The Māori sold a block of land called Ahuriri in 1851, and in 1853 Donald McLean bought the site that later became Napier.

Alfred Domett, a future Prime Minister of New Zealand, was appointed as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the resident magistrate at the village of Ahuriri.

Superintendent John Davies Ormond worked towards Napier becoming self-governing, and it was designated as a borough in 1874.

He held it until April 1901; at that time, he had the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.

[6] He was succeeded by Henry Hill, who had made his name in the Hawke's Bay as a school inspector and educationalist.

John Barton and L. B. Campbell were farewelled by the mayor in May 1933, when their term ended and the municipal affairs once again rested with the borough council.

[1][8] The resulting mayoral election was contested by the incumbent and C O Morse, the chairman of the Earthquake Relief Committee.

[9] The election caused great interest, and Morse and Brown received 4110 and 1808 votes, respectively.