The United Independents were a

centrist Centrism is a political outlook or position involving acceptance or support of a balance of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy while opposing political changes that would result in a significant shift of society strongly to Left-w ...

oriented

local body Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

electoral

ticket Ticket or tickets may refer to: Slips of paper * Lottery ticket * Parking ticket, a ticket confirming that the parking fee was paid (and the time of the parking start) * Toll ticket, a slip of paper used to indicate where vehicles entered a tol ...

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. The group was formed in 1953 by combining a selection process for council candidates backed by several civic interest groups and lobby groups opposed to a proposed sewerage scheme. Its main ambition was to control the balance of power on the

Auckland City Council Auckland City Council was the local government authority for Auckland City, New Zealand, from 1871 to 1 November 2010, when it and Auckland's six other city and district councils were amalgamated to form the Auckland Council. It was an elected b ...

and stop the sewerage scheme.

History

The United Independents group traces its origins back to a group of grassroot locals voicing their opposition to a council proposal to discharge Auckland's sewage into

Waitemata Harbour Waitemata or Waitematā may refer to: * Waitematā Harbour, the primary harbour of Auckland, New Zealand * Waitematā (local board area), a local government area in Auckland, New Zealand ** Waitematā Local Board, a local board of Auckland Council, ...

, known as the 'Brown's Island' scheme. Lobbying tactics proved ineffective to stopping the scheme and so opponents turned to political action in order to dissuade local politicians. The most noted public opponent to Brown's Island,

Dove-Myer Robinson Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office. He was a colourful character and became affectionately known across New ...

, used his local renown from the issue and won an

by-election in 1952 and thereby gained membership to the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board and continued to criticize Brown's Island from within. In the lead up to the 1953 municipal elections he helped form the United Independents, candidates who were independent of each other on all issues except Brown's Island on which they were all united. The United Independents won five seats and held the balance of power between the long established Citizens & Ratepayers and Labour Party tickets. The United Independents also endorsed

John Luxford John Hector Luxford (28 May 1890 – 8 April 1971) was a New Zealand lawyer and Mayor of Auckland City from 1953 to 1956. Biography Born in Palmerston North, Luxford qualified as a solicitor in 1913 and then during the First World War joined t ...

's candidacy for Auckland's Mayoralty. Luxford defeated incumbent Mayor

John Allum Sir John Andrew Charles Allum (27 January 1889 – 16 September 1972) was a New Zealand businessman and engineer, and was Mayor of Auckland City from 1941 to 1953. Biography Early life and career Allum was born in London and educated at Goldsm ...

, who was a supporter of the Brown's Island scheme. By allowing the Citizens & Ratepayers to appoint their preferred candidates to committee chairmanships they desired, the United Independents were in turn able to seize control of the Drainage Board and halt Brown's Island development. The United Independents then proposed an alternative scheme for

oxidation ponds Sewage treatment (or domestic wastewater treatment, municipal wastewater treatment) is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding envir ...

to be built in

Manukau Harbour The Manukau Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in New Zealand by area. It is located to the southwest of the Auckland isthmus, and opens out into the Tasman Sea. Geography The harbour mouth is between the northern head ("Burne ...

near Mangere which would break down the sewage naturally, a new technique pioneered in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, which was approved.Robbie's Ponds
(from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Accessed 6 June 2008.) The 1956 municipal elections had less success for the United Independents. The group had fallen out with Luxford, who now stood for the Citizens & Ratepayers Association. The United Independents viewed Luxford as a traitor and gave their endorsement to Auckland's former Town Clerk

Thomas Ashby Thomas Ashby, (14 October 1874 – 15 May 1931) was a British archaeologist. Family He was the only child of Thomas Ashby (1851–1906), and his wife, Rose Emma, daughter of Apsley Smith. His father belonged to the well-known Quaker family ...

, who defeated Luxford. However the United Independents themselves fared less successfully, losing two seats on the council and their hold on the balance of power. Further setbacks occurred when Ashby died suddenly. The United Independents did not contest the ensuing Mayoral by-election which saw Citizens & Ratepayers candidate

Keith Buttle Keith Nicholson Buttle (23 November 1900 – 15 December 1973) was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He served as mayor of Auckland City from 1957 to 1959. Biography Born 23 November 1900 in Auckland, Buttle attended Auckland Grammar S ...

defeat Labour's John Stewart. By 1959 the United Independents had merged with the Labour ticket and jointly contested that years municipal elections under the new Civic Reform banner. Robinson successfully contested the Mayoralty as an Independent, with informal support from Civic Reform.

Electoral esults

Council seats

Notable members

Ken Cumberland Kenneth Brailey Cumberland (1 October 1913 – 17 April 2011) was a New Zealand geography academic and local-body politician. Academic career After a bachelor's in geography at Nottingham University College and a MSc at University College, Lon ...

* Eric Armishaw *

Val Chapman Valentine Jackson Chapman (14 February 1910 – 5 December 1980) was a New Zealand botanist, university professor, and conservationist. Biography He was born in Alcester, Warwickshire, England, on 14 February 1910. Chapman was an associa ...

Notes

References

*{{cite book , last = Edgar , first = John , title = Urban Legend: Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson , year = 2012 , publisher = Hodder Moa , location = Auckland Politics of the Auckland Region Political groupings in New Zealand Single-issue political parties Environmental organizations established in 1953 Environmental organisations based in New Zealand 1953 establishments in New Zealand 1959 disestablishments in New Zealand