1971 Dunedin mayoral election

{{Short description|New Zealand local election}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2018}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1971 Dunedin mayoral election

| country = New Zealand

| flag_image = Dunedin city coa.gif

| type = Presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1968 Dunedin mayoral election

| previous_year = 1968

| next_election = 1974 Dunedin mayoral election

| next_year = 1974

| election_date = 9 October 1971

| turnout = 23,157

| party_name = no

| image1 = 111px

| candidate1 = Jim Barnes

| party1 = Citizens'

| color1 = 6495ED

| popular_vote1 = 12,666

| percentage1 = 54.69

| image2 = 150x150px

| candidate2 = Russell Calvert

| party2 = Labour

| popular_vote2 = 7,543

| percentage2 = 32.57

| title = Mayor

| before_election = Jim Barnes

| before_party =

| after_election = Jim Barnes

| after_party =

}}

The 1971 Dunedin mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1971, elections were held for the Mayor of Dunedin plus other local government positions including twelve city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Jim Barnes, the incumbent Mayor was re-elected for a second term.{{DNZB|Eunson|Keith |5b8|Barnes, James George|27 September 2014}} He defeated former mayor Russell Calvert who had been re-elected to the council in a mid-term by-election. The state of parties remained unchanged on the city council with the Citizens' Association winning eight seats and the Labour Party four.