Richard Hills (politician)

Richard Hills (born 1985/1986^[1]) is an Auckland Councillor who was elected at the 2016 Auckland elections. He is Auckland's youngest current councillor, the first openly gay Auckland Councillor and one of two Ngāpuhi iwi members.^[1][2]

Political career

Hills is a member of the New Zealand Labour Party and at the 2011 general election, he stood in Hunua and was ranked 50th on the party list.^[3] Hills finished second in Hunua, which is regarded as a safe National seat, behind incumbent Paul Hutchison.

At the 2013 Auckland elections, Hills was elected to the Kaipatiki Local Board and became its chairperson.

Hills stood in Northcote at the 2014 general election, finishing second behind incumbent Jonathan Coleman.^[4][5] He was ranked 47th on the Labour party list.^[6]

Auckland Council

At the 2016 Auckland elections, Hills stood for the Auckland Council, aiming to replace George Wood as a councillor for the North Shore ward. With 12,651 votes, he finished second after incumbent Chris Darby in the two-person ward and was elected. His majority over the third placed candidate, Grant Gillon, was only 128.^[1] Hills had campaigned alongside Darby during the campaign.^[7]

Hills was also re-elected to the Kaipātiki Local Board but was automatically excluded following his election as a councillor.^[7] Hills ranked first with 12,127 votes.^[8]

References