Mayor of New Plymouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of New Plymouth |
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|---|---|
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Incumbent
Neil Holdom since 2016 |
|
| Style | His/Her Worship |
| Term length | Three years, renewable |
| Inaugural holder | Arthur Standish |
| Formation | 1876 |
| Deputy | David Bublitz |
| Salary | $160,757 |
| Website | Official website: https://www.npdc.govt.nz/council/about-the-council/council-people/mayor-and-councillors/ |
The Mayor of New Plymouth is the main leader of the New Plymouth District Council. This council helps run the New Plymouth area. The mayor is chosen by the people living in the district through an election.
Since the 2022 local elections, the mayor is elected using a system called single transferable vote. This system lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. Before 2022, the first-past-the-post voting system was used, where the person with the most votes won. The current mayor is Neil Holdom.
Who Has Been Mayor of New Plymouth?
New Plymouth has had 26 mayors since the role was created in 1876. These leaders have helped shape the city and district over many years.
| Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur Standish | 1876–1878 |
| 2 | Albert Cracroft Fookes | 1878–1879 |
| 3 | James Davidson | 1879–1881 |
| 4 | William Bayly | 1881–1884 |
| 5 | James Paul | 1884–1886 |
| (4) | William Bayly | 1886–1888 |
| 6 | John Barton Roy | 1888–1889 |
| 7 | James Bellringer | 1889–1893 |
| (6) | John Barton Roy | 1893–1897 |
| 8 | Edward Dockrill | 1897–1903 |
| 9 | Richard Cock | 1903–1906 |
| (8) | Edward Dockrill | 1906–1908 |
| 10 | Gustave Tisch | 1908–1911 |
| 11 | George William Browne | 1911–1914 |
| 12 | J. E. Wilson | 1914–1915 |
| 13 | Charles Hayward Burgess | 1915–1919 |
| 14 | James Clarke | 1919–1920 |
| 15 | Frank Edwin Wilson | 1920–1927 |
| 16 | Victor Griffiths | 1927–1933 |
| 17 | Everard Gilmour | 1933–1953 |
| 18 | Edward Hill | 1953–1956 |
| 19 | Alfred Honnor | 1956–1968 |
| 20 | Denis Sutherland | 1968–1980 |
| 21 | David Lean | 1980–1992 |
| 22 | Claire Stewart | 1992–2001 |
| 23 | Peter Tennent | 2001–2010 |
| 24 | Harry Duynhoven | 2010–2013 |
| 25 | Andrew Judd | 2013–2016 |
| 26 | Neil Holdom | 2016–present |
Understanding the Deputy Mayor Role
The deputy mayor supports the mayor and steps in when the mayor is not available. This person is also an important part of the council's leadership.
| Name | Term | Mayor |
|---|---|---|
| George Fry | 1951–1953 | Gilmour |
| Alfred Honnor | 1953–1956 | Hill |
| William Dean | 1956–1965 | Honnor |
| Royden Burkitt | 1965–1968 | |
| Edmund Allen | 1968–1974 | Sutherland |
| Royden Burkitt | 1974–1980 | |
| Ron Barclay | 1980–1989 | Lean |
| Thomas Watson | 1989–1992 | |
| Thomas Beeby | 1992–1994 | Stewart |
| W David Wilkinson | 1994–1995 | |
| Brian Bellringer | 1995–1998 | |
| Peter Tennent | 1998–2001 | |
| Lynn Bublitz | 2001–2007 | Tennent |
| Alex Matheson | 2007–2013 | |
| Duynhoven | ||
| Heather Dodunski | 2013–2016 | Judd |
| Craig McFarlane | 2016–2017 | Holdom |
| Richard Jordan | 2017–2022 | |
| David Bublitz | 2022–present |
Mayors Who Passed Away While in Office
Sometimes, a mayor might pass away while still serving their term. This has happened a couple of times in New Plymouth's history.
- James Clarke passed away on November 11, 1920. He was involved in an airplane accident, which was very rare at that time.
- Gustave Tisch also passed away while he was mayor due to an illness.
