Francis John Newhook OBE (16 November 1918 – 1 December 1999) was the head of the School of Plant Pathology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He was the first plant pathologist at the university, from 1966 (sponsored by New Zealand Forest Products) as an Associate Professor, and from 1969 a personal chair. Previously he was a scientist at the DSIR.
Newhook was born in Auckland on 16 November 1918. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and the University of Auckland. He married (1) Agnes Marjorie Anderson (three children) and (2) pianist Janetta McStay. In World War II he was a Major in the 2nd NZEF in the Middle East and Italy.
Newhook published extensively on fungal pathogens, especially Phytophthora, and wrote over 90 scientific papers and other publications.