1983 Christchurch mayoral election
8 October 1983
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| Turnout | 41,827 | |||||||||||||||
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The 1983 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1983, 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
Incumbent Mayor Hamish Hay became the Christchurch Citizens' Association's candidate in March 1983.[1][2] Rex Lester, the deputy mayor, was chosen as the Labour Party's candidate later that same month.[3]
Results
Hay was re-elected with an increased majority, defeating Lester. In addition to Hay retaining the mayoralty there was a concurrent swing towards the Citizens' Association leaving the composition of the council at eleven seats to the Citizens' Association with eight to the Labour Party.[4]
Earlier in the day, Lester's home was broken into by burglars who stole his bicycle and sporting gear.[4]
The following table gives the election results:
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens' | Hamish Hay | 27,263 | 65.18 | +11.88 | |
| Labour | Rex Lester | 14,065 | 33.62 | ||
| Economic Euthenics | Tubby Hansen | 274 | 0.65 | −0.68 | |
| Informal votes | 225 | 0.53 | +0.14 | ||
| Majority | 13,198 | 31.55 | +23.22 | ||
| Turnout | 41,827 | ||||
Ward results
Candidates were also elected from wards to the Christchurch City Council.[4][6][7]
| Party/ticket | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens' | 11 | |
| Labour | 8 |
References
- ^ "Local election action begins". The Press. 8 March 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "'Association faces uphill struggle'". The Press. 10 March 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "Cr Lester, 'Mayor of the people'". The Press. 30 March 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Darling, Stan (10 October 1983). "Citizens again control Chch City Council". The Press. p. 1.
- ^ "Mayoralty voting". The Press. 10 October 1983. p. 3.
- ^ "City Council results". The Press. 10 October 1983. p. 3.
- ^ "Page 32 Advertisements Column 1 – Declaration of Results of Elections", The Press, p. 32, 21 October 1983, retrieved 8 June 2025