# Mayor of Hastings, New Zealand

The mayor of Hastings is the head of local government in the Hastings District of New Zealand's North Island. The mayor presides over the Hastings District Council. The mayor is directly elected using the first-past-the-post method. The first mayor was Robert Wellwood, and the current mayor is Sandra Hazlehurst, first elected in the 2017 by-election. She is the first woman to be elected to the office.

## List of mayors

| No. | Affiliation | Mayor | Popular vote | Term |
| 1 | Independent | Robert Wellwood (1836–1927) | unopposed | 1886–1887 |
| 2 | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | Appointed after Wellwood resigned. | 1887–1888 |
| 2 | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | unopposed | 1888–1889 |
| 2 | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | unopposed | 1889–1890 |
| 3 | Independent | William Fletcher Burnett (1848–1893) | 131 (60.4%) | 1890–1891 |
| Burnett committed suicide in 1893. ||||||
| (2) | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | 148 (61.7%) | 1891–1892 |
| (2) | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | unopposed | 1892–1893 |
| (2) | Independent | George Ellis (1837–1928) | unopposed | 1893–1894 |
| 4 | Independent | Cecil Fitzroy (1844–1917) | unopposed | 1894–? |
| 4 | Independent | Cecil Fitzroy (1844–1917) | 277 (76.1%) | 1896–? |
| 4 | Independent | Cecil Fitzroy (1844–1917) | unopposed | 1898–1899 |
| 5 | Independent | William Dennett (1845–1928) | 538 (67.4%) | 1899–1901 |
| 5 | Independent | William Dennett (1845–1928) | 674 (58.4%) | 1901–1902 |
| 5 | Independent | William Dennett (1845–1928) | unopposed | 1902–1903 |
| 5 | Independent | William Dennett (1845–1928) | unopposed | 1903–1904 |
| 6 | Independent | William Lane | 410 (50.4%) | 1904–1905 |
| (5) | Independent | William Dennett (1845–1928) | 500 (44.7%) | 1905–1906 |
| 7 | Independent | Thomas Thompson (1855–1938) | 595 (51.9%) | 1906–1907 |
| 7 | Independent | Thomas Thompson (1855–1938) | 659 (50.3%) | 1907–1909 |
| 8 | Independent | John Miller (1869–1940) | 736 (44.2%) | 1909–1911 |
| 9 | Independent | James Garnett (1856–1913) | 1,256 (57.8%) | 1911–1913 |
| 9 | Independent | James Garnett (1856–1913) | unopposed | 1913 |
| 10 | Independent | William Hart (1863–1939) | Appointed after death of Garnett. | 1913–1915 |
| 10 | Independent | William Hart (1863–1939) | 1,295 (55.2%) | 1915–1917 |
| 11 | Independent | Horace Simson (1874–1954) | 1,415 (50.0%) | 1917–1919 |
| 12 | Independent | George Ebbett (1872–1954) | 1,484 (52.2%) | 1919–1921 |
| (10) | Independent | William Hart (1863–1939) | unopposed | 1921–1922 |
| 13 | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | Elected by council | 1922–1923 |
| 13 | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | 1,716 (81.9%) | 1923–1925 |
| 13 | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | 1,995 (75.4%) | 1925–1927 |
| 13 | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | unopposed | 1927–1929 |
| 14 | Independent | George Roach (1866–1934) | 1,110 (36.1%) | 1929–1933 |
| Roach was selected as the United Party candidate for Hawkes Bay at the 1931 New Zealand general election, but later dropped out of the race and supported the Reform candidate Hugh Campbell. He stood for the mayoralty again in 1933 but lost to Maddison. ||||||
| (13) | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | 4,258 (74.9%) | 1933–1935 |
| (13) | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | unopposed | 1935–1938 |
| (13) | Independent | George Maddison (1887–1949) | 3,279 (58.8%) | 1938–1941 |
| Maddison stood as the National Party candidate for Hawkes Bay at the 1938 New Zealand general election and was the son-in-law of Hasting's first mayor Robert Wellwood. He was also chairman of the Hawke's Bay Education Board. ||||||
| 15 | Citizens | Algernon Rainbow (1885–1969) | 3,459 (70.0%) | 1941–1944 |
| 15 | Citizens | Algernon Rainbow (1885–1969) | 3,780 (71.6%) | 1944–1947 |
| 16 | Citizens | Robert Douglas Brown (1901–1963) | 4,024 (67.3%) | 1947–1950 |
| 16 | Citizens | Robert Douglas Brown (1901–1963) | unopposed | 1950–1953 |
| 17 | | Ed Bate (1901–1999) | | 1953–1956 |
| 17 | | Ed Bate (1901–1999) | 4,578 | 1956–1959 |
| 18 | | Ron Giorgi (1907–1997) | | 1959–1962 |
| 18 | | Ron Giorgi (1907–1997) | | 1962–1965 |
| 18 | | Ron Giorgi (1907–1997) | | 1965–1968 |
| 18 | | Ron Giorgi (1907–1997) | | 1968–1971 |
| 18 | | Ron Giorgi (1907–1997) | | 1971–1974 |
| 19 | | Jim O'Connor (1936–2000) | | 1974–1977 |
| 19 | | Jim O'Connor (1936–2000) | | 1977–1980 |
| 19 | | Jim O'Connor (1936–2000) | | 1980–1983 |
| 19 | | Jim O'Connor (1936–2000) | | 1983–1986 |
| 20 | Independent | Jeremy Dwyer (1947–2005) | 3,486 (46.5%) | 1986–1989 |
| 20 | Independent | Jeremy Dwyer (1947–2005) | 19,677 (86.4%) | 1989–1992 |
| 20 | Independent | Jeremy Dwyer (1947–2005) | 19,550 (84.0%) | 1992–1995 |
| 20 | Independent | Jeremy Dwyer (1947–2005) | unopposed | 1995–1998 |
| 20 | Independent | Jeremy Dwyer (1947–2005) | 17,684 (78.6%) | 1998–2001 |
| Dwyer was deputy leader of Social Credit. ||||||
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | 16,644 (72.4%) | 2001–2004 |
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | unopposed | 2004–2007 |
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | 11,117 (53.6%) | 2007–2010 |
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | 11,665 (52.6%) | 2010–2013 |
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | 11,516 (49.7%) | 2013–2016 |
| 21 | Independent | Lawrence Yule (b. 1963) | 11,533 (46.0%) | 2016–2017 |
| Yule went on to be a National MP. ||||||
| 22 | Independent | Sandra Hazlehurst (b. 1959) | 10,154 (46.0%) | 2017–2019 |
| 22 | Independent | Sandra Hazlehurst (b. 1959) | 13,188 (54.0%) | 2019–2022 |
| 22 | Independent | Sandra Hazlehurst (b. 1959) | unopposed | 2022–present |
| Hazlehurst is the city's first female mayor. ||||||

