John Kneebone

John Thomas Kneebone (4 September 1935 – 28 June 2020) was a New Zealand local politician and farming leader. He was a member of the Matamata County Council from 1959 to 1967, and was president of Federated Farmers between 1974 and 1977.

Early life and family Born in Matamata on 4 September 1935, Kneebone was educated at Hinuera School and Matamata College. On 11 December 1965, he married Kay Alexander, and the couple went on to have three children. and served in that position until 1977. and served for 17 years. He was the inaugural chair of the Lake Taupō Protection Trust, established to administer an $80 million fund to protect the water quality of Lake Taupō.

Kneebone was the inspiration behind the National Agricultural Fieldays, established in 1969, after visiting the United Kingdom on a Nuffield Scholarship in 1966. He also served as a member of the Land Settlement Board and the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council.

Death Kneebone died in Cambridge on 28 June 2020.