# 1968 Christchurch mayoral election

The 1968 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1968, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

## Background

Sitting mayor George Manning retired leaving an open field to succeed him. The election saw councillor Ron Guthrey of the Citizens' Association defeat former Labour councillor and MP for Avon John Mathison. Labour lost ground on the city council as well, losing four seats leaving the composition of the council at three seats to sixteen in favour of the Citizens' Association.

## Mayoralty results

The following table gives the election results:
1968 Christchurch mayoral election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Citizens' | Ron Guthrey | 23,273 | 63.85 | |
| | Labour | John Mathison | 12,910 | 35.42 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 263 | 0.72 | +0.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,363 | 28.43 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,446 | 41.57 | +9.57 |

## Councillor results

1968 Christchurch local election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Citizens' | Hamish Hay | 22,831 | 62.64 | +10.37 |
| Citizens' | Peter Skellerup | 21,057 | 57.77 | +4.65 |
| Labour | Neville Pickering | 19,176 | 52.61 | −0.26 |
| Citizens' | Peter Dunbar | 18,881 | 51.80 | |
| Citizens' | Maurice Carter | 18,912 | 51.89 | +3.64 |
| Citizens' | Les Amos | 18,742 | 51.42 | +2.41 |
| Citizens' | Buster Cowles | 18,684 | 51.26 | +6.47 |
| Labour | Reg Stillwell | 18,018 | 49.43 | −3.52 |
| Citizens' | Gordon Hattaway | 17,550 | 48.15 | +6.82 |
| Citizens' | Bruce Britten | 17,525 | 48.08 | +6.00 |
| Citizens' | Helen Garrett | 17,458 | 47.90 | +9.43 |
| Citizens' | Harold Smith | 17,318 | 47.51 | +4.87 |
| Citizens' | Ted Taylor | 17,115 | 46.95 | |
| Citizens' | Harry Blazey | 17,041 | 46.75 | |
| Citizens' | Robertson Stewart | 16,834 | 46.18 | |
| Citizens' | Bill Glue | 16,820 | 46.15 | −0.74 |
| Citizens' | George Griffiths | 16,702 | 45.82 | +5.36 |
| Citizens' | Peter Blaxall | 16,469 | 45.18 | |
| Labour | Robert Macfarlane | 16,390 | 44.97 | −7.04 |
| Citizens' | Bruce Dallas | 16,373 | 44.92 | |
| Citizens' | Mina Elisabeth Lawrie | 16,101 | 44.17 | |
| Citizens' | Arthur McGregor | 15,560 | 42.69 | |
| Labour | Lyn Christie | 15,250 | 41.84 | −4.72 |
| Labour | Harold Denton | 15,081 | 41.37 | −2.20 |
| Labour | Bill Mathison | 14,919 | 40.93 | −1.26 |
| Labour | Brian Alderdice | 14,534 | 39.87 | +4.98 |
| Labour | Reg Jones | 13,281 | 36.44 | +0.97 |
| Labour | Thomas Henry Boyle | 13,238 | 36.32 | |
| Labour | Reginald John Cunningham | 12,675 | 34.77 | +0.42 |
| Labour | John F. Davidson | 12,669 | 34.76 | +0.55 |
| Labour | Rendel John Stubberfield | 12,426 | 34.09 | |
| Labour | Alexander Fraser Ross | 12,268 | 33.66 | |
| Labour | Mabel Howard | 12,286 | 33.71 | −15.37 |
| Labour | Kenneth Noel Larkin | 12,119 | 33.25 | +1.48 |
| Labour | Trevor Davey | 11,719 | 32.15 | |
| Labour | Patrick Neary | 11,591 | 31.80 | +4.45 |
| Labour | Mel Courtney | 11,579 | 31.77 | |
| Labour | Harold Joseph Henry | 11,016 | 30.22 | |
| Independent | Charles E. Cullen | 3,389 | 9.29 | +0.43 |
| Communist | Jack Locke | 2,327 | 6.38 | +1.00 |
| Independent | William John McFaul | 1,745 | 4.78 | +0.11 |