Neville George Pickering MBE JP (18 November 1923 – 25 June 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

[7][8] Pickering also declared his intention to seek the Labour nomination at the 1962 Timaru by-election after Clyde Carr announced his resignation.

As a former resident his intentions were welcomed and received endorsement from trade union leader Fintan Patrick Walsh.

[9] Several weeks later he withdrew his name from the race at the insistence of the chairman of the St Albans electorate who wanted to retain him in Christchurch, convinced Pickering could win the seat back in 1963.

[2] His time as mayor was marked by stormy debates among councillors and disagreements with officials where Pickering's style of leadership drew contrary descriptions; some describing him as a vigorous and decisive leader with keen political acumen, others saw him as arrogant.

This became especially difficult when it came to appointing committee chairmanships which were allocated largely according to party strength and thusly several more experienced Citizens' candidates were passed over.

[14] In 1972, Pickering boycotted an Anzac Day wreath-laying at Cathedral Square, protesting against the Returned Services' Association's restrictions on who could lay wreaths.

This caused some concern by the games organising committee, who worried that the facilities might not be built to meet the deadlines and/or quality standards, though they were both met comfortably.

The first was the Lyttelton seat, but lost to Ann Hercus, soon after in the Papanui electorate, but was again beaten this time by former Eden MP Mike Moore.

[3][27][28] In the 1985 New Year Honours, Pickering was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to local government.

[29] Pickering Courts, a council housing project in St Albans designed for the elderly containing 25 units built in 1978 was named in his honour.