1986 Dunedin mayoral election

The 1986 Dunedin mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1986, elections were held for the Mayor of Dunedin plus other local government positions,including twelve city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

1986 Dunedin mayoral election

← 1983 11 October 1986 1989 →
Turnout	25,660
Candidate Cliff Skeggs Steve Alexander Bill Christie Party Independent Labour Citizens' Popular vote 12,871 7,064 5,277 Percentage 50.15 27.52 20.56
Mayor before election Cliff Skeggs Elected mayor Cliff Skeggs

Background

Mayor Cliff Skeggs was re-elected for a record fourth term. Skeggs split from the Citizens' ticket but was re-elected as an independent candidate. Councillor Bill Christie stood as the official Citizens' candidate, polling third, with Labour's Steve Alexander placing second.

Electoral reforms were implemented at the 1986 municipal elections, the method of electing councillors at large which had been used for decades was replaced with a ward system of local electoral districts.^[1]

Results

The following table shows the results for the election:

1986 Dunedin mayoral election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Cliff Skeggs	12,871	50.15	−17.03
	Labour	Steve Alexander	7,064	27.52
	Citizens'	Bill Christie	5,277	20.56
	Independent	Murray Menzies	269	1.04	−2.69
Informal votes			179	0.69	−0.65
Majority			5,807	22.63	−16.82
Turnout			25,660

Results by ward

Cliff Skeggs polled the highest in all four of Dunedin's electoral wards.

Wards won by Skeggs

	Cliff Skeggs		Steve Alexander		Bill Christie		Others		Total
Ward	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	#
Central	3,052	51.01	1,620	27.07	1,216	20.32	95	1.58	5,983
East	3,409	51.17	1,793	26.91	1,357	20.37	102	1.53	6,661
North	3,201	44.56	2,268	31.57	1,521	21.17	192	2.67	7,182
West	2,728	56.01	1,163	23.88	932	19.13	47	0.96	4,870
Total	12,871	50.15	7,064	27.52	5,277	20.56	448	1.73	25,660

Ward results

Candidates were also elected from wards to the Dunedin City Council.^[3]

	Party/ticket	Councillors
	Citizens'	7
	Labour	4
	Independent	1

References

1. "Local elections on ward basis". The Evening Post. 9 October 1984.
2. "Mayoral Voting". Otago Daily Times. No. 37706. 13 October 1986. p. 6.
3. "Council Changes Dramatically". Otago Daily Times. No. 37706. 13 October 1986. p. 1.