Mayor of Whanganui

The Mayor of Whanganui (previously Wanganui) is the head of the Whanganui District Council. Since 1872, there have been 28 mayors. Hamish McDouall is the current mayor.

The Wanganui Town Board was first formed in 1862, and its first chairman was J Handley who served in that capacity until 1864. The Board became a Borough Council in 1872 until 1924, when Wanganui was granted city status and the Mayor was the head of the Wanganui City Council. It continued as the City Council until 1989, when Wanganui's city charter was cancelled. Local government reform of 1989 amalgamated various city and council councils - Wanganui District Council includes the old Wanganui City Council, Wanganui County Council and a part of the Waitotara County Council. The motto of the then Wanganui City, and now Wanganui District Council, is 'Sans Dieu Rien' ('Without God, we are nothing').

The first meeting of the Wanganui Council was held on 14 February 1872. Councillor Francis Williamson, who was the last chairman of the Town Board, proposed Councillor William Hogg Watt as the first mayor, which was seconded by Councillor Nathan and carried unanimously. Other councillors who attended this first meeting were John Duthie, Jones and Bett. At the end of the first term, Watt was re-elected for another term. Watt resigned from the role on 12 September 1873.

Five days later, Councillor William Hutchison was elected the second Mayor of Wanganui. Hutchison resigned on 6 February 1874, as he had moved to Wellington to start another newspaper there. He remained his seat as a Councillor.

Several weeks and many attempted council meetings went by without a new mayor being elected, mostly because some councillors stayed away so that there was no quorum. Finally, on 10 April 1874, Robert Pharazyn was elected as the 3rd Mayor of Wanganui.

Edward Churton retired from his mayoralty on 15 December 1875. Churton died on 25 July 1885.

Watt succeeded Churton in 1875 and started the second period of his mayoralty.

James Laird was mayor from 1886 to 1888. He died on 3 September 1902.

Alfred John Parsons was mayor for two separate periods, first from 1888–1890 and then in 1891–1892. Parsons died on 15 July 1900.Henry Nathan was mayor between the two periods covered by Parsons.

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