John Howell (pioneer)
John Howell was a New Zealand whaler, trader, pastoralist and politician.
Howell was born in 1809. He established the settlement that is today known as Riverton. He was a member of the Southland Provincial Council from 1862 to 1864 for the Riverton electorate, and from 1864 to 1867 for the Aparima electorate.
Howell had a cottage built for him in Riverton in 1837/38. Howell's Cottage is thought to be the oldest building in Riverton and, as one of very few New Zealand buildings from before the 1840s, it is registered as a Category I heritage structure by Heritage New Zealand.
