The 1986 Dunedin mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1986, 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.
Mayor Cliff Skeggs was re-elected for a record fourth term. Skeggs split from the Citizens' ticket but was re-elected as an independent candidate. Councillor Bill Christie stood as the official Citizens' candidate, polling third, with Labour's Steve Alexander placing second.
Electoral reforms were implemented at the 1986 municipal elections, the method of electing councillors at large which had been used for decades was replaced with a ward system of local electoral districts.[1]