William Joseph Napier

William Joseph Napier
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Auckland
In office 1899–1902
Preceded by	James Job Holland
Succeeded by	Frederick Baume
Personal details
Born	1857 Ireland
Died	28 November 1925 Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal

William Joseph Napier (1857 – 28 November 1925) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Auckland, New Zealand (1899–1902).

Napier was born in Ireland and arrived in New Zealand when he was five years old. He was educated at St Peter's School, Auckland Grammar School and St John's College, Auckland.

Napier was a lawyer. He was called to the bar in New Zealand in 1883, and in Fiji in 1886. In 1889 he became adviser to Mata'afa Iosefo, a ruler in Samoa. He was counsel to Sir George Grey until his death, and to Te Kooti and Rewi Maniapoto. He also acted for Malietoa Tanumafili I, another traditional ruler of Samoa, as well as the Government of Tonga.

Napier contested the 1890 election in the City of Auckland electorate. Of seven candidates, he came fifth. Napier was elected to the City of Auckland multi-member electorate in 1899, but was defeated in 1902. In 1901 he was chairman of the statutes revision committee. Napier was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board (1893–1907) and for a time chairman; a founder and president of the Navy League (1893–1907) and the Victoria League in New Zealand and captain for nine years of the Devonport coastguard artillery.

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