Mayor of Napier, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Mayor of Napier is the head of the municipal government of Napier City
, New Zealand
, and presides over the Napier City Council. Napier City is New Zealand's ninth largest city. The first mayor was elected in 1875. The current mayor is Barbara Arnot.
, a future Prime Minister of New Zealand, was appointed as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the resident magistrate
at the village of Ahuriri. It was decided to place a planned town here, its streets and avenues were laid out, and the new town named for Sir Charles Napier
.
The area initially fell under the control of the Wellington Province
. The New Provinces Act, 1858 created the Hawke's Bay Province
and Napier became its capital. Superintendent
John Davies Ormond
worked towards Napier becoming self governing, and it was designated as a borough
in 1874. The first election for a borough council were held on 18 January 1875. Nine councillors were elected from 22 contestants, and the councillors chose Robert Stuart from their group as their first mayor. Stuart was mayor until December 1878.
John Vautier succeeded Stuart from December 1878 until May 1882. At the first borough election in 1875, he had been the highest polling councillor. He was succeeded by Dr William Isaac Spencer from June 1882 to December 1885.
George Henry Swan
began his long mayoralty in December 1885. He held it until April 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.
John McVay succeeded Swan and was mayor from April 1901 to April 1902. Frederic Wanklyn Williams was mayor in 1902–1904.
Samuel Carnell
succeeded McVay in 1904. He was mayor until 1907.
Vigor Brown was first elected mayor in 1907. During this first period, he retained the mayoralty for ten years until 1917. He was succeeded by Henry Hill, who had made his name in the Hawke's Bay as a school inspector and educationalist. Hill held the mayoralty from 1917 to 1919. Brown had a second period as mayor from 1919 to 1921, and was succeeded by J B Andrew from 1921 to 1927. Brown succeeded Andrew for his third period, this time from 1927 to 1933. The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
fell into Brown's last period, and temporary governance arrangement included a Napier Citizens' Control Committee, followed by a two-man Government Commission. J. S. Barton and L. B. Campbell were farewelled by the mayor in May 1933, when their term ended and the municipal affairs once again rested with the borough council. The resulting mayoral election was contested by the incumbent and C O Morse, the chairman of the Earthquake Relief Committee. The election caused great interest, and Morse and Brown received 4110 and 1808 votes, respectively. At the time, mayoral elections were held every two years, but the 1931 election had been skipped due to the earthquake.
Morse was mayor until 1938, defeated by Bill Hercock who had a twelve year term (1938–1950). E R Spriggs succeeded Hercock from 1950 to 1956.
Peter Tait was mayor from 1956 to 1974. He was knighted the year after he ceased being mayor.
Barbara Arnot is the current mayor. She was first elected in 2001.
in the House of Representatives
:
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and presides over the Napier City Council. Napier City is New Zealand's ninth largest city. The first mayor was elected in 1875. The current mayor is Barbara Arnot.
History
The Māori sold a block of land called Ahuriri in 1851, and in 1853 Donald McLean bought the site that later became Napier. Alfred DomettAlfred Domett
Alfred Domett, CMG was an English colonial statesman and poet. He was New Zealand's fourth Premier.-Early life:He was born at Camberwell, Surrey; his father was a ship-owner...
, a future Prime Minister of New Zealand, was appointed as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the resident magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
at the village of Ahuriri. It was decided to place a planned town here, its streets and avenues were laid out, and the new town named for Sir Charles Napier
Charles James Napier
General Sir Charles James Napier, GCB , was a general of the British Empire and the British Army's Commander-in-Chief in India, notable for conquering the Sindh Province in what is now Pakistan.- His genealogy :...
.
The area initially fell under the control of the Wellington Province
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
. The New Provinces Act, 1858 created the Hawke's Bay Province
Hawke's Bay Province
The Hawke's Bay Province was a province of New Zealand. The province separated from the Wellington Province following a meeting in Napier in February 1858, and existed until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
and Napier became its capital. Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
John Davies Ormond
John Davies Ormond
John Davies Ormond was a New Zealand politician whose positions included Superintendent of Hawke's Bay Province, Minister of Public Works and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council....
worked towards Napier becoming self governing, and it was designated as a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in 1874. The first election for a borough council were held on 18 January 1875. Nine councillors were elected from 22 contestants, and the councillors chose Robert Stuart from their group as their first mayor. Stuart was mayor until December 1878.
John Vautier succeeded Stuart from December 1878 until May 1882. At the first borough election in 1875, he had been the highest polling councillor. He was succeeded by Dr William Isaac Spencer from June 1882 to December 1885.
