Rex Kirton
Rex Stratton Kirton QSO JP is a New Zealand local-body politician in the Wellington Region. He was mayor of Upper Hutt for 24 years until 2001, and then served three terms on the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Biography[edit]
Born June 1942, Rex Kirton attended St Joseph's School, Upper Hutt[1] and St. Patrick's College, Silverstream 1955–1959, where he was captain of the 1st XV rugby team and tennis champion[2]. He later attended Victoria and Otago universities, and worked in England as an accountant[1].
His father, Bill, had worked in banking, then moved to Upper Hutt where he ran a general store in the 1940s, later buying farmland in Whitemans Valley[1][3] where Rex, while Mayor, lived and farmed.
Rex Kirton served as Vice-President of Wellington Cricket and President of the Wellington Rugby Union[4],
Local government[edit]
Kirton was first elected mayor of Upper Hutt in 1977. When he retired from this role in 2001, he was the longest-serving mayor in New Zealand at that time.[5][6][7] In 2001, Kirton stood as the Upper Hutt representative on the Wellington Regional Council. He served three terms until 2010 when he was beaten by Paul Swain.[8] In 2007, he had been returned unopposed.[9] He was chairman of the regional council's parks, forests and utilities committee.[10]
In 1990, Kirton received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[11] In the 1997 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for public services.[12] Kirton Drive, the main street in the suburb of Riverstone Terraces, is named after him.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Rex Kirton". Upper Hutt City Library. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "St Patrick's Silverstream". www.stream.school.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Rex Kirton". Elections 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby; Wellington Rugby Union president Rex Kirton and Wellington development XV coach Wayne Guppy". Upper Hutt City Library. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "History of Our City : Mayors". Upper Hutt City Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Deputy mayor takes Wellington". TV One. 13 October 2001. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Rex Kirton Not Seeking Re-Election". scoop.co.nz. 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
Mayor Rex Kirton announced today that he will not be seeking re-election for a ninth term as Mayor of Upper Hutt. He is currently the longest-serving mayor in New Zealand. Mr Kirton was first elected to the Upper Hutt City Council as a Councillor in 1974, and then successfully stood for Mayor in 1977.
- ^ Williams, Colin (12 October 2010). "Swain wins Kirton's seat". Upper Hutt Leader. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Greater Wellington Regional Council - Upper Hutt Constituency". Elections 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Wind turbine ban for Battle Hill". The Dominion Post. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 218. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "New Year honours list 1997". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1996. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
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