| Election Name: | 1871 Invercargill mayoral election |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Next Election: | 1872 Invercargill mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 1872 |
| Election Date: | 26 August 1871 |
| Turnout: | 331 |
| Candidate1: | William Wood |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 191 |
| Percentage1: | 57.70 |
| Candidate2: | John Walker Mitchell |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 140 |
| Percentage2: | 42.30 |
| Mayor | |
| After Election: | William Wood |
The 1871 Invercargill mayoral election was held on 26 August 1871. It was the first mayoral election of the Invercargill municipality.
Former Superintendent of the Southland Province William Wood defeated John Walker Mitchell, becoming the first Mayor of Invercargill.
The following table gives the election results:[1]