## Elections
### 19th century
#### 1886, 1887, 1888, and 1889

On 29 September 1886, Robert Wellwood was elected unopposed as the first mayor of Hastings. George Ellis was appointed on 21 December 1887 by the Borough Council after Wellwood resigned, and then went on to win unopposed in 1888 and 1889. Ellis was declared re-elected on 19 December 1888 and 18 December 1889, respectively.

#### 1890

The 1890 mayoral election occurred on 26 November. William Fletcher Burnett defeated third-term incumbent mayor George Ellis.
1890 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | None | William Fletcher Burnett | 131 | 60.4 |
| | None | George Ellis | 84 | 38.7 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 2 | 0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 217 | |

#### 1891

The 1891 mayoral election occurred on 26 November. George Ellis defeated incumbent mayor William Fletcher Burnett.
1891 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | George Ellis | 148 | 61.7 | 23.0 |
| | None | William Fletcher Burnett | 92 | 38.3 | 22.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 240 | | |

#### 1892, 1893, and 1894

George Ellis was re-elected unopposed in 1892 and 1893. He was declared re-elected on 20 November in 1893.
On 19 November 1894, Cecil Fitzroy was declared elected after facing no challengers for the mayoralty.

#### 1896

The 1896 mayoral election occurred circa 26 November. Cecil Fitzroy was re-elected, defeating George Ellis.
1896 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | None | Cecil Fitzroy | 277 | 76.1 |
| | None | George Ellis | 82 | 22.5 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 5 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 364 | |

#### 1898

Fitzroy was declared re-elected on 23 November after running unopposed.

#### 1899

The 1899 mayoral election occurred on 29 November. William Dennett defeated incumbent Cecil Fitzroy.
1899 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | William Dennett | 538 | 67.4 | |
| | None | Cecil Fitzroy | 260 | 32.6 | 43.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 798 | | |

### 20th century
#### 1901

The 1901 mayoral election occurred on 15 May. Incumbent mayor William Dennett again defeated former mayor Cecil Fitzroy.
1899 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | William Dennett | 674 | 58.4 | 9.0 |
| | None | Cecil Fitzroy | 480 | 41.6 | 9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,154 | | |

#### 1902 and 1903

William Dennett was re-elected unopposed in 1902 and 1903.

