Jim Belich

Sir James Belich (25 July 1927 – 13 September 2015) was a New Zealand local politician. He was the Mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992.

Sir James Belich
Belich in 2012
30th Mayor of Wellington
In office
1986–1992
DeputyHelene Ritchie (1986-88)
Terry McDavitt (1988-89)
David Watt (1989-92)
Preceded byIan Lawrence
Succeeded byFran Wilde
Personal details
Born(1927-07-25)25 July 1927
Awanui, New Zealand
Died13 September 2015(2015-09-13) (aged 88)
Wellington, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)
Valerie Anzulovich
​
(m. 1951)​
[1]
RelationsJames Belich (son)
Camilla Belich (granddaughter)[2]
Children3
Alma materVictoria University College

Early life and family

Belich was born on 25 July 1927 in Awanui, Northland, to parents Jakov and Maria Belich of Croat descent.[1][3] He was head boy at Otahuhu College.[1] He received his tertiary education at the Auckland University College and Victoria University College, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955.[4] In 1951, Belich married Valerie Anzulovich, who was also of Croatian descent. They had three children, including the historian Professor James Belich.[1] His granddaughter, Camilla Belich, was elected to the New Zealand Parliament on the Labour list in the 2020 election.[5] He worked for the firm J. Inglis Wright Advertising from 1956 to 1986.

Political career

Belich had been approached to stand for mayor in 1977 and 1980, but declined the offers for personal reasons.[6] In 1986 Belich, supported by Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde, was chosen as Labour's candidate for mayor over regional councillor Ken Boyden and Wellington Clean Water Campaign convener John Blincoe. He was elected Mayor of Wellington, despite having no previous experience as an elected official and was re-elected in 1989. He also served on the Wellington Regional Council and Wellington Harbour Board from 1986 to 1989.

In 1990, Belich was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[3] In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed as a Knight Bachelor, for services to local government and the community.[7] Belich retired in 1992.

Later life and death

In 2008, Belich was made an honorary citizen of the town that his family came from, Korčula in Dalmatia, Croatia.[8] He died in Wellington on 13 September 2015.[1]

References
  1. Forbes, Michael (15 September 2015). "Former Wellington mayor Sir James Belich dies at age 88". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  2. Wade, Amelia (24 May 2020). "Labour Party's latest candidate to contest key Epsom seat". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 63. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  4. "NZ university graduates 1871–1960: Ba–Be". shadowsoftime. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  5. Belich, Camilla. "Maiden Statement". New Zealand Parliament. Hansard. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  6. Hogan, Anne (11 February 1986). "Jim Belich tipped for Labour's mayoral bid". The Evening Post.
  7. "No. 52383". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1990. p. 29.
  8. "Diary". The Dominion Post. 1 August 2008. p. 4.
Political offices
Preceded by
Ian Lawrence		 Mayor of Wellington
1986–1992		 Succeeded by
Fran Wilde
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