Mayor of Ashburton

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The mayor of Ashburton is the elected head of local government in the Ashburton District of New Zealand's South Island; one of 67 mayors in the country. The mayor is based in the principal town (and namesake) of the district, Ashburton. The mayor presides over the Ashburton District Council and is directly elected using the first-past-the-post method.

StyleHis/Her Worship
Term lengthThree years
Inaugural holderThomas Bullock
Formation1888
Quick facts of Ashburton, Style ...
Mayor of Ashburton
Coat of arms of Ashburton District Council
Incumbent
Liz McMillan[1]
since 2025
StyleHis/Her Worship
Term lengthThree years
Inaugural holderThomas Bullock
Formation1888
DeputyLiz McMillan[2]
Salary$132,690[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
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From 1878 until the 1989 local government reforms, the area was administered by a borough council. Liz McMillan is the current mayor of Ashburton; she was first elected in the 2025 local elections.[1]

History

The Ashburton Borough Council was inaugurated in 1878. The first mayor was Thomas Bullock, who was elected on 2 September 1878.[4][5] Nine borough councillors were elected on 5 September and the first council meeting was held on 9 September.[6] Hugo Friedlander was the second mayor when he resigned in July 1892 as he had urgent business in England to attend to.[7] Henry Davis was declared elected unopposed for 12 years in a row. The first time he had an opponent, in April 1915, he was defeated.[8][9]

Methven farmer Angus McKay was mayor for two terms from the 2010 local elections to 2016.[10] Donna Favel was the mayor of Ashburton between 2016 and 2019.[11] Since 2019, the current mayor has been Neil Brown; he was sworn in on 24 October. [12]

List of mayors of Ashburton

More information Photo, Name ...
Photo Name Term
Ashburton Borough Council 1878–1989
1 Thomas Bullock[4] 2 September 1878 – 17 December 1879[5][13][14]
2 Hugo Friedlander 17 December 1879 – 21 December 1881[15]
3 Donald Williamson[16][17] 21 December 1881 – November 1884
4 Rudolph Friedlander[18] November 1884 – November 1886
5 Thomas Sealy[19] November 1886 – November 1887
6 Alfred Harrison[20] November 1887 – November 1888
7 David Thomas[21] November 1888 – 17 December 1890
(2) Hugo Friedlander (2nd term)[22][23] 17 December 1890 – July 1892
8 Richard Bird[24][25][26] 28 July 1892 – November 1893
9 John Orr[27] November 1893 – November 1894
10 Joseph Sealy[28] November 1894 – November 1897
11 Charles Reid[29] November 1897 – 21 December 1898
(2) Hugo Friedlander (3rd term)[30][31][32] 21 December 1898 – 8 May 1901
12 William Henry Collins[33][34] 8 May 1901 – April 1903
13 Henry Davis[35] April 1903 – April 1915
14 Robert Galbraith[9][36] 5 May 1915 – 31 December 1930[37]
15 Robert Kerr[38] 12 January – 18 May 1931
16 William Woods[39][40][41] 18 May 1931 – 18 May 1938
17 Dr. George Inglis Miller †[42][43] 18 May 1938 – 7 November 1940
18 Dr. John Connor[44] 13 November 1940 – 1 June 1944
19 Ernest Cook Bathurst[45][46] 1 June 1944 – 1956
20 Archibald A. McDonald[47] 1956–1959
21 John Davidson[47] 1959–1968
22 George Glassey[47] 1968–1971
23 Darcy O. Digby[47] 1971–1977
24 Geoff Geering[47][48] 1977–1989
Ashburton District Council 1989–present
(24) Geoff Geering continued[48] 1989–1995
25 Murray Anderson 1995–2004
26 Bede O'Malley 2004–2010
27 Angus McKay 2010–2016
28 Donna Favel 2016–2019
29 Neil Brown[49][50] 2019–2025
30 Liz McMillan[1] 2025–present
† died in office
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References

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