#### 1904

The 1904 mayoral election occurred on 27 April. William Lane defeated incumbent mayor William Dennett.
1904 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | William Lane | 410 | 50.4 | |
| | None | William Dennett | 396 | 48.6 | 9.8 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 8 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 814 | | |

#### 1905

The 1905 mayoral election occurred on 25 April. Former mayor William Dennett was elected, defeating Thomas Thompson and Cecil Fitzroy.
1905 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | William Dennett | 500 | 44.7 | 3.9 |
| | None | Thomas Thompson | 354 | 31.6 | |
| | None | Cecil Fitzroy | 265 | 23.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,119 | | |

#### 1906

The 1906 mayoral election occurred on 25 April. Thomas Thompson defeated incumbent mayor William Dennett.
1906 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | Thomas Thompson | 595 | 51.9 | 20.3 |
| | None | William Dennett | 535 | 46.6 | 1.9 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 17 | 1.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,147 | | |

#### 1907

The 1907 mayoral election occurred on 24 April. Thomas Thompson again defeated William Dennett.
1907 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ±pp |
| | None | Thomas Thompson | 659 | 50.3 | 1.6 |
| | None | William Dennett | 378 | 28.8 | 17.8 |
| | None | William Lane | 237 | 18.1 | |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 37 | 2.8 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,311 | | |

#### 1998

The 1998 mayoral election occurred on 10 October. Jeremy Dwyer was elected to a fifth term.
1998 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | None | Jeremy Dwyer | 17,684 | 78.6 |
| | None | Douglas John Green | 4,805 | 21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,489 | |

### 21st century
#### 2001

The 2001 mayoral election occurred on 13 October. Lawrence Yule was elected.
2001 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | None | Lawrence Yule | 16,644 | 72.4 |
| | None | Dinah Allison Williams | 3,467 | 15.1 |
| | None | Kevin Victor Watkins | 2,846 | 12.4 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 17 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,974 | |

#### 2004

Lawrence Yule was re-elected to his second term unopposed.

#### 2007

The 2007 mayoral election occurred on 13 October. Lawrence Yule was elected to a third term.
2007 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | None | Lawrence Yule | 11,117 | 53.6 | 18.8 |
| | None | Simon Nixon | 7,147 | 34.5 |
| | None | Peter Nee Harland | 1,875 | 9.0 | |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 12 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 572 | 2.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,723 | | |

#### 2010

The 2010 mayoral election occurred on 9 October. Lawrence Yule was elected to a fourth term.
2010 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | None | Lawrence Yule | 11,665 | 52.6 | 1.0 |
| | None | Simon Nixon | 6,976 | 31.5 | 3.0 |
| | Independent | Des Ratima | 2,276 | 10.3 | |
| | None | Peter Nee Harland | 799 | 3.6 | 5.4 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 40 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 407 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,163 | | |

#### 2013

The 2013 mayoral election occurred on 12 October. Lawrence Yule was elected to a fifth term.
2013 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | None | Lawrence Yule | 11,516 | 49.7 | 2.9 |
| | None | Wayne Lindsay Bradshaw | 6,119 | 26.4 | |
| | None | Simon Nixon | 4,859 | 21.0 | 10.5 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 38 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 640 | 2.8 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,172 | | |

#### 2016

The 2016 mayoral election occurred on 8 October. Lawrence Yule won a sixth term in the role.
2016 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | None | Lawrence Yule | 11,533 | 46.0 | 2.7 |
| | None | Guy Wellwood | 7,988 | 31.8 | |
| | None | Adrienne Pierce | 5,053 | 20.1 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 43 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 465 | 1.9 | 0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,082 | | |

#### 2017

A by-election was held on 24 November after Lawrence Yule resigned to run for Parliament as the MP for Tukituki. Acting mayor and third-term councillor Sandra Hazlehurst was elected to the position, becoming the district's first female mayor.
2017 Hastings mayoral by-election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | None | Sandra Hazlehurst | 10,154 | 46.0 | |
| | None | Bayden Barber | 5,252 | 23.8 | |
| | None | Simon Nixon | 2,977 | 13.48 | |
| | None | Stuart Perry | 2,662 | 12.06 | |
| | None | Waitawhara Tupaea | 661 | 3.0 | |
| | None | Allister David Tosh | 325 | 1.8 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 12 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 55 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,078 | | |

#### 2019

The 2019 mayoral election occurred on 12 October. Incumbent mayor Sandra Hazlehurst faced off against first-term district councillor Damon Harvey.
2019 Hastings mayoral election :
| Affiliation | Affiliation | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | ± |
| | Independent | Sandra Hazlehurst | 13,188 | 54.0 | 8.0 |
| | Change Up Hastings | Damon Harvey | 10,120 | 41.4 |
| Informal | Informal | Informal | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Blank | Blank | Blank | 1,105 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,423 | | |
| Registered | Registered | Registered | 55,080 | | |

#### 2022

Sandra Hazlehurst was elected unopposed.