Dowse Drive

Dowse Drive in Maungaraki is named after Percy Dowse, who was the longest-serving Mayor of Lower Hutt, holding office from 1950 to 1970 ⁱ.

Dowse was a significant figure in the city’s mid-20th century development, overseeing major urban expansion, infrastructure improvements, and the growth of new suburbs including Maungaraki itself.

He championed civic projects such as the construction of the Lower Hutt War Memorial Library and Town Hall, and strongly supported state housing and roading developments across the region. Dowse Drive, constructed during the development of Maungaraki in the 1960s, commemorates his leadership and influence on the shaping of modern Lower Hutt.

1. Hutt City Libraries[↩]