William Hunt (businessman)

With his partner James Johnstone, he built one of Australasia's leading stock and station agencies, Wright Stephenson & Co. New Zealand-born of Gloucestershire wool-growing stock Hunt was the only son and eldest child of John Hunt, a farmer and early settler at Oruru, Northland, and his wife Maria Frances,[note 1] daughter of Jamaica-born Etonian Rev John Duffus M A, vicar of St Andrew, Mangonui.

His ability was recognised by Johnstone much earlier when he was employed by them for just two months at shearing time on Wright Stephenson-managed Blackstone Hill station in the Maniatoto.

When Blackstone Hill station was subdivided in 1891 23 year old Hunt organised the muster and auction of the tens of thousands of sheep on the property.

In 1896 the government resumed borrowing overseas making advances to settlers on freeholds and long term leaseholds at moderate interest rates and the farming outlook improved.

Gore was re-opened and another branch opened at Invercargill, Hunt being made responsible for all Southland province.

As the rabbit pest was brought under control their customers began to prosper once more and Wright Stephenson was incorporated as a public company in 1906.

The sale of new motor vehicles and their servicing was added as were the provision of all farm requirements including bulk groceries and home appliances.

It seemed that everything might be supplied until staunch lifetime prohibitionist Hunt felt obliged to draw the line at the last commodity they might sell.

[2] After the end of World War I a new stud department for all pedigree livestock soon extended to importing and exporting.