Neville Pickering
Neville George Pickering MBE JP (18 November 1923 – 25 June 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.
Neville Pickering | |
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![]() Pickering in 1964 | |
41st Mayor of Christchurch | |
In office 12 October 1971 – 12 October 1974 | |
Deputy | Robert Macfarlane |
Preceded by | Ron Guthrey |
Succeeded by | Hamish Hay |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for St Albans | |
In office 30 November 1957 – 31 October 1960 | |
Preceded by | Jack Watts |
Succeeded by | Bert Walker |
Personal details | |
Born | 18 November 1923 Hāwera, New Zealand |
Died | 25 June 1988 64) Wellington, New Zealand | (aged
Resting place | Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch |
Nationality | New Zealand |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Alexia Pickering |
Children | 4 |
Biography
Early life
Pickering was born in Hāwera in 1923.[1] He was educated at Hamilton Technical College where he was also keen sportsman. In his youth he represented both Hamilton and Bay of Plenty at cricket.[2] He married Alexia Pickering, who would become a notable disability advocate. They adopted three children before she had another child of her own.[3]
Political career
New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1957–1960 | 32nd | St Albans | Labour |
In 1948 he began his first posting in the Labour Party as their Southland party organiser, leading to him standing in the 1949 and 1951 elections, in the Awarua electorate, but lost against the incumbent, George Richard Herron of the National Party. From 1950 to 1952 Pickering was the business manager of the Grey River Argus, a Labour newspaper in Greymouth before leaving for Wellington to become an assistant research officer at Labour's head office. In 1953 he took up position as Labour's South Island organiser.[2]
In the 1954 election, he lost against Alfred James Davey in the Waimate electorate. He settled in the electorate nonetheless to work for the Prudential life insurance company in Timaru.[2]
After initially refusing nomination, Pickering stood in the 1957 election in the St Albans electorate (Labour's initial candidate Desmond J. Scott withdrew). This time he was successful and became one of six new Labour MPs.[4] He was defeated in the 1960 election by Bert Walker.[5]
Following his defeat, Pickering gained employment as manager of the Atlas Rubber Company. He was later a contender for the Labour nomination at the 1962 Buller by-election.[6] Pickering also declared his intention to seek the Labour nomination at the 1962 Timaru by-election after Clyde Carr announced his resignation. As a former resident his intentions were welcomed and received endorsement from trade union leader Fintan Patrick Walsh.[7] Several weeks later he withdrew his name from the race at the insistence of the chairman of the St Albans electorate who wanted to retain him in Christchurch, convinced Pickering could win the seat back in 1963.[8]
In October 1962, Pickering was elected a member of the Christchurch City Council.[9] He served for nine years as a councillor before he was elected Mayor of Christchurch in 1971. Upon his election as mayor he resigned his job at Atlas Rubber to be Mayor full-time which he saw the role of as bringing the people closer to the council. As one of his first acts as mayor he reinstituted the wearing of full mayoral robes and regalia, which many saw as a contradiction to his status as a Labour mayor.[2]
His time as mayor was marked by stormy debates among councillors and disagreements with officials where Pickering's style of leadership drew contrary descriptions; some describing him as a vigorous and decisive leader with keen political acumen, others saw him as arrogant.[2] Pickering's time as mayor was not helped by the fact he was leading a largely inexperienced council. Aside from himself only two Labour council members (Durham Dowell and Robert Macfarlane) had any previous local-body experience. This became especially difficult when it came to appointing committee chairmanships which were allocated largely according to party strength and thusly several more experienced Citizens' candidates were passed over.[10] In 1972, Pickering boycotted an Anzac Day wreath-laying at Cathedral Square, protesting against the Returned Services' Association's restrictions on who could lay wreaths.[11]
The dominant issue during Pickering's time as mayor was Christchurch's hosting of the 1974 British Commonwealth Games. He fulfilled an election pledge to leave Hagley Park untouched and build a purpose built facility for the games athletic events, which resulted in the construction of Queen Elizabeth II Park. Pickering insisted on the construction of a permanent facility for the city to have after the games' completion. This caused some concern by the games organising committee, who worried that the facilities might not be built to meet the deadlines and/or quality standards, though they were both met comfortably. In recognition to his contribution to the games, Pickering was given the honorary title of "President of the Tenth Commonwealth Games".[2]
In 1974 he was defeated for the mayoralty by Hamish Hay.[12] Having lost the mayoralty, his wife insisted on moving back to Wellington.[3] There, in early 1975, he was appointed by the Third Labour Government to a post with the Local Government Commission. The posting was short-lived however as the incoming Third National Government were to abolish the commission after winning power later that year. Following the commission's end he opened a cycle shop in Wellington.[2]
In 1977 he sought the Labour nomination for the Christchurch electorate of Papanui, but was beaten by former Eden MP Mike Moore.[13] In the 1978 election, he stood in the Wellington Central electorate but lost against Ken Comber.[14] Two years later he stood for the Wellington City Council and narrowly missed out on election.[15]
Awards and commemoration
In the 1985 New Year Honours, Pickering was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to local government.[19] Pickering Courts, a council housing project in St Albans designed for the elderly containing 25 units built in 1978 was named in his honour.[1] At his death both his successor as mayor Sir Hamish Hay and the chairman of the organising committee for the 1974 games Sir Ron Scott described Queen Elizabeth II Park as a memorial to Pickering and his vision.[2]
References
- Harper, Margaret (May 2015). "Christchurch Place Names" (PDF). Christchurch: Christchurch City Libraries. p. 93. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- "Obituary - Mr Neville George Pickering". The Press. 27 June 1988. p. 9.
- "A Life Most Ordinary". Rise. Ministry of Social Development (3): 6–8. July 2008. ISSN 1178-4717.
- Freer, Warren (2004). A lifetime in politics. Victoria University Press. p. 113. ISBN 0864734786.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 227. OCLC 154283103.
- "By-election in Buller - Possible Labour Nominees". The Press. 7 May 1962. p. 12.
- "By-election in Timaru - Mr N. G. Pickering Seeks Nomination". The Press. 3 May 1962. p. 7.
- "By-election in Timaru - Mr Pickering Not Standing". The Press. 26 May 1962. p. 14.
- "Councillors of the City of Christchurch". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- "New council has urgent work". The Press. CXI (32, 734). 11 October 1971. p. 1.
- "Fists fly as youths try to lay wreaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 April 1972. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "Former Christchurch mayor dies". The New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- "Labour's Papanui Choice". The Press. 19 November 1977. p. 1.
- Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. ?. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
- Smyth, A.J. (24 October 1980). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
- "Result Detail". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- Manson, Bess (21 March 2015). "Alexa Pickering - A formidable advocate for New Zealanders with disabilities". Stuff. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- "Alexia Pickering death notice". The Dominion Post. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 2.
New Zealand Parliament | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Jack Watts |
Member of Parliament for St Albans 1957–1960 |
Succeeded by Bert Walker |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Ron Guthrey |
Mayor of Christchurch 1971–1974 |
Succeeded by Hamish Hay |