Hundreds of wellwishers send messages to Napier Mayor Bill Dalton

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton who was late yesterday still in critical condition in hospital after suffering a stroke. Photo / File

Hundreds of messages offering best wishes for the health of Napier Mayor Bill Dalton have been posted on the very social media he has turned his back on after targeted personal tirades in the near six years since he was elected to the top job in 2013.

Citing abuse which had hit himself and wife Shirley and occasionally included messages of a threatening nature, Dalton publicly removed his Facebook page on April 12 last year and announced he was quitting the medium, although staff would still monitor pages.

By mid-afternoon today, there were almost 160 messages on the Napier City Council Facebook page, along with about 370 other acknowledgements via emoji.

The council collated messages and have summarised on a card being sent to the Mayor's wife Shirley Dalton and family, with the community message: "Kia Kaha, Mayor Bill."

Messages on the page, the majority of which wish a speedy recovery, included those of members of his council and former councillors, who remain on Facebook, others in local body service and members of his family.

Some did veer into political inferences, but still with the messages of goodwill, such as that from "Kiri Anderson", who said: "We didn't always see eye to eye but am sad to see this, hoping for the best possible recovery Bill, could be a long road but your a determined strong man Bill , you can do this. Love and thoughts to you both xo."

Most were consistent with the message. Facebookers such as "Jackie Prichard", who wrote "Thoughts and prayers for the family. Healing vibes for mayor dalton", Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker, who wrote "Our love and support from Central Hawke's Bay to Bill, Shirley and family, Napier councillors and staff."

Dalton, 67, who had previously indicated he would be retiring from local body politics and not be seeking re-election at the Local Government Elections in October, took ill early on Tuesday night.

Suffering a stroke, he was on Thursday afternoon still in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings, the Hawke's Bay District Health Board reported.