Ross Dallow

Ross Philip Dallow (4 December 1937 – 20 July 2020) was a senior member of the New Zealand Police who had an important influence on improved race relations in Auckland. He was also an Auckland local government politician.

Early life and family Dallow spent his childhood in Auckland and was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland. He was the younger brother of Graeme Dallow and the father of Simon and Matthew Dallow. He was the grandson of Ernie Asher (Te Keepa Pouwhiuwhiu), a rugby union and rugby league football player of the early 1900s.

In 1956, Dallow won the New Zealand under-19 men's discus throw title, representing Auckland, with a throw of .

Police career Dallow was a significant personality in the management of race relations in the Auckland Police District in the 1970s. As inspector, he was originally in charge of the task force that Graeme Dallow had set up as a temporary expedient to deal with street disorder among the large Māori and Pacific communities that had migrated to South Auckland.

After he became a superintendent, Dallow, in the face of the reluctance of many of his colleagues, spent much of his time addressing opinion-formers and cultivating a positive relationship with the media in relation to race relations and other police issues in Auckland. Dallow was District Commander in West Auckland and the length of his police career was 36 years.

In 1979, Dallow was one of the police team who served at the mortuary at Auckland University School of Medicine, where bodies recovered in the aftermath of the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on Mount Erebus were taken when they were returned to New Zealand. He was subsequently awarded the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus). In 2010 he was elected as an inaugural member of the Henderson-Massey Local Board. During the election campaign, Dallow was criticised for his use of police colours on his election placards and his comments on the "browning" of New Zealand at a West Auckland citizenship ceremony.

Athletics coaching and administration Dallow was involved in athletics as a coach for over 30 years, enjoying considerable success.

Honours Dallow was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours. In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.

Death Dallow died on 20 July 2020, aged 82.