Wellington Citizens' Association | |
---|---|
Founded | 1907 |
Dissolved | 2001 |
Ideology | Fiscal conservatism Nonpartisanism Localism |
Political position | Centre-right |
Colours | Blue & White |
Slogan | Advance Wellington! [1] |
The Wellington Citizens' Association, was a right-leaning local body electoral ticket in Wellington, New Zealand. It was formed in 1911 by merging the selection process of council candidates of several civic interest groups and business lobby groups. Its main ambitions were to continue to control the Wellington City Council, reduce local spending and deny left-leaning Labour Party candidates being elected.
The Citizens' Association was founded in 1907 under the name of the Wellington Citizens League, created with the goal of electing "desirable" candidates to the Wellington City Council to represent the needs of businessmen in the local community. [2] In 1921 the Citizens League was renamed as the Civic League a name it would retain until changing names again to the Citizens' Association in 1932 in the lead up to the 1933 civic elections. The body grew from the earlier Civic League organisation and also absorbed the Greater Wellington Electors' Association and Ratepayers' Association to jointly nominate and endorse candidates for local government. It picked candidates from applicants for Wellington's mayoralty, City Council, Harbour Board and Hospital Board. Despite several publicly embarrassing selection controversies (such as in 1950, 1956 and 1965), [3] the Citizens' Association controlled the council from the time of its inception until finally losing its decades long majority in 1986 when the Labour Party won its first ever majority with Labour's Jim Belich also capturing the mayoralty for Labour. [4] It was less successful in controlling the Mayoralty particularly during the 18 year period of 1956–74 when Labour's Frank Kitts was Mayor. [5]
The last time the Citizens' Association contested an election was a 1997 by-election where it backed Ian Hutchings, who finished second in the Northern Ward. [6] In the lead up to the 1998 mayoral election the Citizens' were considering contesting the mayoralty, with councillor Chris Parkin seen as the most likely candidate. [7] Ultimately it did not contest any seats at the election, instead endorsing the Wellington Alive ticket for the city and regional council. In 1999 it blocked former councillor Bryan Weyburne's attempt to create a new "Citizens and Ratepayers" ticket, arguing it was infringing on the Citizens' Association's name. At the time of the dispute Citizens' Association president Les Stephens stated that the Citizens' were intending to contest the 2001 local elections. [8]
This article is part of a series on |
Conservatism in New Zealand |
---|
Conservatismportal |
The Citizens' Association, throughout its entire existence, had no formal link with the National Party (which does not contest local elections) or any other political party. Many times opponents attempted to debunk the Citizens' Association claim to possess an "anti-party" ideology (and thusly contrast themselves from Labour candidates) by linking the two. [9]
The matter surfaced several times such as in the 1977 elections when Labour mayoral candidate Sir Frank Kitts stated that he had been informed by Citizens' Association members that the National Party had been using its head office officials to advise the Citizens' Association about its local election campaign and how best to keep Labour out of local office. The director of the National Party, Barrie Leay, said the claim was "totally untrue" and the Citizens' campaign co-ordinator Michael Veal also denied any contact with the National Party. [10] [11] In 1983 Citizens' leader, and mayoral candidate, Ian Lawrence replied at a husting that he did not know which of his colleagues were or were not National Party members and nor did he care; "It [National membership] is not a criterion. The Citizens' Association of Wellington has no formal connection with the National Party." [12] In 1992, when responding to a jibe that the Citizens' Association were just "the National Party in local body drag", Citizens' president John Liddiard stated "For sure, we have National Party members but we also have people who aren't aligned to a political party." [13]
Unmistakably however, several Citizens' councillors (such as Charles Bowden, Allan Highet and Arthur Kinsella) were National MPs and many more (including Will Appleton, Ernest Toop and Michael Fowler) have stood unsuccessfully for parliament as National candidates. Between 1938 and 1966 alone there were 11 Citizens' candidates who stood as National Party candidates demonstrating a presence of joint membership, informal or otherwise. [14]
Year | no. of seats won | % of seats | ± |
---|---|---|---|
1907 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 9 |
1909 | 11 / 15 | 73.3% | 2 |
1911 | 10 / 15 | 66.6% | 1 |
1913 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 1 |
1915 | 13 / 15 | 86.6% | 4 |
1917 | 14 / 15 | 93.3% | 1 |
1919 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 5 |
1921 | 13 / 15 | 86.6% | 4 |
1923 | 13 / 15 | 86.6% | 0 |
1925 | 12 / 15 | 80.0% | 1 |
1927 | 11 / 15 | 73.3% | 1 |
1929 | 12 / 15 | 80.0% | 1 |
1931 | 11 / 15 | 73.3% | 1 |
1933 | 7 / 15 | 46.6% | 4 |
1935 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 2 |
1938 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 0 |
1941 | 15 / 15 | 100.0% | 6 |
1944 | 15 / 15 | 100.0% | 0 |
1947 | 15 / 15 | 100.0% | 0 |
1950 | 8 / 15 | 53.3% | 7 |
1953 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 1 |
1956 | 9 / 15 | 60.0% | 0 |
1959 | 12 / 15 | 80.0% | 3 |
1962 | 11 / 15 | 73.3% | 1 |
1965 | 10 / 15 | 66.6% | 1 |
1968 | 10 / 15 | 66.6% | 0 |
1971 | 8 / 15 | 53.3% | 2 |
1974 | 12 / 18 | 66.6% | 4 |
1977 | 10 / 18 | 55.5% | 2 |
1980 | 10 / 18 | 55.5% | 0 |
1983 | 9 / 18 | 50.0% | 1 |
