Ross Dunlop

Last updated

Ross Dunlop (born 1954or1955) is a New Zealand local-body politician. He was mayor of the South Taranaki District from 2007 to 2019. [1] [2]

Dunlop lives near Ohawe. He is a farmer with interests in dairy, sheep, beef and forestry. He was first elected as a district councillor in 1986, and was elected mayor in 2007. [1] He was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2016. [3]

Dunlop is one of New Zealand's longest serving local body politicians. Having 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. [4]

During Dunlop's term of office there has been 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, Waverley. The Hawera CBD has been a major focus and a new Countdown supermarket and new laneways and a proposed new library/cultural centre are all helping invigorate the town centre.

Dunlop led the council treaty settlement negotiations with Taranaki iwi and Nga Ruahine iwi. Significant Council properties were returned to iwi. One of the most important and historic properties, Te Ngutu O Te Manu, was returned to Nga Ruahine iwi. Te Ngutu O Te Manu was the home of Nga Ruahine chief Titokowaru. He successfully repelled two attacks by colonial forces on the village in 1868. Major Gustavus Von Tempsky was killed in the attack.

A request by Iwi to fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag in the council chamber was supported by Dunlop.

A programme of cycleways and walkways is progressing with a pathway connecting Hawera to the coast at Waihi Beach completed.

Dunlop is very interested in preserving local history, preserving heritage buildings and protecting and planting trees.

In November 2018, Dunlop awarded a prize in the Hawera 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]

Related Research Articles

Taranaki Region of New Zealand

Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont.

Tītokowaru 19th-century Māori leader; opponent of British colonisation of New Zealand

Riwha Tītokowaru was a Māori leader in the Taranaki region of New Zealand.

Tītokowarus War 1868-69 conflict between the New Zealand colonial gov. and native Māori tribes in Taranaki

–

Hāwera Place in Taranaki, New Zealand

Hāwera is the second-largest centre in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of 10,150. 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.

Rangitikei District Territorial authority in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

The Rangitikei District is a territorial authority located primarily in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamatea, lies in the Hawke's Bay Region. It is located in the southwest of the island, and follows the catchment area of the Rangitīkei River.

South Taranaki District Territorial authority in Taranaki, New Zealand

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 29,100. It is part of the greater Taranaki Region.

Te Āti Awa Māori iwi (tribe) in Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Āti Awa 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 around 10,000 in Taranaki, 2,000 in Wellington and around 5,000 of unspecified regional location.

Ngā Rauru Māori iwi (tribe) in Aotearoa New Zealand

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 hapu.

Pākaraka Place in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Pākaraka, previously known as, Okehu, Maxwelltown, and most recently Maxwell, is a farming and lifestyle community 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Whanganui, on the North Island of New Zealand.

Ngāruahine Māori iwi (tribe) in Aotearoa New Zealand

Ngāruahine is a Māori iwi of New Zealand located in South Taranaki, North Island.

Mangatoki is a locality in southern Taranaki, in New Zealand's North Island. Eltham is to the east, Kaponga to the west and Matapu to the south. The Mangatoki Stream runs from Mount Taranaki through the area and into the Waingongoro River.

Shelly Bay Bay in Wellington City

Shelly Bay is a bay on the Miramar Peninsula of Wellington, New Zealand.

Howard Kevin Tamati, generally known as Howie Tamati, is a New Zealand politician and former professional rugby league footballer and coach who played for New Zealand. He is the cousin of fellow international Kevin Tamati.

Local government in New Zealand

New Zealand has a unitary system of government in which the authority of the central government defines sub-national entities. Local government in New Zealand has only the powers conferred upon it by the New Zealand Parliament. In general, local authorities are responsible for enabling democratic local decision-making and promoting the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of their communities, as well as more specific functions for which they have delegated authority.

Michael Rotohiko Jones was a New Zealand interpreter, land agent, sportsman, private secretary, public administrator and broadcaster. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi. He was born in Poro-o-Tarao, King Country, New Zealand, on 14 September 1895.

The Mayor of New Plymouth is the head of municipal government of New Plymouth District, New Zealand. The mayor is elected directly using the first-past-the-post electoral system. The current mayor is Neil Holdom.

2019 New Zealand local elections Local elections in New Zealand

The 2019 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, a "general election of members of every local authority or community board must be held on the second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001, meaning 12 October 2019.

The mayor of South Taranaki officiates over the South Taranaki District of New Zealand's North Island.

Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer is a New Zealand politician. She is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Māori Party, and is the leader and chief executive of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi. She stood for the Māori Party during the 2020 election in the seat of Te Tai Hauāuru. While she failed to win the electorate, she was placed first on the Māori Party list, where she won a list seat once the special votes were counted.

2022 New Zealand local elections Local elections in New Zealand

The 2022 New Zealand local elections will be triennial elections to be held in New Zealand on Saturday 8 October 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mayor remains invigorated by region's potential". Whanganui Chronicle. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Groenestein, Catherine (22 May 2019). "South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop announces he will not stand for re-election". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Taryn Utiger (9 October 2016). "Mayor Ross Dunlop happy with election results for South Taranaki District Council". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  4. ↑ Who's who in Australasia and the Far East. International Biographical Centre. 1989.
  5. ↑ Shaskey, Tara; Groenestein, Catherine (22 November 2018). "South Taranaki mayor was judge who awarded prize to blackface float". Stuff . Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "Mayor voted for blackface float: 'I stuffed up'". RNZ. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.