Mayor of Marlborough, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayor of Marlborough
Coat of arms of the Marlborough District
Incumbent Nadine Taylor since 2022
Style	His/Her Worship
Term length	Three years, renewable
Inaugural holder	Leo McKendry
Formation	1989
Deputy	David Croad
Salary	$149,909
Website	Official website: https://www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/councillors

The mayor of Marlborough is the main leader for the Marlborough District in New Zealand. This area is managed by the Marlborough District Council, and its biggest town is Blenheim. The mayor's job was created in 1989 when several smaller areas joined together to form the Marlborough District.

The current mayor is Nadine Taylor. She was first chosen for this role in 2022. She is the seventh person to be the mayor of Marlborough.

What is a Mayor?

A mayor is the elected head of a city or district. They lead the local council, which makes decisions about things like roads, parks, libraries, and community services. The mayor represents the people of their area and works to make it a better place to live.

How the Marlborough District Started

The Marlborough District was formed in 1989. This happened during a big change in New Zealand's local government. Before 1989, there were many smaller councils. These included:

• Blenheim Borough, which had 31 mayors since 1869.
• Picton Borough, which had 23 mayors since 1876.
• Marlborough County Council, which had 11 chairmen since 1923.

These three areas joined together to create the larger Marlborough District we know today.

Past Mayors of Marlborough

The first mayor of the new Marlborough District was Leo McKendry. He had been the last mayor of Blenheim before the big changes. Leo McKendry served two terms, from 1989 to 1995.

First Woman Mayor

Liz Davidson became the first woman mayor of Marlborough. She served from 1995 to 1998. Liz Davidson spent a total of 27 years working in local government before she retired in 2010.

Mayors from 1998 to 2016

After Liz Davidson, Gerald Hope became mayor. He served one term, from 1998 to 2001. Then, Tom Harrison became mayor in 2001 and served one term until 2004. Alistair Sowman was elected mayor in 2004. He had been a district councillor since 2001. Alistair Sowman served as mayor for many years, until 2016.

Recent Mayors

John Leggett was the mayor from 2016 to 2022. The current mayor, Nadine Taylor, took office in 2022.

List of Marlborough Mayors

Here is a list of the people who have served as mayor of Marlborough:

	Name	Portrait	Term
1	Leo McKendry		1989–1995
2	Liz Davidson		1995–1998
3	Gerald Hope		1998–2001
4	Tom Harrison		2001–2004
5	Alistair Sowman		2004–2016
6	John Leggett		2016–2022
7	Nadine Taylor		2022–present