Quick Facts
Biography
Sir James Belich (25 July 1927 – 13 September 2015) was a New Zealand local politician. He was the Mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992.
Early life
Belich was born in Awanui, Northland, to parents 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
In 1986 Belich 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. Belich retired in 1992.
Later life and death
In the 1991 New Year Honours Belich was appointed as a Knight Bachelor for services to local government and the community. In 2008 he was made an honorary citizen of the town that his family came from, Korčula in Dalmatia, Croatia. Belich died on 13 September 2015.