1968 Christchurch mayoral election

Summary

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

1968 Christchurch mayoral election

← 1965 12 October 1968 1971 →
Turnout36,446 (41.57%)
 
Candidate Ron Guthrey John Mathison
Party Citizens' Labour
Popular vote 23,273 12,910
Percentage 63.85 35.42

Mayor before election

George Manning

Elected Mayor

Ron Guthrey

Background edit

Sitting mayor George Manning retired leaving an open field to succeed him. The election saw councillor Ron Guthrey of the Citizens' Association defeat former Labour councillor and MP for Avon John Mathison. Labour lost ground on the city council as well, losing four seats leaving the composition of the council at three seats to sixteen in favour of the Citizens' Association.[1]

Mayoralty results edit

The following table gives the election results:

1968 Christchurch mayoral election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Citizens' Ron Guthrey 23,273 63.85
Labour John Mathison 12,910 35.42
Informal votes 263 0.72 +0.35
Majority 10,363 28.43
Turnout 36,446 41.57 +9.57

Councillor results edit

1968 Christchurch local election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Citizens' Hamish Hay 22,831 62.64 +10.37
Citizens' Peter Skellerup 21,057 57.77 +4.65
Labour Neville Pickering 19,176 52.61 -0.26
Citizens' Peter Dunbar 18,881 51.80
Citizens' Maurice Carter 18,912 51.89 +3.64
Citizens' Les Amos 18,742 51.42 +2.41
Citizens' Buster Cowles 18,684 51.26 +6.47
Labour Reg Stillwell 18,018 49.43 -3.52
Citizens' Gordon Hattaway 17,550 48.15 +6.82
Citizens' Bruce Britten 17,525 48.08 +6.00
Citizens' Helen Garrett 17,458 47.90 +9.43
Citizens' Harold Smith 17,318 47.51 +4.87
Citizens' Ted Taylor 17,115 46.95
Citizens' Harry Blazey 17,041 46.75
Citizens' Robertson Stewart 16,834 46.18
Citizens' Bill Glue 16,820 46.15 -0.74
Citizens' George Griffiths 16,702 45.82 +5.36
Citizens' Peter Blaxall 16,469 45.18
Labour Robert Macfarlane 16,390 44.97 -7.04
Citizens' Bruce Dallas 16,373 44.92
Citizens' Mina Elisabeth Lawrie 16,101 44.17
Citizens' Arthur McGregor 15,560 42.69
Labour Lyn Christie 15,250 41.84 -4.72
Labour Harold Denton 15,081 41.37 -2.20
Labour Bill Mathison 14,919 40.93 -1.26
Labour Brian Alderdice 14,534 39.87 +4.98
Labour Reg Jones 13,281 36.44 +0.97
Labour Thomas Henry Boyle 13,238 36.32
Labour Reginald John Cunningham 12,675 34.77 +0.42
Labour John F. Davidson 12,669 34.76 +0.55
Labour Rendel John Stubberfield 12,426 34.09
Labour Alexander Fraser Ross 12,268 33.66
Labour Mabel Howard 12,286 33.71 -15.37
Labour Kenneth Noel Larkin 12,119 33.25 +1.48
Labour Trevor Davey 11,719 32.15
Labour Patrick Neary 11,591 31.80 +4.45
Labour Mel Courtney 11,579 31.77
Labour Harold Joseph Henry 11,016 30.22
Independent Charles E. Cullen 3,389 9.29 +0.43
Communist Jack Locke 2,327 6.38 +1.00
Independent William John McFaul 1,745 4.78 +0.11

References edit

  1. ^ "Long-serving Councillors Defeated; Citizens 16-3". The Press. Vol. CVIII, no. 31809. 14 October 1968. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Declaration of Results of Elections". The Press. Vol. CVIII, no. 31817. 23 October 1968. p. 33.
  3. ^ "Christchurch City Council". The Press. Vol. CVIII, no. 31817. 23 October 1968. p. 33.