The Mayor of Nelson is the head of the municipal government of Nelson

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

, New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, and presides over the Nelson City Council

Nelson City Council

Nelson City Council is a Unitary Authority that administers the Nelson Tasman or "Top of the South" region alongside Tasman District Council. Nelson City Council is one of only five Unitary Authorities in the country...

. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system

First-past-the-post

First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...

. The current mayor is Aldo Miccio

Aldo Miccio

- Background :Miccio is married to Kimberley, a former Sydney hotel reservations sales manager, and has three children. He was born in Nelson in about 1971, lived in Tahunanui, is a second generation Nelsonian, and was educated at St Joseph’s primary school and Nelson College. He graduated from the...

, who was elected in October 2010.

1874–1899

Joseph Dodson

Joseph Dodson

Joseph Reid Dodson JP , was the first Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1874. He was a prominent brewer and Resident Magistrate in Nelson and his sixth generation descendants still operate a brewery in the city.-Early life:...

 was elected as the first Mayor of Nelson on 1 May 1874 by the City Councillors under the Municipal Corporations Act 1867. He was unanimously elected to the position. Dodson was a former member of the Nelson Board of Works. Councillor Fell

Charles Fell

Charles Yates Fell, was a New Zealand barrister, councillor, mayor and watercolour artist.- Background :Fell was born in Nelson in 1844...

 noted that Dodson had taken great interest in the welfare of Nelson and was an upright gentleman with integrity.

The new council came into immediate conflict with the provincial government

Nelson Province

The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...

 over finances. Nelson went bankrupt, the mayor resigned on 8 January 1875, and so did most of the councillors. A special meeting of the remaining Councillors was held on 12 January 1875 to appoint a new Mayor but no one was forthcoming. A public meeting was held on the Friday to determine the wishes of the ratepayers.

Despite the meeting it was not until 26 February 1875 that a new Mayor, Joseph Levien

Joseph Levien

John Henry Levien Esquire, JP was a Freemason and Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1875 to 1876.- Political career:...

 was appointed. Levien is credited with having set systems in place and employed capable staff that the financial crisis was able to be overcome. Levien died after only a short time in office on 7 June 1876.

Edward Everett

Edward William Everett

- Political career :As a Councillor, Everett was named as one of several Councillors who voted for the appointment of Joseph Levien in 1875.Everett was the third Mayor of Nelson, replacing Joseph Levien who died in office. Everett was elected unopposed on 16 June 1876...

 was the third mayor. He was elected unopposed on 16 June 1876 and resigned on 1 September 1877 in order to travel to England. William Reid Waters

William Reid Waters

William Reid Waters Esq, JP , Mayor of Nelson from 1 September 1877 to 19 December 1877 and Councillor.-Private life:Waters was a migrant to Nelson where he started a boot and shoe making business in Bridge Street in early 1858....

 was appointed by the councillors to fill the vacancy left by Everett. Waters was mayor until 19 December 1877 when Joseph Dodson

Joseph Dodson

Joseph Reid Dodson JP , was the first Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1874. He was a prominent brewer and Resident Magistrate in Nelson and his sixth generation descendants still operate a brewery in the city.-Early life:...

 was elected for a second time in his place.

When Dodson retired on 22 November 1881 Everett was elected mayor for a second term. Everett was Mayor until 1882.

Charles Fell

Charles Fell

Charles Yates Fell, was a New Zealand barrister, councillor, mayor and watercolour artist.- Background :Fell was born in Nelson in 1844...

 was mayor for five years until 1887. His second wife was a daughter of the Arthur Richmond Atkinson

Arthur Richmond Atkinson

Arthur Richmond Atkinson was an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He represented the City of Wellington electorate from 1899 to 1902 when he was defeated. He stood for Wellington East in 1908....

. Fell was a painter.

John Sharp

John Sharp (New Zealand politician)

John Sharp was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand and Mayor of Nelson.-Early life:Sharp was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1828. He was educated at Chatham House College, Ramsgate, for the Navy for four years. However, he joined the merchant service. He was an...

 succeeded Fell. Sharp had previously represented the City of Nelson electorate

Nelson (New Zealand electorate)

Nelson is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. From 1853 to 1860, the electorate was called Town of Nelson. From 1860 to 1881, it was City of Nelson...

 in Parliament.

