Before the earthquake, the technical college suffered overcrowding due to increasing enrolments and a lack of space to erect new buildings.

[10][11] Four years later in 1915, after a £250 grant[12] and a £660 tender,[13] The Honourable Josiah Hanan opened the technical college's gymnasium which also served as a social hall.

[15] By 1923 the technical college had an enrolment of 250 students and taught classes including agriculture, engineering, home science and commercial.

[19] The Napier Borough Council later decided that it would donate land, adjoin properties and close a road, making the site for the technical college approximately five acres.

[22][23] After a delay,[24] the foundation stone was laid on 18 August 1930 by Minister of Education the Honourable Harry Atmore.

[6] On 3 February 1931, the magnitude 7.8 Hawke's Bay earthquake occurred, which destroyed the technical college, and killed nine students.

[31][3] After the earthquakes, several teachers were moved to other schools in the country,[32] and students were temporarily taught by the principal under a marquee in Nelson Park.

It has Napier Technical College's crest, uniform, and motto, which was Laborare est Orare, meaning "to work is to pray".

[28][3] MTG Hawke's Bay has a set of the school's uniform: a shirt, cap and pair of shorts.