Neville George Pickering (18 November 1923 – 25 June 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life Pickering was born in Hāwera in 1923. 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. He married Alexia Pickering, who would become a notable disability advocate. They adopted three children before she had another child of her own. He was also vice-president of the South Canterbury Rugby Referees' Association. Political career In 1948 he began his first posting in the Labour Party as their Southland party organiser, leading to him standing in the and s, in the 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 in 1953 to become an assistant research officer at Labour's head office. In 1956 he took up position as Labour's South Island organiser. In the , he lost against Alfred Davey in the electorate. He settled in the electorate nonetheless to work for the Prudential life insurance company in Timaru. After initially refusing nomination, Pickering stood in the 1957 election in the St Albans electorate (Labour's initial candidate Desmond J. Scott withdrew for health reasons). This time he was successful and became one of six new Labour MPs. He was defeated in the 1960 election by Bert Walker. 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, though lost the nomination race to Bill Rowling. 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. 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. He later reconsidered after receiving "overwhelming representations" from various union and party members urging him to seek nomination. He was ultimately not selected for the nomination. In October 1962, Pickering was elected a member of the Christchurch City