# 1983 Wellington City mayoral election

The 1983 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1983, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including eighteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

## Background

The election saw deputy mayor Ian Lawrence voted in as the new Mayor of Wellington to replace Sir Michael Fowler who had retired. Lawrence retained the Mayoralty for the Citizens' Association, seeing off a challenge from high profile Labour Party councillor Helene Ritchie. Given Lawrence's quiet style and low profile compared to Ritchie's more marked public reputation, most commentators and pollsters were predicting a very close result. The eventual outcome was a surprise to many with Lawrence winning by a margin exceeding 8,000 votes, with media dubbing him "Landslide Lawrence". Ritchie retrospectively blamed her loss on an "anti-woman vote".
The 1983 election was also notable as it saw former Citizens' councillor Leone Harkness re-elected to the council as an independent candidate, the first time a candidate without an official party ticket had been elected to the council since Berkeley Dallard in 1950. It also saw Jenny Brough (later Harris) retain her seat on the council after defecting from Labour in 1982. It also marked the last time in Wellington where local body elections elected councillors at large.

## Mayoralty results

1983 Wellington mayoral election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Citizens' | Ian Lawrence | 19,952 | 49.28 | |
| | Labour | Helene Ritchie | 11,876 | 30.56 | |
| | Independent | Leone Harkness | 6,208 | 15.97 | |
| | Independent | Josie Bullock | 643 | 1.65 | |
| | Private Enterprise | Frank Moncur | 177 | 0.45 | −0.35 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 244 | 0.62 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,076 | 20.78 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,856 | 37.59 | |
Results by locality :
| Locality | Lawrence | Ritchie | Harkness | Bullock | Moncur | Winner |
| Onslow College | 333 | 159 | 97 | 7 | 4 | Lawrence |
| Johnsonville West School | 228 | 64 | 56 | 4 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Johnsonville Emergency Centre | 122 | 127 | 36 | 3 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Johnsonville Community Centre | 243 | 162 | 61 | 4 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Johnsonville School | 298 | 163 | 113 | 3 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Paparangi School | 186 | 105 | 73 | 2 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Rewa Rewa School | 151 | 72 | 44 | 1 | 2 | Lawrence |
| White's Garage | 56 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Bellvue School | 161 | 63 | 41 | 3 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Centennial Hall | 375 | 211 | 102 | 3 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Newlands Tennis Club | 68 | 40 | 20 | 0 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Wallace's Garage | 49 | 33 | 23 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Churton Park School | 202 | 57 | 65 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Downer & Co. | 52 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Dragon St. Cafeteria | 17 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Ritchie |
| Ohariu Hall | 50 | 33 | 15 | 0 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Raumati Beach School | 12 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Cashmere Avenue School | 219 | 75 | 64 | 5 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Khandallah Scout Hall | 225 | 50 | 55 | 1 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St Barnabas Parish Hall | 139 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Khandallah Town Hall | 907 | 251 | 165 | 7 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Khandallah Masonic Hall | 177 | 50 | 38 | 3 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Ngaio School | 46 | 43 | 11 | 0 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Ngaio Kindergarten | 115 | 64 | 32 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Ngaio Town Hall | 519 | 266 | 149 | 8 | 7 | Lawrence |
| Union Church Hall | 98 | 47 | 26 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Ngaio Playcentre | 90 | 43 | 15 | 0 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Chartwell School | 90 | 32 | 16 | 5 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Wilton School | 180 | 121 | 57 | 11 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Wadestown School | 78 | 44 | 27 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St Luke's Hall | 428 | 235 | 172 | 18 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Thorndon Masonic Hall | 125 | 75 | 51 | 8 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Talavera Tennis Club | 33 | 35 | 11 | 3 | 0 | Ritchie |
| St Andrew's Hall | 105 | 63 | 32 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Victoria University | 95 | 116 | 46 | 12 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Kelburn Church Hall | 300 | 271 | 161 | 20 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Kelburn Normal School | 82 | 76 | 40 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Presbyterian Church Hall | 57 | 55 | 29 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Methodist Church Hall | 218 | 143 | 103 | 8 | 5 | Lawrence |
