Richmond Borough, New Zealand

Following the provincial government period, when the wider area was administered by the Nelson Provincial Council, the town of Richmond was governed by Waimea County from 1877. Richmond became a town district on 13 February 1886. The incentive for this move was be able to afford a better water supply, for which ratepayers had to sanction a loan, and they thus had to belong to a separate local body. The town board circulated a petition early in 1891 for Richmond to become a borough, extending the boundaries beyond the land that the town board was responsible for. Richmond was constituted a borough in June 1891. By 1905, the borough had a population of 570 persons, including 138 ratepayers. The rateable value of the properties within its boundaries was NZ£96,547. Rates were set at three quarters of a penny, or of a pound. ==Elections==

George Talbot was the first mayoral elected on 8 July 1891. The borough existed for almost 100 years – until 1989. During that time, there were 19 mayors. Kerry Marshall was the last mayor of Richmond Borough (1986–1989) and the first mayor of the successor local authority, Tasman District (1989–1998). Six councillors were to be elected initially but on nomination day (15 July 1891), only six candidates came forward and no election had to be held. Some time later, the number of councillors was increased to nine, but a council resolution in March 1903 reverted this to the initial six councillors. ==See also==