Joseph Bernard Francis Cotterill OBE (26 September 1905 – 8 July 1982) was a New Zealand trade unionist, sport administrator and politician of the Labour Party.

Cotterill was born in 1905 in Wanganui, both his parents were foundation members of the Labour Party, and entered an apprenticeship as a painter, working at the East Town Railway Workshops.

He was an active athlete and played competitive rugby, hockey, swimming and rowing as well as a surf lifesaver.

[4] In 1943 he faced a challenge from John A. Lee's Democratic Soldier Labour Party.

[9] After retiring from Parliament, Cotterill became President of the New Zealand Swimming Association (1957–59) and was a national selector from 1960 until 1962.

[1] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for public services, in the 1974 Queen's Birthday Honours.