The mayor received a free blood pressure check, alongside several Dunedin City Council staff, as part of Stroke Week.
Stroke, a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, affects about 9000 New Zealanders annually.
High blood pressure is a warning sign for many health problems, but it is especially a harbinger of stroke - someone with high blood pressure is up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than a person with normal blood pressure.
Nationally, about 16,000 received check-ups last year, and one person in 11 was referred to their GP for a follow-up.
The DCC has held a clinic for staff for the past four years.
Stroke Foundation community adviser Judith Hyslop said a clinic was held at the council as it was one of the city's biggest employers.
Its mix of sedentary and physically active staff also represented a good cross-section of the community.
The clinic started at 9am and after 90 minutes - and the mayoral check-up - around 90 people had been checked.
''We have referred several people to their GPs for a follow-up check, which shows that high blood pressure can affect anyone and you should be regularly checked.''
The Big Blood Pressure Check - in which free checks are carried out at a range of locations, most notably supermarkets - takes place on Saturday from 10am-2pm.
