| Election Name: | 1953 Wellington City mayoral election |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Flag Image: | Wellington Coat Of Arms.svg |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1950 Wellington City mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 1950 |
| Next Election: | 1956 Wellington City mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 1956 |
| Election Date: | 31 October 1953 |
| Turnout: | 44,700 (65.19%) |
| Candidate1: | Robert Macalister |
| Party1: | Wellington Citizens' Association |
| Popular Vote1: | 21,809 |
| Percentage1: | 48.78 |
| Candidate2: | Frank Kitts |
| Party2: | New Zealand Labour Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 20,094 |
| Percentage2: | 44.95 |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | Robert Macalister |
| After Election: | Robert Macalister |
The 1953 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1953, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
The mayoral contest was essentially a rematch from three years previously with incumbent mayor Robert Macalister opposed by councillor Frank Kitts of the Labour Party. A third candidate, Julius Hyde, stood as an independent campaigning on his opposition to the construction of an international airport in Wellington.
A major talking point in the lead up to the election was the potential of a clash with the 1953 Royal Tour.[1] There were proposals to postpone local elections until early 1954 over fears of reduced turnout due to a conflicted schedule. The proposals were considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin, who ultimately decided against it.[2]
Table footnotes: