Jim Belich
Sir James Belich was a New Zealand local politician. He was the Mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992.Belich was born on 25 July 1927 in Awanui, Northland, to parents Jakov and Maria Belich of Croat descent. He was head boy at Otahuhu College. He received his tertiary education at the Auckland University College and Victoria University College, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955. In 1951, Belich married Valerie Anzulovich, who was also of Croatian descent. They had three children, including the historian Professor James Belich. He worked for the firm J. Inglis Wright Advertising from 1956 to 1986.Political career
Belich had been approached to stand for mayor in 1977 and 1980, but declined the offers for personal reasons. In 1986 Belich, supported by Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde, was chosen as Labour's candidate for mayor over regional councillor Ken Boyden and Wellington Clean Water Campaign convener John Blincoe. He was elected Mayor of Wellington, despite having no previous experience as an elected official and was re-elected in 1989. He also served on the Wellington Regional Council and Wellington Harbour Board from 1986 to 1989.
In 1990, Belich was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed as a Knight Bachelor, for services to local government and the community.. Belich retired in 1992.In 2008, Belich was made an honorary citizen of the town that his family came from, Korčula in Dalmatia, Croatia. He died in Wellington on 13 September 2015.
