| Order: | Mayor of Invercargill |
| Term Start1: | 1898 |
| Term End1: | 1899 |
| Predecessor1: | Hugh Mair |
| Successor1: | James Smith Goldie |
| Term Start2: | 1917 |
| Term End2: | 1921 |
| Predecessor2: | Duncan McFarlane |
| Successor2: | John Lilicrap |
| Birth Date: | 21 April 1854 |
| Birth Place: | Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
John Stead (21 April 1854 26 August 1922) was a Scottish-born New Zealand politician. He was a losing candidate in the 1894 Invercargill mayoral election and 1896 Invercargill mayoral election. He was deputy mayor of Invercargill from 1915 to 1916 and mayor of Invercargill twice (1898–1899 and 1917–1921). He was the father of All Blacks rugby player Billy Stead.