Francis Trask

Francis Trask

Francis Reuben Trask was a 20th century Member of the Legislative Council from Nelson, New Zealand and Mayor of Nelson. He also served on the Nelson Harbour Board from its inception.-Early life:...

 was mayor for nine years (1890–1899). During his reign, Rocks Road (now part of State Highway 6

New Zealand State Highway 6

State Highway 6 is a major New Zealand State Highway. It extends from the northeastern corner of the South Island across the top of the island, then down the length of the island, initially along the West Coast and then across the Southern Alps through inland Otago and finally across the Southland...

) was built along the coast, and Queens Gardens were established.

1899–1999

Trask was succeeded by Joseph Auty Harley

Joseph Auty Harley

Joseph Auty Harley was Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 20 December 1899 to 1901 when he was succeeded by Henry Baigent.-Early life:...

, who was installed on 20 December 1899. Harley was succeeded by Henry Baigent

Henry Baigent

Henry Baigent was a timber miller, and served as a Nelson city councillor and mayor. The Nelson firm of H Baigent and Sons Ltd was formed by him. His funeral was noted as one of the largest that had ever taken place in Nelson.- Family :...

, who was mayor in 1901–1904 and again in 1905–1906.

Jesse Piper

Jesse Piper

Jesse Piper was a Nelson City Councillor and Mayor.- Early life:Piper was born in 1836 at Hastings, Sussex, England. He went to sea as a youth. On the outbreak of the Crimean War joined the storeship HMS Apollo and sailed to Malta...

 was mayor in 1904–1905. He lost the mayoralty in 1905 to Baigent, but succeeded again in 1906 over the candidate put forward by Baigent. In the 1910 election Piper stood against Thomas Pettit and lost by 768 votes to 969.

Thomas Field

Thomas Field (politician)

Thomas Andrew Hemming Field was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. He married Jessica Black, and they had four children. His eldest son Arthur Nelson Field was a journalist and right-wing author.- Wilkins and Field :...

 was mayor from 1911 to 1913. From the following year, he was MP for Nelson for one term.

William Lock

William Lock

William Lock was Mayor of Nelson from 1913 to 1915 and again from 1921 to 1927. Lock was an auctioneer, and a grain and produce merchant for 40 years. During his term as Mayor, HMS New Zealand visited Nelson in 1913...

 replaced Thomas Field as Mayor after a fairly terse campaign against William Snodgrass

William Snodgrass (politician)

Hon William W Snodgrass MBE Mayor and Councillor for Nelson, New Zealand. Snodgrass was born in Liverpool, the son of Robert Snodgrass. His early education was at Liverpool Methodist School. When he was 10 his family migrated to Nelson...

 in 1913. The following year he won again with only a 5 vote majority, but lost in 1915 to Charles Harley

Charles Harley

Charles John Harley Councillor and Mayor of Nelson from 1915 to 1917. Educated at Nelson College . He was a barrister and solicitor by profession having been admitted to the Bar in 1883. He died on 16 December 1922.- Children :...

. Harley did not stand in 1917 and Snodgrass was elected.

Lock had continued to campaign for the Mayoralty and was re-elected in 1921, ousting Snodgrass. Lock remained Mayor until 1927 when Walter Moffatt

Walter Moffatt

Walter John Moffatt Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1927 to 1935. The son of Harry Louis Moffatt, wharfinger at Motueka, Moffatt was a coachbuilder by trade having served his time in Nelson and Motueka. He followed his occupation in Feilding, Palmerston North, and Marton, before returning to...

 came to power. Moffat retired in 1935 due to ill health and George Page

George Page (mayor)

George Lloyd Page Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1935 to 1941. Page was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, England on 31 March 1878 and his family migrated to New Zealand in 1879. His father was also named George.....

 was elected in his place. In the early 1940s Page suffered from a prolonged period of ill health and was replaced by Edgar Neale

Edgar Neale

Edgar Rollo Neale OBE JP FPANZ FCIS was born in Nelson, New Zealand on 24 October 1889. He was the Mayor and member of Parliament for Nelson, a strong supporter of the Nelson railway, and a representative cricketer.-Background:...

, the Deputy Mayor, in 1941.

