George Hunter

Sir George Hunter (1859 – 20 August 1930) was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. Born in Wellington, he took over his father's large landholding in the Hawke's Bay at age 18. He was a breeder of sheep and race horses, with his horse Cynisca winning the Wellington Cup three times in a row. Hunter was prominent in local politics, and represented the electorate in the House of Representatives for a total of 22 years.

Farming and horse racing Hunter was born in Wellington in 1859. He was a son of George Hunter, and a grandson of George Hunter, the first Mayor of Wellington. He worked on his father's farm in Te Aro, which is now part of the Wellington central business district. The central part of the land is now covered by Upper Dixon Street, Percival Street, and Macdonald Crescent. Hunter lived at Porangahau for most of his life. Smith had previously represented Waipawa from to 1887. In the , Hunter was defeated by Charles Hall of the Liberal Party.

In the , Hunter defeated Hall, but lost to him in the subsequent election, and again in the and s.

Hall retired at the , and Hunter beat Albert Jull of the Liberal Party. Hunter continued to serve in the parliament until his death in 1930, beating Jull in and , John Joshua Langridge in , William Ashton Chambers in , and Ernest Albert Goodger (Independent United) and Douglas Barrington Kent (United Party) in . Hunter's death on 20 August 1930 triggered the in the Waipawa electorate, which was won by Albert Jull.

Philanthropy After World War I, Hunter gave land valued at NZ£30,000 for the settlement of returned soldiers. In a small circle of family and close friends, he married Edith May Munro (née Ford). They had a daughter, Elizabeth Hunter, on 1 May 1923.

Hunter was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1921 New Year Honours, the citation reading:

Has rendered valuable assistance in connection with the settlement of returned soldiers.

He fell ill during the first session of the 23rd Parliament in 1929, and was in indifferent health thereafter. He returned to Wellington for the second session in 1930 and died in Wellington on 20 August 1930, survived by his wife and one daughter.