When Porirua officially became a borough in 1962, the community needed a leader to guide it through an era of rapid growth and change. That leader was Whitford James Richard Brown CBE — a humble civil engineer who became the city’s very first mayor, and who would go on to serve for an extraordinary 21 years.
Born in Greymouth in 1910, Brown worked for the New Zealand Railways Department before moving to Porirua East in the 1950s. Like many families at the time, he and his wife Frances settled in one of the new state houses being built to accommodate Wellington’s expanding population. He quickly became active in civic life, first standing for Makara County Council in 1959 before being elected mayor in Porirua’s first borough election just three years later.
As mayor, Brown’s vision was clear: Porirua should be more than a dormitory town — it should be a thriving, self-sufficient city. He worked tirelessly to secure industrial land, helping attract major employers like Todd Motors, and oversaw the development of a modern shopping centre where once there had been empty paddocks. “It was like being the midwife at the birth of a new community,” he later reflected.
Brown was also deeply committed to Porirua’s multicultural identity. With warmth and humour, he referred to himself as “the only white mayor called Brown in New Zealand” — a nod to his pride in leading a city where people of all cultures were building a future together.
Although his long career was not without challenges, including personal setbacks, Brown remained dedicated to public service. He championed initiatives like the Whitford Brown Community Workshop in Titahi Bay, which continues to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to gain skills and confidence.
After retiring in 1983, Brown left behind a city transformed, no longer a collection of housing blocks on the edge of Wellington, but a proud, growing urban centre in its own right. He passed away in 1986, and his ashes rest at Whenua Tapu Cemetery. His name lives on in Whitford Brown Avenue, a daily reminder of the man who helped shape Porirua’s identity.
For Ninness Funeral Homes, honouring stories like Whitford Brown’s is part of celebrating the legacy of those who came before us, people whose contributions continue to shape the community we live in today.