1968 Wellington mayoral election

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1968 Wellington mayoral election
Wellington CoA (shield only).svg
  1965 12 October 1968 1971  
Turnout28,217 (46.5%)
  Frank Kitts, 1954.jpg Robert Archibald.jpg
Candidate Frank Kitts Bob Archibald
Party Labour Citizens'
Popular vote18,3909,569
Percentage65.1733.91

Mayor before election

Frank Kitts
Labour

Elected mayor

Frank Kitts
Labour

The 1968 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1968, 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.

Contents

Background

Initially, long-serving councillor Denis McGrath announced his candidacy for Mayor on behalf of the Citizens' Association. He withdrew in June after he was appointed President of the New Zealand Law Society and decided not to seek re-election as a councillor either. [1] This generated press speculation that the Citizens' Association would decide not field a candidate. However, despite previously declining to stand, deputy mayor Bob Archibald eventually accepted nomination following a deputation of local businessman requesting that he stand. [2]

Ultimately, Frank Kitts was re-elected mayor for a fifth term. In doing so he won both a record size majority and became Wellington's longest-serving mayor. [3]

Mayoralty results

1968 Wellington mayoral election [4] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Frank Kitts 18,390 65.17 +7.74
Citizens' Bob Archibald9,56933.91
Informal votes2580.91+0.33
Majority 8,82131.26+12.48
Turnout 28,21746.5–1.1

Councillor results

1968 Wellington City Council election [4] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Rolland O'Regan 17,652 62.55 +8.52
Labour John Jeffries 16,926 59.98 +9.35
Citizens' Bob Archibald 16,216 57.46 +11.18
Citizens' Stewart Duff 15,972 56.60 +13.16
Labour Olive Smuts-Kennedy 15,965 56.57 +7.18
Citizens' George Porter 14,013 49.66 +8.43
Citizens' John Turk 14,002 49.62 +9.65
Citizens' Betty Campbell 13,577 48.11
Citizens' Gordon Morrison 13,511 47.88 +8.14
Labour Gerald O'Brien 13,240 46.92 +7.34
Citizens' William Scollay 12,851 45.54 +6.48
Labour Keith Spry 12,817 45.42 +6.79
Citizens' Ron Button 11,903 42.18
Citizens' Michael Fowler 11,794 41.79
Citizens' Rod Campbell 11,674 41.37
Labour Peter Butler 11,08439.28+0.72
Labour Edward Hill 10,88938.59+5.31
Citizens' Les Chapman10,87538.54
Citizens' Frank Fordham10,69537.90
Labour Yvonne Grove10,59637.55
Labour Florence Vincent10,53837.34
Citizens' George Madgwick10,02735.53
Citizens' Keith Congreve9,88135.01
Labour Douglas Foy9,60934.05
Labour Tony Haas9,60034.02
Labour Gwendrith Elsie Haine9,47533.57+0.60
Citizens' Hollis Reed9,24932.77
Labour Stan Rodger 9,07532.16
Labour Percival Hansen8,91231.58–5.12
Labour Wilfred Edward Simpson8,56630.35
Independent Saul Goldsmith 4,59416.28+1.60
Independent Liberal Harry Hughes3,89213.79
Independent Annette Griffin3,82313.54
Independent Clevedon Costello3,40712.07
Independent Liberal Bernard Kaiser3,34111.84
Independent Donald McMillain2,91110.31
Communist Ron Smith 1,5305.42+2.14

References

  1. "Cr McGrath Quits Mayoralty Race". The Evening Post . 20 June 1968.
  2. "Cr Archibald to Seek Wellington Mayoralty". The Evening Post . 20 August 1968.
  3. "Fifth Term as Capital's Mayor". The Evening Post . 14 October 1968.
  4. 1 2 Petersen, G.A. (23 October 1968). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
  5. "Declaration of Result of Election". The Dominion . 23 October 1968.
  6. "Declaration of Result of Election". The Evening Post . 26 October 1968.