Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 26, 2026

Mayor of Gore

The mayor of Gore officiates over the Gore District Council. Prior to local government reorganisation in 1989, the mayor of Gore officiated over the Gore Borough.

Last revised
Jul 26, 2026
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≈ 3 min
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Mayor of Gore
Incumbent
Ben Bell
since 2022
StyleHis Worship
Term lengthThree years, renewable
Inaugural holderThomas Green
Formation1885
DeputyJoe Stringer1
Salary$112,0102
WebsiteOfficial website

The mayor of Gore officiates over the Gore District Council.3 Prior to local government reorganisation in 1989, the mayor of Gore officiated over the Gore Borough.

The current mayor is Ben Bell.4

List of office holders

Gore Borough

Name Portrait Term of office Notes
1 Thomas Green 1885–1886 5
2 John MacGibbon 1886–1887 5
3 Ian S. Simson 1887–1888 56
4 James Beattie 1888–1889 5
(3) Ian S. Simson 1889–1890 5
5 Alfred Dolamore 1890 57
(2) John MacGibbon 1890–1892 5
(3) Ian S. Simson 1892–1893 5
6 William Macara 1893–1894 5
7 Thomas Brewer 1894–1895 5
8 Dugald Poppelwell 1895–1896 5
(4) James Beattie 1896–1897 5
9 James Copland 1897–1898 5
10 Duncan McFarlane 1898–1899 58
11 John Ballantine 1899–1901 5
12 Archibald MacGibbon 1901–1902 59
(10) Duncan McFarlane 1902–1903 5
(4) James Beattie 1903–1904 5
(8) Dugald Poppelwell 1904–1906 5
(12) Archibald MacGibbon 1906–1910 5
(8) Dugald Poppelwell 1910–1913 5
13 David McDougall 1913–1914 5
(10) Duncan McFarlane 1914–1915 5
(13) David McDougall 1915–1919 5
14 Andrew Martin 1919–1921 5
(13) David McDougall 1921–1923 5
(8) Dugald Poppelwell 1923–1927 5
(13) David McDougall 1927–1929 5
(8) Dugald Poppelwell 1929–1931 5
15 Alexander Newman 1931–1956 5
16 Wilson C. Campbell 1956–1959 10
17 W. G. Mackay 1959– 11
Hans Charles Hankey
J. C. Barron ?–1965 12
J. C. McLeod 1965–? 12
Ivan Elder –1980 1314
Hallam Smith 1980–1986 15
Gabriel Farry 1986–1989 16

Gore District

Name Portrait Term of office
1 Ian Tulloch 1989–199517
2 Mary Ogg 1995–200118
3 Owen O'Connor 2001–200419
4 Tracy Hicks 2004–202220
5 Ben Bell 2022–present4
References

References

  1. Kelly, Rachael (30 October 2025). "Gore's new council sworn in". The Press. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  2. Edmunds, Susan (13 June 2024). "How much your local council gets paid". RNZ. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  3. "Your Council". goredc.govt.nz. Gore District Council.
  4. "Gore elects youngest mayor in NZ history". Otago Daily Times. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022.
  5. "Eastern Southland: municipality of Gore". Otago Daily Times. No. 22616. 6 July 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. "OBITUARY". New Zealand Times. Papers Past. 7 March 1924.
  7. "AN EX-MAYOR". Mataura Ensign. Papers Past. 22 November 1910.
  8. "OBITUARY". The Press. Papers Past. 4 October 1917.
  9. "OBITUARY". Otago Daily Times. Papers Past. 25 October 1935.
  10. "Mayoral polls". The Press. Vol. 94, no. 28129. 19 November 1956. p. 13. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  11. "SURVEY OF LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS IN N.Z." The Press. Papers Past. 19 November 1959.
  12. "Two metropolitan mayors defeated". The Press. Vol. 104, no. 30878. 11 October 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  13. "Flood-relief fund expected to reach $1M with subsidy". The Press. Papers Past. 26 October 1978.
  14. Gerken, Sonia (23 March 2009). "Gore woman 'wears out' at 98". The Southland Times. Stuff.
  15. "Gore library legacy to Hallam Lloyd Smith". Southland Times. 13 January 1998. p. 3.
  16. "Fallow, M., Gore community leader, businessman, Gabriel Farry dies," Southland Times, 7 March 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  17. "Ian 'Inky' Tulloch transferred to Christchurch hospital after Invercargill race crash". Stuff. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  18. Esler, Lloyd (18 May 2012). "Poole broke down the door". Southland Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  19. "Mayoral election results 2004 affecting the Mayors Taskforce For Jobs". Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  20. "Longstanding Gore mayor ousted by 23yo with 8-vote lead". Radio New Zealand. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.