Frank Kitts

Sir Frank Kitts
27th Mayor of Wellington
In office 1956–1974
Preceded by	Robert Macalister
Succeeded by	Michael Fowler
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington Central
In office 1954–1960
Preceded by	Charles Henry Chapman
Succeeded by	Dan Riddiford
Personal details
Born	1 May 1912 Waimate, New Zealand
Died	16 March 1979 Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Iris May Woodcock
Signature

Sir Francis "Frank" Joseph Kitts (1 May 1912 – 16 March 1979) was a New Zealand politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Wellington, holding the post from 1956 to 1974. He was the Labour Member of Parliament for Wellington Central between 1954 and 1960.

Kitts was born in Waimate, the son of an Australian quarryman, and educated at Timaru Boys' High School. He joined the Timaru branch of the Labour Party at 13 or 16, and was branch president at 22. In 1938 Kitts stood unsuccessfully for the Timaru Borough Council as a Labour candidate. Later, he moved to Wellington, working for the Government Stores Board. Newspaper reports after his death say he was a "man of mystery" as little is known about his early life, and his Who’s Who in New Zealand entries in 1971 and 1978 both start with his election to Wellington local bodies in 1950. Kitts enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1940 during World War II.

Kitts stood unsuccessfully for Labour in two elections, in 1949 for Waitomo, and in 1951 for Mount Victoria. He was finally elected as the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central from 1954 to replace the retiring Charles Henry Chapman. He was to hold the seat to 1960, when he was defeated by the National candidate Dan Riddiford.

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