Roy McElroy

Who is Roy McElroy?

Dr Roy Granville McElroy was a lawyer, and was Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand from 1965 to 1968. He was a lawyer, trained at the University of Auckland, and the University of Cambridge, where he got a PhD in law in 1935, and was partner in the Auckland law firm of McElroy, Duncan and Preddle. He was in the Army in World War II serving as 613416 Captain McElroy, 14 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 2NZEF 1940-1944.

He was an Auckland City Councillor for 15 years from 1938 to 1953, when he was deselected by the Citizens and Ratepayers organisation. He was a National candidate for the Roskill electorate in 1943 and 1946.

But in 1965 he was chosen to run against the popular Dove-Myer Robinson. He won in 1965 by 1134 votes, but in the next election in 1968, Robbie defeated him by 6000 votes. As a councillor and mayor, he supported housing and urban renewal.

Served as the Honorary Consular Agent of France from 1948-1972 and was awarded the Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur by the French President in 1970. Later Dr McElroy CMG.