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Ross James Craufurd Dunlop MNZM (born 1954or1955) is a New Zealand local-body politician. He was mayor of the South Taranaki District from 2007 to 2019. [1] [2] In December 2024, Dunlop was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government.
A farmer with interests in dairy, sheep, beef and forestry, Dunlop served 33 years in local government. He was first elected to the Hawera District Council in 1986. The South Taranaki District was formed in 1989 and Dunlop was elected as a councillor to the new council. He was chairman of the Hawera Community Board and then went onto chair the Environment and Hearing Committee. He chaired a number of hearing applications including the consent for the Kupe oil and gas production station. He served with Mayor Mary Bourke and when she stood down in 2007 he stood for the mayoralty. He won against seven candidates. [3] [1] He was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2016. [4]
During Dunlop's term of office, a new multi sport stadium—the Hub—opened. New water treatment facilities for Hāwera, Ōpunake, Patea, and Waimate West and upgraded water treatment for Eltham and Waverley were commissioned. The Hāwera town centre was a major focus, with a new supermarket and new laneways, and a proposed new library/cultural centre.
Dunlop led the council treaty settlement negotiations with Taranaki iwi and Ngāruahine. Significant council properties were returned to iwi. One of the most important and historic properties, Te Ngutu o Te Manu, was returned to Ngāruahine. Te Ngutu o Te Manu was the home of Ngāruahine chief Tītokowaru, who repelled two attacks by colonial forces on the village in 1868. Major Gustavus von Tempsky was killed in the attack.
In November 2018, Dunlop awarded a prize in the Hāwera Christmas parade to the Hawera women's Lions Club float, with a black and white theme. Their blackened faces caused some community offence. [5] Dunlop said that he "wasn't paying much attention" and he apologised. [6]
In the 2025 New Year Honours, Dunlop was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government. [7]
Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont.
Riwha Tītokowaru was a Taranaki Māori rangatira, military commander, general and religious leader. He is considered to be one of the most capable and influential military strategists in New Zealand history. He waged a war against invading settlers and Crown forces which became known as Tītokowaru's War. His reputation has stayed largely the same for 150 years; James Belich has described him as "perhaps the greatest war leader either of New Zealand’s peoples has ever produced".
Tītokowaru's War was a military conflict that took place in the South Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island from June 1868 to March 1869 between the Ngāti Ruanui and Ngāruahine Māori tribes and the New Zealand Government. The conflict, near the conclusion of the New Zealand wars, was a revival of hostilities of the Second Taranaki War as Riwha Tītokowaru, chief of Ngaruahine, responded to the continued surveying and settlement of confiscated land with well-planned and effective attacks on settlers and government troops in an effort to block the occupation of Māori land.
Hāwera is the second-largest centre in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of 10,550. It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight. The origins of the town lie in a government military base that was established in 1866, and the town of Hāwera grew up around a blockhouse in the early 1870s.
South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera, Manaia, Ōpunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 km2 and a population of 30,400. It is part of the greater Taranaki Region.
Manaia is a rural town in South Taranaki District, New Zealand. Ōpunake is 29 km to the northwest, and Hāwera is 13 km to the southeast. Kaponga is 15 km north. State Highway 45 passes through the town. Manaia is named after the former Māori chief of the district, Hukunui Manaia.
Ngāti Ruanui is a Māori iwi traditionally based in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the 2006 census, 7,035 people claimed affiliation to the iwi. However, most members now live outside the traditional areas of the iwi.
Te Āti Awa or Te Ātiawa is a Māori iwi with traditional bases in the Taranaki and Wellington regions of New Zealand. Approximately 17,000 people registered their affiliation to Te Āti Awa in 2001, with about 10,000 in Taranaki, 2,000 in Wellington and 5,000 of unspecified regional location.
Ngā Rauru is a Māori iwi in the South Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the 2006 census, 4,047 Māori claimed affiliation to Ngā Rauru, representing 12 hapū.
Ngāruahine is a Māori iwi of New Zealand located in South Taranaki, North Island.
Taranaki (Tuturu) is a Māori iwi of New Zealand.
Hāwera High School was a secondary school in the New Zealand town of Hāwera, which operated from 1901 until 2022.
Shelly Bay is a bay on the Miramar Peninsula of Wellington, New Zealand.
Gayle Broughton is a New Zealand rugby league player, beginning her NRLW career at the Parramatta Eels in June 2022, where she played one season prior to joining the Brisbane Broncos in 2023. She formerly played rugby union sevens for the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team. She made her international debut for New Zealand in 2014 and called time on her rugby career in March 2022. She had scored 315 points in 112 World Series matches. and has won every trophy on offer in the sevens game. Her accomplishments include six World Rugby Sevens series titles, Olympic Games gold and silver medals, Commonwealth Games gold and winning the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Hauāuru Māori are a group of Māori iwi at or around the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It includes the iwi (tribe) of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and its affiliated iwi of Ngāti Hau. It also includes the iwi of Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Āti Awa, Taranaki, Ngāti Maru, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Apa and Ngāti Hauiti.
The mayor of South Taranaki officiates over the South Taranaki District Council.
Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer is a New Zealand politician, iwi leader and activist. She is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori alongside Rawiri Waititi, and is the chief executive of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi.
Frederick John Graham is a New Zealand artist and educator recognised as a pioneer in the contemporary Māori art movement. In 2018, was the recipient of an Icon Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, limited to 20 living art-makers. In December 2024, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori art.
Cassandra Crowley is a New Zealand public servant. She is a board member of Waka Kotahi, and was on the Taranaki District Health Board until it was merged into Te Whatu Ora, which she continued being a board member of.
Lisa Tumahai is a New Zealand iwi leader and was the first female kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu. She stepped down as chair in 2023 after serving six years. In 2023 Tumahai was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori development. She is the deputy chair of the Climate Change Commission, and serves on the council of the University of Canterbury.