Jim Belich

Sir James Belich
30th Mayor of Wellington City
In office
1986–1992
Deputy Helene Ritchie (1986-88)
Terry McDavitt (1988-89)
David Watt (1989-92)
Preceded by Ian Lawrence
Succeeded by Fran Wilde
Personal details
Born (1927-07-25)25 July 1927
Awanui, New Zealand
Died 13 September 2015(2015-09-13) (aged 88)
Wellington, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Valerie Anzulovich (m. 1951)[1]
Relations James Belich (son)
Children 3
Alma mater Victoria University College

Sir James Belich (25 July 1927 – 13 September 2015) was a New Zealand local politician. He was the Mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992.

Early life

Belich was born in Awanui, Northland, to parents of Croat descent. He was head boy at Otahuhu College.[1] He received his tertiary education at the Auckland University College and Victoria University College, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955.[2] In 1951, Belich married Valerie Anzulovich, who was also of Croatian descent. They had three children, including the historian Professor James Belich.[1] He worked for the firm J. Inglis Wright Advertising from 1956 to 1986.

Political career

In 1986 Belich was elected Mayor of Wellington, despite having no previous experience as an elected official and was re-elected in 1989. He also served on the Wellington Regional Council and Wellington Harbour Board from 1986 to 1989. Belich retired in 1992.

Later life and death

In the 1991 New Year Honours Belich was appointed as a Knight Bachelor for services to local government and the community.[3] In 2008 he was made an honorary citizen of the town that his family came from, Korčula in Dalmatia, Croatia.[4] Belich died on 13 September 2015.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Forbes, Michael (15 September 2015). "Former Wellington mayor Sir James Belich dies at age 88". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "NZ university graduates 1871–1960: Ba–Be". shadowsoftime. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "New Year Honours 1991" (25 January 1991) 12 New Zealand Gazette 215.
  4. ↑ "Diary". The Dominion Post. 1 August 2008. p. 4.
Political offices
Preceded by
Ian Lawrence		 Mayor of Wellington
1986–1992 		Succeeded by
Fran Wilde
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