George Henry Swan
George Henry Swan
George Henry Swan was a 19th century businessman and Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.He was Mayor of Napier from 1885 to 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand....
began his long mayoralty in December 1885. He held it until April 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.
John McVay succeeded Swan and was mayor from April 1901 to April 1902. Frederic Wanklyn Williams was mayor in 1902–1904.
Samuel Carnell
Samuel Carnell
Samuel Carnell was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.-Member of Parliament:He won the Napier electorate with the swing to the Liberals in 1893, but lost in 1896 to the “conservative” candidate.-References:...
succeeded McVay in 1904. He was mayor until 1907.
Vigor Brown was first elected mayor in 1907. During this first period, he retained the mayoralty for ten years until 1917. He was succeeded by Henry Hill, who had made his name in the Hawke's Bay as a school inspector and educationalist. Hill held the mayoralty from 1917 to 1919. Brown had a second period as mayor from 1919 to 1921, and was succeeded by J B Andrew from 1921 to 1927. Brown succeeded Andrew for his third period, this time from 1927 to 1933. The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, also known as the Napier earthquake, occurred in New Zealand at 10:47 am on Tuesday 3 February 1931, killing 256 and devastating the Hawke's Bay region. It remains New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster...
fell into Brown's last period, and temporary governance arrangement included a Napier Citizens' Control Committee, followed by a two-man Government Commission. J. S. Barton and L. B. Campbell were farewelled by the mayor in May 1933, when their term ended and the municipal affairs once again rested with the borough council. The resulting mayoral election was contested by the incumbent and C O Morse, the chairman of the Earthquake Relief Committee. The election caused great interest, and Morse and Brown received 4110 and 1808 votes, respectively. At the time, mayoral elections were held every two years, but the 1931 election had been skipped due to the earthquake.
Morse was mayor until 1938, defeated by Bill Hercock who had a twelve year term (1938–1950). E R Spriggs succeeded Hercock from 1950 to 1956.
Peter Tait was mayor from 1956 to 1974. He was knighted the year after he ceased being mayor.
Barbara Arnot is the current mayor. She was first elected in 2001.
Members of Parliament
Four Napier mayors have also served as Members of Parliament. All four represented the Napier electorateNapier (New Zealand electorate)
thumb|right|Boundaries of Napier Electorate for 2008 and 2011 electionsNapier is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Napier is Chris Tremain, of the National Party. He has held this position since...
in the House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
:
- George Henry SwanGeorge Henry SwanGeorge Henry Swan was a 19th century businessman and Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.He was Mayor of Napier from 1885 to 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand....
(1890New Zealand general election, 1890The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
–1893) - Samuel CarnellSamuel CarnellSamuel Carnell was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.-Member of Parliament:He won the Napier electorate with the swing to the Liberals in 1893, but lost in 1896 to the “conservative” candidate.-References:...
(1893New Zealand general election, 1893The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
–1896) - Vigor Brown (1908New Zealand general election, 1908The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
–1922) - Peter Tait (1951New Zealand general election, 1951The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 30th term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, increasing its lead over the opposition Labour Party.-Background:...
–1951)
List of Mayors of Napier
| Name | Term | Notes | Thumbnail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Stuart | 1875–1878 | short bio | |
| 2 | John Vautier | 1878–1882 | short bio | |
| 3 | Dr William Isaac Spencer | 1882–1885 | short bio | |
| 4 | George Henry Swan George Henry Swan George Henry Swan was a 19th century businessman and Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.He was Mayor of Napier from 1885 to 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.... |
1885–1901 | ||
| 5 | John C. McVay | 1901–1902 | short bio | |
| 6 | Frederic Wanklyn Williams | 1902–1904 | autobiography | |
| 7 | Samuel Carnell Samuel Carnell Samuel Carnell was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.-Member of Parliament:He won the Napier electorate with the swing to the Liberals in 1893, but lost in 1896 to the “conservative” candidate.-References:... |
1904–1907 | short bio | |
| 8 | Vigor Brown | 1907–1917 | short bio | |
| 9 | Henry Hill | 1917–1919 | ||
| Vigor Brown | 1919–1921 | second period | ||
| 10 | J B Andrew | 1921–1927 | obituary | |
| Vigor Brown | 1927–1933 | third period | ||
| 11 | C O Morse | 1933–1938 | ||
| 12 | Bill Hercock | 1938–1950 | ||
| 13 | E R Spriggs | 1950–1956 | ||
| 14 | Sir Peter Tait | 1956–1974 | ||
| 15 | Clyde Jeffery | 1974–1983 | cemetery | |
| 16 | A. D. Prebensen | 1983–1989 | ||
| 17 | Alan Dick | 1989–2001 | ||
| 18 | Barbara Arnot | 2001–present |