Frank Kitts
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis "Frank" Joseph Kitts (1912–1979) was the longest-serving Mayor of Wellington
, New Zealand
, having held the post from 1956 to 1974. He was the Labour
Member of Parliament for Wellington Central
from 1954 to 1960, when he was defeated by the National
candidate Dan Riddiford
.
Kitts was on the Wellington City Council from 1950 to 1956, when he became Mayor. In 1950 the Labour Party had no obvious mayoral candidate, and Labour councillor Gerald O'Brien
suggested to Kitts, then a civil servant in the Government Stores Board, that he should stand. Kitts was the highest-polling councillor, although he did not win the mayoralty until 1956. Like Norman Kirk
, also from Waimate, he was a big man, using his imposing six foot two inch, 17 stone frame to overshadow his opponents.
He also served on the Wellington Harbour Board from 1950 to 1979, the Wellington Fire Board from 1954, and the Wellington Hospital Board from 1950 to 1956.
Kitts was known for his tireless public service
, which continued after his retirement, including helping Wellington's immigrant community. He was born in Waimate, South Canterbury. He was knighted in 1966, and when he died in 1979 he was still on the Wellington Harbour Board.
Frank Kitts Park on Wellington's waterfront is named after him. The park, on the site formerly used for a row of wharf sheds, was opened in 1976 and extended in the late 1980s. There is a children's playground, the orange foremast recovered from the Wahine
, and a water sculpture The Albatross by Tanya Ashken.
Mayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, having held the post from 1956 to 1974. He was the Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
Member of Parliament for Wellington Central
Wellington Central
rightWellington Central is a suburb of New Zealand's capital, Wellington, consisting of the flat, mostly reclaimed land, west of Lambton Harbour and the part of The Terrace immediately above it. It is bounded on the north by the suburb Pipitea and extends as far south as Civic Square...
from 1954 to 1960, when he was defeated by the National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
candidate Dan Riddiford
Dan Riddiford
Daniel Johnston Riddiford was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He was educated in the UK at Downside School, Somerset. In NZ he qualified as a solicitor, and was awarded the MC in World War II....
.
Kitts was on the Wellington City Council from 1950 to 1956, when he became Mayor. In 1950 the Labour Party had no obvious mayoral candidate, and Labour councillor Gerald O'Brien
Gerald O'Brien
John Gerald O’Brien was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He was born in Wellington and was in the RNZAF from 1943 to 1946....
suggested to Kitts, then a civil servant in the Government Stores Board, that he should stand. Kitts was the highest-polling councillor, although he did not win the mayoralty until 1956. Like Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
, also from Waimate, he was a big man, using his imposing six foot two inch, 17 stone frame to overshadow his opponents.
He also served on the Wellington Harbour Board from 1950 to 1979, the Wellington Fire Board from 1954, and the Wellington Hospital Board from 1950 to 1956.
Kitts was known for his tireless public service
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
, which continued after his retirement, including helping Wellington's immigrant community. He was born in Waimate, South Canterbury. He was knighted in 1966, and when he died in 1979 he was still on the Wellington Harbour Board.
Frank Kitts Park on Wellington's waterfront is named after him. The park, on the site formerly used for a row of wharf sheds, was opened in 1976 and extended in the late 1980s. There is a children's playground, the orange foremast recovered from the Wahine
Wahine disaster
The Wahine disaster occurred on 10 April 1968 when the TEV Wahine, a New Zealand inter-island ferry of the Union Company, foundered on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour and capsized near Steeple Rock...
, and a water sculpture The Albatross by Tanya Ashken.