1957 Auckland City mayoral by-election

The 1957 Auckland City mayoral by-election was held to fill the vacant position of Mayor of Auckland. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

1957 Auckland City mayoral by-election

2 November 1957
Turnout	30,944
Candidate Keith Buttle John Stewart Horace Kirk Party Citizens & Ratepayers Labour Independent Popular vote 17,298 7,573 4,906 Percentage 55.90 24.47 15.85
Mayor before election Tom Ashby Elected mayor Keith Buttle

Background

The by-election was triggered by the death of sitting Mayor Tom Ashby. Five candidates put their names forward for the contest, with Deputy-Mayor Keith Buttle elected the new Mayor. Councillor Dove-Myer Robinson's United Independents (who had backed Ashby a year earlier) ticket chose to neither contest the election nor endorse a candidate.

Results

The following table gives the election results:

1957 Auckland mayoral by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Citizens & Ratepayers	Keith Buttle	17,298	55.90
	Labour	John Stewart	7,573	24.47	−6.10
	Independent	Horace Kirk	4,906	15.85
	Independent	Pat Curran	1,038	3.35
	Independent	Trevor Innes	97	0.31
Informal votes			32	0.10	−0.40
Majority			9,725	31.42
Turnout			30,944

References

• Edgar, John (2012). Urban Legend: Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson. Hodder Moa.