Hamish McDouall

Hamish McDouall is a New Zealand local government politician and current mayor of Whanganui. He is a member of the New Zealand Labour Party.[1]

His Worship the Mayor

Hamish McDouall
28th Mayor of Whanganui
Assumed office
October 2016
Preceded byAnnette Main
Deputy Mayor of Whanganui
In office
2013–2016
Personal details
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)Elinor
RelationsJacinda Ardern (distant cousin)
Children2

Biography

Early life and career

McDouall was born in Wanganui to Shirley (née Sanson) and Gerald McDouall[2] and attended Wanganui Collegiate School. He studied law and arts at the University of Otago. McDouall was a winner on the gameshow Sale of the Century and was the champion of TVNZ's Mastermind programme in 1990, collectively winning nearly $100,000 worth in prizes.[3] His winning specialist subject was The Life & Works of David Bowie.[4] He played both soccer, cricket and represented Whanganui in roller hockey.[5]

He then lived abroad in England, Sweden and Russia before returning to Wanganui in 2001. He then took up work as a barrister and solicitor and worked in corporate, family, and community law. He is the author of four published books.[5]

Political career

McDouall joined the Labour Party in 2007 and was Labour's candidate for the Whanganui electorate in 2008, 2011 and 2014, but lost to incumbent Chester Borrows.

At the 2010 local body elections he was elected a member of the Whanganui District Council. After serving one term as deputy mayor to Annette Main, McDouall succeeded the Whanganui mayoralty in the 2016 local government elections. After winning the 2016 election with 39.18% of the popular vote and 2,900 more votes than that of his nearest rival,[6] McDouall was returned to the mayoralty in 2019 unopposed.[7]

Personal life

He has a wife, Elinor, and two children.[5] He is a second cousin of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.[8]

References
  1. MacDonald, Anne-Marie (22 September 2014). "McDouall rues 'side issues'". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  2. Wylie, Liz (18 June 2018). "Whanganui Mayor, family farewell loved dad". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  3. Barrett, Emily (15 October 1990). "'Mastermind' gives second quiz title". The Dominion. p. 17.
  4. Croot, James (12 January 2016). "NZ Mastermind Hamish McDouall shares his David Bowie moment". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  5. "McDouall, Hamish". Whanganui Online. 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. "Election 2016 Results". whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  7. Stowell, Laurel (19 August 2019). "Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall elected unopposed". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. Manhire, Toby (19 September 2017). "'My final, final plea': a day in Whanganui with Jacinda Ardern". The Spinoff. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Annette Main		 Mayor of Whanganui
2016–present		 Incumbent
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