Dave Cull JP |
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Dave Cull
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57th Mayor of Dunedin | |
Assumed office 27 October 2010 |
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Preceded by | Peter Chin |
Personal details | |
Born |
Invercargill, New Zealand |
1 April 1950
Political party | Greater Dunedin (2007-2016) |
Spouse(s) | Joan Wilson |
Children | two daughters |
Residence | Portobello Road, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin |
Profession | writer, broadcaster |
David Charles "Dave" Cull, JP (born 1 April 1950) is the mayor of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand. He became the 57th Mayor of Dunedin in October 2010 and was re-elected in the 2013 mayoralty race. Before politics, he was a presenter for Television New Zealand and an author.
Cull was born and grew up in Invercargill, where he attended Southland Boys' High School. He obtained a BA and PG Dip in political science at the University of Otago. He has worked as a television presenter for Television New Zealand, hosting lifestyle and home improvement shows including Home Front, and is a writer who has published several books. He is married to Joan Wilson and they have two daughters.
He was elected as councillor to Dunedin City Council in 2007. During his time as a councillor, he opposed the new stadium, which has since become a financial drain on the council. In the 2010 Dunedin mayoral election, he was one of seven candidates, one of whom was incumbent mayor Peter Chin. Cull stood as part of the Greater Dunedin group and was successful.
Cull has expressed support for a controversial planned waterfront hotel that at 28 storeys, would tower over much of the city. In March 2014, Cull entered a memorandum of understanding with the developer on behalf of Dunedin City Council, but the agreement fell over and was terminated a month later, which meant the end of the project.
In January 2013, Cull announced that he would seek re-election in that year's mayoral election. On election day, he beat ex ACT MP Hilary Calvert, Councillor Lee Vandervis, and six other challengers.