Christchurch City Council". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33674. 25 October 1974. p. 23. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
^"The ward system". The Press. Vol. CXII, no. 33045. 12 October 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"First step towards city ward system". The Press. Vol. CXII, no. 33040. 6 October 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"Citizens' Assn captures City Council, 11–8". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33664. 14 October 1974. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^ abcdef"Public notices". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33640. 16 September 1974. p. 25. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"Councillor dies". The Press. Vol. CXV, no. 33804. 29 March 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"By-election not expected to change the balance". The Press. Vol. CXV, no. 33806. 1 April 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"Candidate chosen". The Press. Vol. CXV, no. 33814. 10 April 1975. p. 14. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"Pegasus seat to student". The Press. No. 33840. 12 May 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
1974, christchurch, mayoral, election, part, zealand, local, elections, held, that, same, year, 1974, election, were, held, mayor, christchurch, plus, other, local, government, positions, polling, conducted, using, standard, first, past, post, electoral, metho. 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 1974 Christchurch mayoral election 1971 12 October 1974 1977 Turnout54 718 61 00 Candidate Hamish Hay Neville PickeringParty Citizens LabourPopular vote 26 919 25 154Percentage 49 19 45 97Mayor before electionNeville Pickering Elected Mayor Hamish Hay Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 Ward results 4 Aftermath 5 ReferencesBackground EditSitting 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 1 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 2 Results EditThe final results were not released until 25 October the following table gives the election results 1974 Christchurch mayoral election 3 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Hamish Hay 29 482 49 70Labour Neville Pickering 27 237 45 91 5 03Values Gerald Williams 2 068 3 49Independent Tubby Hansen 325 0 55 0 71Informal votes 212 0 36 0 37Majority 2 245 3 80 0 10Turnout 59 324Ward results EditPrior 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 4 5 The overall results of the ward elections to the Christchurch City Council was as follows 6 Party ticket CouncillorsCitizens 11Labour 8The results per ward are shown in the following tables Pegasus ward 4 2 7 Party Candidate Votes Labour Mary Batchelor 6 131Citizens Peter Dunbar 5 958Labour Bill Massey 5 700Labour Peter William Anderson 5 652Labour Vicki Buck 5 527Citizens Alan Stuart Cockburn 4 076Citizens Carole Evans 3 836Citizens Alister David Hogue 3 250Values Robert Stanley Clarkson 1 180Independent Alan Charles Easterbrook 580Informal votes 170East ward 4 7 2 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Peter Skellerup 7 114Citizens William James Arnold Brittenden 6 596Labour Brian Alderdice 5 730Citizens Rex Henry Arbuckle 5 472Citizens Alastair Errol Ansell 5 343Labour John F Davidson 4 780Labour Robert John Todd 4 702Labour John Gordon Power 4 542Independent Te Ao Tu Te Puke Watson 1 241Values Andrew Lea 1 150Values Lionel Frederick Taylor 964Informal votes 230East ward 4 7 2 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Peter Skellerup 7 114Citizens William James Arnold Brittenden 6 596Labour Brian Alderdice 5 730Citizens Rex Henry Arbuckle 5 472Citizens Alastair Errol Ansell 5 343Labour John F Davidson 4 780Labour Robert John Todd 4 702Labour John Gordon Power 4 542Independent Te Ao Tu Te Puke Watson 1 241Values Andrew Lea 1 150Values Lionel Frederick Taylor 964Informal votes 230South ward 4 7 2 Party Candidate Votes Labour Mollie Clark 6 679Citizens Bruce Britten 6 587Labour Robert Macfarlane 6 147Labour Nancy Sutherland 5 518Labour Hugh Alexander Clark 5 266Citizens Daniel Anthony Doyle 5 080Citizens Hohua Tutengaehe 5 035Citizens Clara Esther Crawford 4 758Values Peter James Heal 1 404Informal votes 189North ward 4 7 2 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Newton Dodge 6 246Citizens Peter Blaxall 6 235Citizens John Fyfe Burn 5 824Labour David Caygill 5 800Citizens William Richard Hawkey 5 298Labour Malcolm Grenville Reid Drayton 5 226Labour David Ian Jackson 4 256Labour Murray Charles Thomas Marshall 4 113Values Hilde Marianne Wright 1 239Values Christopher David Wilkes 1 096Informal votes 217West ward 3 7 2 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Helen Garrett 6 747Citizens Maurice Carter 6 678Citizens Gordon Hattaway 6 506Labour Albert Orme 2 598Labour John Patrick Gavigan 2 326Labour Lawrence Albert Mahoney 2 061Values John Conway Jack 1 019Informal votes 135Aftermath EditCouncillor Massey who represented the Pegasus ward died in March 1975 8 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 9 The Labour Party chose Buck to stand in the by election 10 Aged 19 Buck won the by election on 10 May 1975 by a large margin 11 She was New Zealand s youngest city councillor at that time 12 References Edit Cr Hay to be new Mayor after high poll ousts Labour The Press Vol CXIV no 33664 14 October 1974 Retrieved 4 September 2022 a b c d e f g Citizens Assn captures City Council 11 8 The Press Vol CXIV no 33664 14 October 1974 Retrieved 4 September 2022 Declaration of results of election Christchurch City Council The Press Vol CXIV no 33674 25 October 1974 p 23 Retrieved 4 September 2022 The ward system The Press Vol CXII no 33045 12 October 1972 p 16 Retrieved 5 September 2022 First step towards city ward system The Press Vol CXII no 33040 6 October 1972 p 12 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Citizens Assn captures City Council 11 8 The Press Vol CXIV no 33664 14 October 1974 p 2 Retrieved 5 September 2022 a b c d e f Public notices The Press Vol CXIV no 33640 16 September 1974 p 25 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Councillor dies The Press Vol CXV no 33804 29 March 1975 p 16 Retrieved 5 September 2022 By election not expected to change the balance The Press Vol CXV no 33806 1 April 1975 p 16 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Candidate chosen The Press Vol CXV no 33814 10 April 1975 p 14 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Pegasus seat to student The Press No 33840 12 May 1975 p 1 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Hay Hamish 1989 Hay Days Christchurch Caxton Press p 94 ISBN 0908563310 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1974 Christchurch mayoral election amp oldid 1120281612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, 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