Edgar Neale

Edgar Neale

Edgar Rollo Neale OBE JP FPANZ FCIS was born in Nelson, New Zealand on 24 October 1889. He was the Mayor and member of Parliament for Nelson, a strong supporter of the Nelson railway, and a representative cricketer.-Background:...

 was mayor from 1941 to 1947. He resigned after he became the Member of Parliament for Nelson.

Joseph Auty Harley

Joseph Auty Harley (Second)

Joseph Auty Harley OBE Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1947 to 1956. Harley was the son of C R Harley and born on 29 September 1895. He was educated at Hampton Street Primary School and attended Nelson College from 1910 to 1912...

 was mayor from 1947 to 1956. He was succeeded by Stanley Russell

Stanley Russell

Stanley Ivan Russell OBE Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1956 to 1962. Director of G P Russell and Son, Chair of the YMCA. Labour Party supporter....

. Russell was mayor from 1956 to 1962.

1999 to present

Aldo Miccio

Aldo Miccio

- Background :Miccio is married to Kimberley, a former Sydney hotel reservations sales manager, and has three children. He was born in Nelson in about 1971, lived in Tahunanui, is a second generation Nelsonian, and was educated at St Joseph’s primary school and Nelson College. He graduated from the...

 won the 2010 mayoralty, with the incumbent getting third place.

List of Mayors

The list below shows all Mayors of Nelson since the first Nelson City Council meeting in April 1874.