| Northland School | 132 | 108 | 52 | 6 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Coad's Garage | 110 | 47 | 24 | 1 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Karori Masonic Hall | 140 | 70 | 46 | 4 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Sprott House | 269 | 56 | 76 | 9 | 2 | Lawrence |
| St Mary's Parish Hall | 245 | 74 | 75 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Karori School | 643 | 174 | 178 | 10 | 1 | Lawrence |
| St John's Methodist Hall | 486 | 185 | 133 | 8 | 5 | Lawrence |
| Karori Pavilion | 176 | 80 | 80 | 7 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Karori West School | 407 | 202 | 150 | 7 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Makara Community Centre | 36 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Macalister Park | 94 | 58 | 25 | 3 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Kingston School | 67 | 23 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Ridgeway School | 144 | 86 | 49 | 7 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Vogelmorn Public Hall | 67 | 40 | 18 | 1 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Brooklyn Baptist Hall | 261 | 179 | 104 | 8 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Brooklyn Community Centre | 109 | 108 | 27 | 6 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St Matthew's Hall | 166 | 111 | 51 | 8 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Aro Valley Community Hall | 133 | 317 | 75 | 18 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Webb St. Depot | 127 | 118 | 39 | 7 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Willis St. Clinic | 84 | 73 | 25 | 3 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St John's Church Hall | 88 | 113 | 40 | 3 | 2 | Ritchie |
| Wellington Cathedral | 91 | 98 | 33 | 2 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Wellington Girls' College | 50 | 52 | 27 | 2 | 0 | Ritchie |
| Queen Margaret College | 106 | 42 | 29 | 2 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Wesley Church Hall | 35 | 33 | 19 | 2 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Wellington Polytechnic | 59 | 78 | 38 | 7 | 0 | Ritchie |
| Samoan Assembly of God | 121 | 184 | 41 | 7 | 6 | Ritchie |
| Berhampore School | 120 | 161 | 68 | 6 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Island Bay Church Hall | 306 | 184 | 88 | 21 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Island Bay Surf Club | 55 | 38 | 15 | 1 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Island Bay School | 170 | 115 | 51 | 13 | 1 | Lawrence |
| St Hilda's Church Hall | 298 | 135 | 69 | 10 | 5 | Lawrence |
| Owhiro Bay School | 73 | 76 | 24 | 3 | 2 | Ritchie |
| Houghton Valley School | 67 | 58 | 29 | 3 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Church of the Transfiguration | 62 | 59 | 41 | 4 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Newtown Fire Station | 84 | 141 | 30 | 4 | 5 | Ritchie |
| Salvation Army Hall | 169 | 157 | 48 | 6 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Newtown School | 195 | 312 | 83 | 11 | 9 | Ritchie |
| Wellington Hospital | 78 | 89 | 31 | 0 | 0 | Ritchie |
| Southern Cross Scout Hall | 55 | 37 | 11 | 3 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Methodist Church Hall | 143 | 156 | 51 | 6 | 1 | Ritchie |
| Rongotai College | 154 | 143 | 42 | 7 | 3 | Lawrence |
| Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club | 147 | 92 | 66 | 9 | 11 | Lawrence |
| Lyall Bay School | 198 | 99 | 59 | 10 | 5 | Lawrence |
| St Giles' Hall | 263 | 161 | 61 | 10 | 4 | Lawrence |
| All Saints' Church Hall | 107 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Samoan Methodist Church Hall | 339 | 190 | 124 | 21 | 8 | Lawrence |
| Sea Cadet Hall | 50 | 15 | 24 | 1 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Haitaitai School | 309 | 143 | 83 | 5 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Roseneath Church Hall | 92 | 37 | 36 | 4 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St Barnabas Church Hall | 143 | 76 | 47 | 1 | 4 | Lawrence |
| Freyberg Pool | 198 | 80 | 45 | 11 | 3 | Lawrence |
| Central Fire Station | 168 | 142 | 55 | 8 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Congregational Church Hall | 105 | 150 | 45 | 6 | 0 | Ritchie |
| St Mark's Church Hall | 98 | 57 | 35 | 3 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Miramar South School | 152 | 80 | 49 | 4 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Miramar Central School | 548 | 265 | 130 | 17 | 5 | Lawrence |
| Miramar North School | 126 | 90 | 44 | 4 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Marist Brothers' School | 271 | 113 | 78 | 9 | 3 | Lawrence |
| Miramar Co-op. Hall | 199 | 98 | 43 | 3 | 2 | Lawrence |
| St Christopher's Hall | 48 | 53 | 39 | 3 | 0 | Ritchie |
| Strathmore Park School | 324 | 159 | 69 | 5 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Breaker Bay Progressive Assn. Hall | 30 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Seatoun School | 438 | 89 | 73 | 9 | 0 | Lawrence |
| St George's Hall | 141 | 43 | 42 | 4 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Worser Bay Life Saving Club | 47 | 23 | 16 | 6 | 1 | Lawrence |
| Worser Bay School | 150 | 48 | 54 | 11 | 0 | Lawrence |
| Town Hall | 455 | 399 | 203 | 25 | 2 | Lawrence |
| Postal votes | 666 | 327 | 189 | 15 | 6 | Lawrence |
| Hospital votes | 124 | 99 | 21 | 6 | 8 | Lawrence |
| Special votes | 612 | 546 | 184 | 25 | 4 | Lawrence |
| Total | 19,952 | 11,876 | 6,208 | 643 | 177 | Lawrence |

