Dick Hubbard
ONZM
39th Mayor of Auckland City
In office
2004–2007
Preceded byJohn Banks
Succeeded byJohn Banks
Personal details
Born
Richard John Hubbard

(1946-12-18) 18 December 1946
Paeroa, New Zealand
Spouse
Diana Reader
​
(m. 1970)​
Children2, including Laurel Hubbard
Signature

Richard John Hubbard ONZM (born 18 November 1946) is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and former principal of Hubbard Foods in Auckland, and mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. He was elected mayor of Auckland City on 9 October 2004, succeeding John Banks, who in turn succeeded Hubbard as mayor on 13 October 2007.[1]

Early life and family

Born in Paeroa on 18 December 1946, Hubbard is the son of Colin Hubbard and Margaret Hubbard (née Syme). He was educated at Paeroa College from 1960 to 1964, and then studied at Massey University from 1965 to 1969, graduating with a Bachelor of Technology (Food).[2]

In 1970 Hubbard married Diana Reader, and the couple went on to have two children,[2] including the transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard.[3]

Business interests

Hubbard is the founder of Hubbard Foods. His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for its participation in and promotion of socially responsible business perspectives. Hubbard also spent a few years managing the Food Processing Factory in Niue, processing mainly lime, passionfruit and papaya. He was the principal until he sold the business in 2018 to Harry and Graeme Hart.[4]

Hubbard founded New Zealand Businesses for Social Responsibility (BSR) (now the Sustainable Business Network) and became chairman of the New Zealand National Parks & Conservation Foundation. He has been a supporter of Outward Bound in New Zealand.

Mayoral term

Hubbard was elected as part of a broad swing to the centre-left in the 2004 Auckland City local government elections, predicated on concerns about the style of the previous mayor, and proposals to construct a major new multi-laned road through the city's relatively affluent eastern suburbs. Although formally independent, Hubbard's support on Auckland's council was derived from the centre-left leaning City Vision, Labour, and Action Hobson tickets.

Re-election bid, 2007

Hubbard was defeated by John Banks in the 2007 local body elections, by a margin of 10,000 votes. Hubbard won 35,314 of the votes compared to Bank's 45,387 votes in an election marked by low voter turn-out.[5]

Political positions

Hubbard endorsed the Labour Party prior to the 2017 general election, appearing in a series of promotional videos and donating $15,000 to the campaign. He stated that he regarded himself as a swing voter and had voted for both National and Labour previously, but was "very concerned about our slow progress on climate" under the incumbent government.[6] Hubbard donated $100,000 to the Labour Party in May 2023.[7]

Honours and awards

In 1984 Hubbard was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology.[8] Hubbard was conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Massey University in 1999.[9] In the 2001 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business and the community.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Orsman, Bernard (13 October 2007). "Banks ousts Hubbard". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  2. 1 2 Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). "New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001". New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. ISSN 1172-9813.
  3. ↑ Cleaver, Dylan (4 March 2017). "Transgender woman makes NZ weightlifting team". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Hutching, Chris (27 June 2018). "Billionaire family purchase some of NZ's best-known food brands". Stuff. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Declaration of result o-08-04". Archived from the original on 17 October 2008.
  6. ↑ "Businessman and former mayor Dick Hubbard endorses Labour over climate change". The New Zealand Herald. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Donations exceeding $20,000". Elections. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "NZIFST - List of Fellows". nzifst.org.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Honorary graduates". Massey University. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "New Year honours list 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
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