	Name	Term	Notes
1	Joseph Dodson Joseph Dodson Joseph Reid Dodson JP , was the first Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1874. He was a prominent brewer and Resident Magistrate in Nelson and his sixth generation descendants still operate a brewery in the city.-Early life:...	1874–1875
2	Joseph Levien Joseph Levien John Henry Levien Esquire, JP was a Freemason and Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1875 to 1876.- Political career:...	1875–1876
3	Edward Everett Edward William Everett - Political career :As a Councillor, Everett was named as one of several Councillors who voted for the appointment of Joseph Levien in 1875.Everett was the third Mayor of Nelson, replacing Joseph Levien who died in office. Everett was elected unopposed on 16 June 1876...	1876–1877
4	William Reid Waters William Reid Waters William Reid Waters Esq, JP , Mayor of Nelson from 1 September 1877 to 19 December 1877 and Councillor.-Private life:Waters was a migrant to Nelson where he started a boot and shoe making business in Bridge Street in early 1858....	1877
	Joseph Dodson	1877–1881	2nd period
	Edward Everett	1881–1882	2nd period
5	Charles Yates Fell Charles Fell Charles Yates Fell, was a New Zealand barrister, councillor, mayor and watercolour artist.- Background :Fell was born in Nelson in 1844...	1882–1887
6	John Sharp John Sharp (New Zealand politician) John Sharp was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand and Mayor of Nelson.-Early life:Sharp was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1828. He was educated at Chatham House College, Ramsgate, for the Navy for four years. However, he joined the merchant service. He was an...	1887–1890
7	Francis Trask Francis Trask Francis Reuben Trask was a 20th century Member of the Legislative Council from Nelson, New Zealand and Mayor of Nelson. He also served on the Nelson Harbour Board from its inception.-Early life:...	1890–1899
8	Joseph Auty Harley Joseph Auty Harley Joseph Auty Harley was Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 20 December 1899 to 1901 when he was succeeded by Henry Baigent.-Early life:...	1899–1901
9	Henry Baigent Henry Baigent Henry Baigent was a timber miller, and served as a Nelson city councillor and mayor. The Nelson firm of H Baigent and Sons Ltd was formed by him. His funeral was noted as one of the largest that had ever taken place in Nelson.- Family :...	1901–1904
10	Jesse Piper Jesse Piper Jesse Piper was a Nelson City Councillor and Mayor.- Early life:Piper was born in 1836 at Hastings, Sussex, England. He went to sea as a youth. On the outbreak of the Crimean War joined the storeship HMS Apollo and sailed to Malta...	1904–1905
	Henry Baigent	1905–1906	2nd period
	Jesse Piper	1906–1910	2nd period
11	Thomas Pettit	1910–1911
12	Thomas Field Thomas Field (politician) Thomas Andrew Hemming Field was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. He married Jessica Black, and they had four children. His eldest son Arthur Nelson Field was a journalist and right-wing author.- Wilkins and Field :...	1911–1913
13	William Lock William Lock William Lock was Mayor of Nelson from 1913 to 1915 and again from 1921 to 1927. Lock was an auctioneer, and a grain and produce merchant for 40 years. During his term as Mayor, HMS New Zealand visited Nelson in 1913...	1913–1915
14	Charles Harley Charles Harley Charles John Harley Councillor and Mayor of Nelson from 1915 to 1917. Educated at Nelson College . He was a barrister and solicitor by profession having been admitted to the Bar in 1883. He died on 16 December 1922.- Children :...	1915–1917
15	William Snodgrass William Snodgrass (politician) Hon William W Snodgrass MBE Mayor and Councillor for Nelson, New Zealand. Snodgrass was born in Liverpool, the son of Robert Snodgrass. His early education was at Liverpool Methodist School. When he was 10 his family migrated to Nelson...	1917–1921
	William Lock	1921–1927	2nd period
16	Walter Moffatt Walter Moffatt Walter John Moffatt Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1927 to 1935. The son of Harry Louis Moffatt, wharfinger at Motueka, Moffatt was a coachbuilder by trade having served his time in Nelson and Motueka. He followed his occupation in Feilding, Palmerston North, and Marton, before returning to...	1927–1935
17	George Page George Page (mayor) George Lloyd Page Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1935 to 1941. Page was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, England on 31 March 1878 and his family migrated to New Zealand in 1879. His father was also named George.....	1935–1941
18	Edgar Neale Edgar Neale Edgar Rollo Neale OBE JP FPANZ FCIS was born in Nelson, New Zealand on 24 October 1889. He was the Mayor and member of Parliament for Nelson, a strong supporter of the Nelson railway, and a representative cricketer.-Background:...	1941–1947
19	Joseph Auty Harley Joseph Auty Harley (Second) Joseph Auty Harley OBE Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1947 to 1956. Harley was the son of C R Harley and born on 29 September 1895. He was educated at Hampton Street Primary School and attended Nelson College from 1910 to 1912...	1947–1956
20	Stanley Russell Stanley Russell Stanley Ivan Russell OBE Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1956 to 1962. Director of G P Russell and Son, Chair of the YMCA. Labour Party supporter....	1956–1962
21	Douglas Strawbridge Douglas Strawbridge Douglas Nelson Strawbridge Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1962 to 1968. Strawbridge was born on 21 October 1908. The son of Charles James Strawbridge and Martha Annie Strawbridge...	1962–1968
22	Trevor F Horne Trevor Horne Trevor Freeman Horne JP QSO Mayor of Nelson from 1968 to 1971.Horne was born in Christchurch on 30 September 1920. He was the son of Freeman Horne and Mable Smith. He was educated at Gisborne Boys High School...	1968–1971
23	Roy A McLennan Roy McLennan Roy Alexander McLennan Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1971 to 1980.Born in Wellington on 30 October 1924. McLennan was the son of A J McLennan. He was educated at Rongotai College and Nelson College...	1971–1980
24	Peter Malone Peter Malone (Mayor) Dr Peter Heywood Malone OBE CNZM Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1980 to 1992. He was a veterinary surgeon.-Early life:...	1980–1992
25	Hon Philip Woollaston Philip Woollaston Hon Philip Tosswill Edmond Woollaston was a New Zealand member of Parliament of the Labour Party from 1981 to 1990 and Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1992 to 1998....	1992–1998
26	Paul Matheson Paul Matheson Paul Kenneth Matheson JP QSO Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1998 to 2007. Born in about 1948 and elected as a City councillor in 2010. Matherson's wife, Juliana, died of cancer just six weeks before he took office as Mayor and since that time he has been a fundraiser for the Nelson Cancer...	1998–2007
27	Kerry Marshall Kerry Marshall Kerry Leigh Francis Marshall MBE Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 2007 to 2010. Marshall was a teacher by profession.Educated at Nelson College . Marshall worked in Canada and Scotland for some time before returning to Nelson...	2007–2010
28	Aldo Miccio Aldo Miccio - Background :Miccio is married to Kimberley, a former Sydney hotel reservations sales manager, and has three children. He was born in Nelson in about 1971, lived in Tahunanui, is a second generation Nelsonian, and was educated at St Joseph’s primary school and Nelson College. He graduated from the...	2010 – present