of Wellington. Initially, the councillors elected one of their own as mayor towards the end of the year. The role was traditionally awarded to the longest serving councillor. The system changed upon the introduction of The Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act, 1875. It legislated that mayors must be elected at large by eligible voters. The inaugural mayoral election was held in 1874 resulting in William Sefton Moorhouse being the first mayor to be elected directly by voters. Since then the office of Mayor has been held by 37 people. Five people have been Mayor on two separate occasions, and the longest-serving Mayor was Sir Frank Kitts, from 1956 to 1974. Tory Whanau, elected in 2022, will be the first Māori person to serve as Mayor. List of mayors of Wellington Key List of deputy-mayors of Wellington Key Timeline Notes References Wellington: Biography of a City by Redmer Yska (2006, Reed Books, Auckland) Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics by G. M. Betts (1970, Reed, Wellington) The Birth of a City: Wellington 1840–1843 by A. H. Carman (1970, Wright & Carman, Wellington) No Mean City by Stuart Perry (1969 booklet, Wellington City Council) includes a paragraph and a portrait or photo of each mayor, including Hunter & Guyton. External links Mayors of Wellington (with photos, from Wellington City Archives) Wellington, New Zealand 1842 establishments in New Zealand