Helen Smith

Who was Helen Smith?

Helen Mary Smith was a Porirua, New Zealand city councillor from 1973 until 2001. First elected in a by-election in as a Values Party candidate, Smith stood as Values candidate for the Porirua electorate in the 1972, 1975 and 1978 elections, gaining the highest number of votes of any Values Party candidate in the country in 1978. Smith was also the runner-up in the 1977 mayoral election in Porirua.

From 1980 to 2001, when she was narrowly defeated, Smith was chairperson of the Community Development Committee, which saw her responsible for the library services in Porirua, widely considered to be excellent. She was also strong supporter for the Pataka Complex and an art gallery in Porirua.

Smith was an activist in Porirua over several community issues. She lived in Titahi Bay with her husband Dr Allan Smith and had four children and numerous grandchildren.