Michael Fowler
| Sir Michael Fowler | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 28th Mayor of Wellington | |
|
In office 1974–1983 |
|
| Deputy | Ian Lawrence |
| Preceded by | Frank Kitts |
| Succeeded by | Ian Lawrence |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 December 1929 Marton, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Hamilton Hall |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
| Profession | Architect |
Sir Edward Michael Coulson Fowler (born 19 December 1929) is a New Zealand architect and author who served as Mayor of Wellington from 1974 to 1983.
Fowler was born in 1929 in Marton, the son of William Coulson Fowler and Faith Agnes Netherclift. He was educated at Manchester Street School in Feilding and Christ's College in Christchurch, and completed a Master of Architecture at The University of Auckland.
In 1953 he married Barbara Hamilton Hall (died 2009).
Fowler started his career in 1954 at the London office of Ove Arup and Partner. In 1957 he returned to New Zealand where he worked in his own practice: Calder, Fowler, Styles and Turner in Wellington. In the early 1960s, Fowler designed Wellington's Overseas Passenger Terminal, which was to have served international passenger ships, but never saw its intended use due to the rising popularity of air travel. In an interview many years later, he said that he "was party to the design of the biggest white elephant that Wellington ever built."
He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
Fowler was first elected to the Wellington City Council in 1968. Four years later he stood for the parliamentary seat of Hutt in the 1972 general election for the National Party where he came runner up to Labour's Trevor Young.
Fowler was elected Mayor of Wellington in 1974, in a very tight race with long serving incumbent Frank Kitts, a post that he held until he retired in 1983. His 1977 re-election campaign was against local transgender entertainer Carmen Rupe, who ran with the support of local businessman Bob Jones, with the slogans "Get in behind" and "Carmen for Mayor" and a platform of gay marriage and legalised brothels (although neither of these are local-government matters in New Zealand).
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