Dick Hubbard


Richard John Hubbard , commonly known as Dick Hubbard, is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and principal of Hubbard Foods in Auckland, and Mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. 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.
Hubbard founded New Zealand Businesses for Social Responsibility and became Chairman of the New Zealand National Parks & Conservation Foundation. He has been a supporter of Outward Bound in New Zealand. 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.

Early life and family

Born in Paeroa on 18 December 1946, Hubbard is the son of Colin Hubbard and Margaret Hubbard. 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.
In 1970 Hubbard married Diana Reader, and the couple went on to have two children, including the transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard.

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.

Honours and awards

Hubbard was conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Massey University in 1999. 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.