1986 | 9 / 21 | 42.8% | 0 |
1989 | 9 / 21 | 42.8% | 0 |
1992 | 6 / 21 | 28.5% | 3 |
1995 | 4 / 18 | 22.2% | 2 |
Year | Candidate | Popular vote | Percentage | Result | +/- |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1910 | Thomas Wilford | 6,248 | 54.26 | Elected | 1st |
1911 | Thomas Wilford | Unopposed | Elected | 1st | |
1912 | John Smith | 1,907 | 18.45 | Unelected | 3rd |
1913 | John Luke | 9,997 | 51.29 | Elected | 1st |
1914 | John Luke | 11,555 | 56.44 | Elected | 1st |
1915 | John Luke | 9,987 | 53.56 | Elected | 1st |
1917 | John Luke | Unopposed | Elected | 1st | |
1919 | John Luke | 7,361 | 42.57 | Elected | 1st |
1921 | Robert Wright | 13,405 | 65.33 | Elected | 1st |
1923 | Robert Wright | 10,876 | 42.30 | Elected | 1st |
1925 | Charles Norwood | 13,180 | 52.87 | Elected | 1st |
1927 | George Troup | 12,549 | 54.45 | Elected | 1st |
1929 | George Troup | 14,407 | 60.97 | Elected | 1st |
1931 | Thomas Hislop | 13,593 | 52.68 | Elected | 1st |
1933 | Thomas Hislop | Unopposed | Elected | 1st | |
1935 | Thomas Hislop | 21,505 | 53.08 | Elected | 1st |
1938 | Thomas Hislop | 24,368 | 56.85 | Elected | 1st |
1941 | Thomas Hislop | 19,919 | 63.92 | Elected | 1st |
1944 | Will Appleton | 29,899 | 58.80 | Elected | 1st |
1947 | Will Appleton | 27,000 | 54.17 | Elected | 1st |
1950 | Robert Macalister | 17,582 | 52.02 | Elected | 1st |
1953 | Robert Macalister | 21,809 | 48.78 | Elected | 1st |
1956 | Ernest Toop | 11,920 | 31.28 | Unelected | 2nd |
1959 | Ernest Toop | 17,680 | 48.47 | Unelected | 2nd |
1962 | Bill Arcus | 10,821 | 31.79 | Unelected | 2nd |
1965 | Matt Benney | 11,966 | 38.64 | Unelected | 2nd |
1968 | Bob Archibald | 9,569 | 33.91 | Unelected | 2nd |
1971 | Alex O'Shea | 9,915 | 31.37 | Unelected | 2nd |
1974 | Michael Fowler | 14,980 | 41.36 | Elected | 1st |
1977 | Michael Fowler | 17,041 | 40.92 | Elected | 1st |
1980 | Michael Fowler | 17,964 | 51.63 | Elected | 1st |
1983 | Ian Lawrence | 19,952 | 49.28 | Elected | 1st |
1986 | Ian Lawrence | 16,519 | 44.62 | Unelected | 2nd |
1989 | Rex Nicholls | 14,183 | 27.70 | Unelected | 3rd |
1992 | Ken Comber | 8,751 | 15.31 | Unelected | 3rd |
1995 | Nigel Gould | 4,414 | 7.08 | Unelected | 4th |
Sir Francis Joseph Kitts was a New Zealand politician. Originally from the South Island, he served in the military and later was a civil servant before entering politics with the Labour Party. He was the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central between 1954 and 1960. He was also the longest-serving Mayor of Wellington, holding the post from 1956 to 1974. He was also a member at various times of several other local bodies and was still an elected official at his death.
Sir William Appleton was a New Zealand local body politician, advertising agent and leading company director. He was Mayor of Wellington for two terms from 1944 to 1950 after serving as a city councillor from 1931 to 1944. He was knighted in 1950.
Thomas Charles Atkinson Hislop (29 November 1888 – 21 June 1965) was a New Zealand politician, lawyer, and diplomat. He served as the mayor of Wellington from 1931 to 1944.
Robert Alexander Wright was the Mayor of Wellington from 1921 to 1925, and a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.
Sir John Kennedy-Good was a New Zealand politician. He was mayor of Lower Hutt from 1970 to 1986.
The 1921 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1921, 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.
The 1933 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1933, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including the fifteen city councillors, also elected biannually. Thomas Hislop, the incumbent Mayor sought re-election and retained office unopposed with no other candidates emerging. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
The 1941 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1941, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington and fifteen city councillors plus seats on the Wellington Hospital Board and Wellington Harbour Board. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
The 1944 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1944, election 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.
The 1992 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the 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 1947 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1947, election 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.
The 1950 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1950, 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.
The 1956 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1956, 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.
The 1959 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1959, 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.
The 1965 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1965, 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.
The 1971 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1971, 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.
The 1938 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1938, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
John Gibbs Churchill was a New Zealand trade unionist and local politician. For six years he was the mayor of Otaki.
The Lower Hutt Citizens' Association, was a right-leaning local body electoral ticket in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It was formed in 1945 by merging the selection process of council candidates of several civic interest groups and business lobby groups. Its main ambitions were to continue to control the Lower Hutt City Council, reduce local spending and deny left-leaning Labour Party candidates election.
The 1959 Lower Hutt mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Lower Hutt plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.