Helene Ritchie
Helene Ruth Paula Ritchie (née Hess; born 16 March 1945) is a former local body politician, registered psychologist and mediator, and a board member from Wellington, New Zealand. As Wellington's longest serving City Councillor of over 30 years, she led the Labour team to a majority position on the council. Later, she was the first female deputy mayor and chaired the Wellington Airport Authority and its successor for eight years.
Helene Ritchie | |
|---|---|
| 18th Deputy Mayor of Wellington | |
| In office 11 October 1986 – 13 April 1988 | |
| Mayor | Jim Belich |
| Preceded by | Gavin Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Terry McDavitt |
| Wellington City Councillor | |
| In office 8 October 1977 – 14 October 1989 | |
| In office 10 October 1998 – 8 October 2016 | |
| Wellington Regional Councillor | |
| In office 11 October 1980 – 8 October 1983 | |
| In office 14 October 1989 – 10 October 1992 | |
| Capital and Coast District Health Board | |
| In office 13 October 2001 – 8 October 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Helene Ruth Paula Hess 16 March 1945 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Peter Deans Ritchie (m. 1966) |
| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University Palmerston North |
| Profession | Psychologist, mediator |
Ritchie led the declaration of Wellington as a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, chaired Wellington's Civic Centre project from its concept plan to Council decision, and chaired a six-year project that led up to the Wellington Town Belt Act 2016 expanding it by 130 hectares.
Ritchie represented the city council on boards of its subsidiaries, including museums and an airport. She was elected twice to the Wellington Regional Council, and to the local district health board for 15 years.