Richard Hills (politician)

Richard Hills (born 1986[1]) is an Auckland Councillor who was elected at the 2016 Auckland elections. He is Auckland's youngest current councillor, the first openly gay Auckland Councillor and one of two Ngāpuhi iwi members.[1][2] He has been an advocate for more investment in local youth and secured a youth centre in Glenfield.[3]

Richard Hills
North Shore Ward Councillor
Assumed office
1 November 2016
Serving with Chris Darby
Preceded byGeorge Wood
Personal details
Political partyLabour

Political career

Hills is a member of the New Zealand Labour Party. At the 2011 general election he stood in Hunua and was ranked 50th on the party list.[4] Hills finished second in Hunua, which is regarded as a safe National seat, behind incumbent Paul Hutchison.

At the 2013 Auckland elections, Hills was elected to the Kaipatiki Local Board.

Hills stood in Northcote at the 2014 general election, finishing second behind incumbent Jonathan Coleman.[5][6] He was ranked 47th on the Labour party list.[7]

In April 2018 Hills put his name forward for the Labour nomination in the Northcote by-election following Coleman's resignation. Hills failed to win the nomination and instead Shanan Halbert was selected to contest the Northcote seat for Labour.[8]

Auckland Council
Auckland Council
Years Ward Affiliation
2016–2019 North Shore A Positive Voice for the Shore
2019–present North Shore A Positive Voice for the Shore

At the 2016 Auckland elections, Hills stood for the Auckland Council, aiming to replace George Wood as a councillor for the North Shore ward. With 12,651 votes, he finished second after incumbent Chris Darby in the two-person ward and was elected. His majority over the third placed candidate, Grant Gillon, was only 128.[1] Hills had campaigned alongside Darby during the campaign.[9] Hills has been a champion for more affordable public transport in Auckland.[10]

Hills was also re-elected to the Kaipātiki Local Board but was automatically excluded following his election as a councillor.[9] He ranked first with 13,026 votes.[11]

At the 2019 local body elections, Hills was re-elected as one of the two North Shore Ward councillors, to serve for the 2019–2022 term.[12]

References
  1. "Richard Hills elected as final Auckland councillor". The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2016.
  2. Bartlett, Hannah (14 October 2016). "Richard Hills confirmed as first openly gay Auckland Councillor". NewstalkZB.
  3. Moger, Laine (25 July 2016). "Construction begins for long-awaited youth centre on Auckland's North Shore". Stuff.
  4. Trevett, Claire (10 April 2011). "Labour betting on fresh blood". New Zealand Herald.
  5. "Labour tightens grip over major cities as divided Right fails to deliver". 10 October 2016.
  6. Stanford, Jacqui (20 September 2014). "Coleman claims Northcote". NewstalkZB.
  7. "Labour releases candidate list for 2014 Election".
  8. "Labour announces potential Northcote byelection candidates". The New Zealand Herald. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. Moger, Laine (14 October 2016). "Chris Darby and Richard Hills take their seats as new North Shore ward councillors". Stuff.
  10. Niall, Todd (13 May 2019). "Free public transport trips for Auckland under-15s get nod from Auckland Mayor Phil Goff". Stuff.
  11. "The new Kaipatiki Local Board" (PDF).
  12. "Local board members" (PDF). Auckland Council. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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