## Councillor results

1983 Wellington City Council election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Citizens' | Jenny Brough | 20,019 | 51.52 | +13.57 |
| Labour | Keith Spry | 19,807 | 50.97 | +5.16 |
| Citizens' | Rosemary Young-Rouse | 19,766 | 50.86 | +8.26 |
| Labour | Helene Ritchie | 19,571 | 50.36 | +2.42 |
| Citizens' | Gavin Wilson | 19,166 | 49.32 | +8.22 |
| Independent | Leone Harkness | 18,478 | 47.55 | +10.32 |
| Labour | Joe Aspell | 18,272 | 47.02 | +7.18 |
| Citizens' | Les Paske | 18,236 | 46.93 | +9.81 |
| Citizens' | Bryan Weyburne | 17,939 | 46.17 | |
| Labour | Ros Noonan | 17,936 | 46.16 | −0.28 |
| Citizens' | David Bull | 17,567 | 45.21 | −5.86 |
| Labour | Hazel Bibby | 17,321 | 44.57 | +5.53 |
| Labour | Tala Cleverley | 16,901 | 43.49 | +2.31 |
| Citizens' | Rex Nicholls | 16,857 | 43.38 | |
| Labour | Margaret Bonner | 16,696 | 42.96 | |
| Citizens' | Arthur Kinsella | 16,490 | 42.43 | |
| Citizens' | Ruth Gotlieb | 15,622 | 40.20 | +20.80 |
| Labour | Terry McDavitt | 15,354 | 39.51 | |
| Citizens' | Bruce Harris | 15,163 | 39.02 | −0.20 |
| Citizens' | Roger Ridley-Smith | 14,967 | 38.51 | +1.18 |
| Labour | Frank O'Flynn | 14,931 | 38.42 | −1.96 |
| Citizens' | Colin Dickie | 14,712 | 37.86 | |
| Citizens' | Peter Isaac | 14,319 | 36.85 | |
| Citizens' | Saul Goldsmith | 13,944 | 35.88 | +1.83 |
| Labour | Ken Boyden | 13,920 | 35.82 | |
| Labour | Allan Levett | 13,235 | 34.06 | |
| Citizens' | Sarah Lysaght | 12,970 | 33.37 | |
| Citizens' | Terry Dykes | 12,904 | 33.20 | |
| Citizens' | Michael Carney | 12,780 | 32.89 | |
| Labour | John Blincoe | 12,321 | 31.70 | |
| Labour | Paul Fitzgerald | 12,282 | 31.60 | |
| Citizens' | Joseph Kenneally | 12,191 | 31.37 | |
| Labour | Harry Holden | 12,160 | 31.29 | |
| Labour | John Gilberthorpe | 11,986 | 30.84 | |
| Labour | David Robinson | 11,665 | 30.02 | +0.94 |
| Labour | Geoff Turner | 11,004 | 28.31 | |
| Labour | Joe McTaggart | 10,692 | 27.51 | +0.20 |
| Independent | Josie Bullock | 8,775 | 22.58 | |
| Independent Citizens' | Eric Hughes | 4,314 | 11.10 | |
| Private Enterprise | Frank Moncur | 3,228 | 8.30 | +2.53 |
| Independent | John Antonius Elise Pell | 2,244 | 5.77 | |
Table footnotes:
* ↑ Harris was appointed to fill the vacancy on the council in 1985 caused by Leone Harkness' resignation