Sir James Belich, born on July 25, 1927 and died September 13, 2015, he was a New Zealand local politician.

Sir James was the Mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992.

He was born in Awanui, Northland, to parents of Croat descent, and educated at the Auckland University College and Victoria University College, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955.

He served on the Wellington Regional Council and Wellington Harbour Board from 1986 to 1989.

Sir James was with J. Inglis Wright Advertising from 1956 to 1986.

He was the father of historian Professor James Belich.

In the New Year Honours 1991 Belich was appointed as a Knight Bachelor for services to local government and the community.

In 2008 Sir James was made an honorary citizen of the town of Korčula in Dalmatia, Croatia, that his family came from.

Sir James Belich died at age 88 on September 13, 2015.