John Anderson (7 November 1820 – 30 April 1897) was the second Mayor of Christchurch in New Zealand 1868–1869, and a successful businessman.

[3][4] He had a close connection with three buildings (his office building, later known as the Guthrey Centre; St Andrew's Church, which is these days located at Rangi Ruru; St Paul's Church) that have later received Category I heritage registrations by Heritage New Zealand.

Before her marriage, his wife was employed by the Dalmahoy family, who later helped their desire of emigrating to New Zealand by advancing £300 for the move.

[5] Their third child John was born in 1850 and the family of three came out to New Zealand on one of the First Four Ships, Sir George Seymour, arriving in Lyttelton at 10 am on Tuesday, 17 December 1850.

Jean Harper Anderson was born in 1853 and married the Very Rev Dr John Elmslie in 1881.

Anderson was a neighbour with the surveyor Edward Jollie, who lived in the leftmost hut shown in the Drury painting.

The company expanded after Anderson's retirement and became a major player in the production of railway hardware, road and rail bridges.

Probably the most significant structure on the North Island Main Trunk Railway is the Makatote Viaduct 12 km south of National Park.

It took three years to build and Andrew Anderson moved his family to the construction village, so that he could oversee the work.

20 citizens put their names forward, and Anderson had the second highest number of votes, after John Hall, who later became a Premier of New Zealand.

[1] His time as mayor is best remembered for him hosting the visit to Christchurch by the young Prince Albert, Duke of Edinburgh.

Two candidates contested the seat, and Anderson was beaten by John Holmes, who had a majority of 113 votes.

[24] St Paul's was listed as a Category I heritage building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

[25] Although Canterbury was an Anglican settlement, the first three mayors were all Presbyterian Scotsmen—William Wilson in 1868, followed by John Anderson in 1869 and Andrew Duncan in 1870.

[9] St Andrew's Church was relocated from its original site to Rangi Ruru Girls' School in 1986.

[20] The church is listed as a Category I heritage building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust with registration number 304.