1974 Auckland City mayoral election explained

Election Name:1974 Auckland City mayoral election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Image:Coat of arms of Auckland.svg
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1971 Auckland City mayoral election
Previous Year:1971
Next Election:1977 Auckland City mayoral election
Next Year:1977
Election Date:12 October 1974
Turnout:39,881 (43.44%)
Candidate1:Dove-Myer Robinson
Party1:Independent politician
Popular Vote1:19,762
Percentage1:49.55
Candidate2:Jim Anderton
Party2:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote2:12,717
Percentage2:31.90
Mayor
Before Election:Dove-Myer Robinson
After Election:Dove-Myer Robinson

The 1974 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1974, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Background

Incumbent Mayor Dove-Myer Robinson was re-elected seeing off a challenge from Labour Party candidate Jim Anderton, who won a seat on the council despite losing the mayoralty. Grahame Sims, the retiring town clerk, ran for mayor and accused Robinson of being a Citizens & Ratepayers stooge. This followed the C&R deputy mayor Lindo Ferguson endorsing Robinson for the mayoralty. Sims called it "seat warming", insinuating Ferguson would run for mayor at the next election.

References