Massey, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massey
Suburb
The roundabout Don Buck Road / Triangle Road in Massey North.
Massey Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Local authority	Auckland
Electoral ward	Waitākere ward
Local board	Henderson-Massey
Area
• Land	1,065 ha (2,632 acre)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	20,870
Postcode(s)	0614

	Massey, New Zealand

Massey is a suburb located in West Auckland, New Zealand. It's in the northern part of this area. From 1989 to 2010, Massey was part of Waitakere City. This city later joined with others to form the Auckland Council.

The suburb got its name from William Massey, who was a former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Massey is quite a large area. It can be thought of as three main parts: Massey West, Massey East, and Massey North. The north-western motorway separates Massey East from other parts.

A section of Massey East is also known as 'Royal Heights'. This area is home to the Royal Heights shopping centre. In Massey, you can find the Massey YMCA Leisure Centre and a public library. The Westgate Shopping Centre and NorthWest Shopping Centre are just north of Massey.

History of Massey

This section explores the past of Massey, from its early Māori connections to how it grew over time.

Early Māori History and Pukewhakataratara

The land where Massey is located belongs to the traditional area, or rohe, of Te Kawerau ā Maki. This is a local Māori tribe. A special mountain in the area is called Pukewhakataratara. European settlers later called it Redhill.

The name Pukewhakataratara means "hill that poses a challenge or obstacle." It was one of the important hills in the Waitākere Ranges area. These hills are named after Maki, an important ancestor of Te Kawerau ā Maki. In ancient times, this bush-covered hill was a natural barrier. It made it hard for people to travel from the Waitematā Harbour to the Waitākere Ranges. The area was part of old walking paths. These paths connected settlements around the Upper Waitematā Harbour and the Waitākere River Valley to other parts of West Auckland.

European Settlement and Renaming

The land was bought by the Crown for European settlers in August 1853. This was part of a larger area called the Mangatoetoe Block. The first known settlers were the Nicolas family. They received land from the government in 1882.

The area was first named Lawsonville. It was also the site of the Birdwood Estate. From the 1890s to the early 1910s, the south-west Massey area was famous for a camp. This camp belonged to Don Buck, a Portuguese immigrant. He hired former prisoners for the gum digging trade. Gum digging was a way to collect kauri gum, which was used for varnish. Around 1915, the area was renamed Massey. This was done to honour Prime Minister William Massey.

Growth in the 1960s

Massey started to grow more in the 1960s. This growth happened after the Poultrymen's Association opened a branch there in June 1960.

Massey's Population and People

Massey covers about 10.65 square kilometers. As of June 2023, , it had an estimated population of 20870 people.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Massey was 19,851 in the 2023 New Zealand census. This was an increase of 2,028 people since the 2018 census. It was also an increase of 3,720 people since the 2013 census.

Diversity in Massey

People in Massey come from many different backgrounds. The census showed that 40.9% of people identified as European (Pākehā). Also, 19.1% identified as Māori, and 23.7% as Pasifika. About 32.6% identified as Asian.

Most people in Massey speak English (90.8%). Other languages are also spoken, including Māori (4.1%) and Samoan (5.6%).

Education and Work

Many people in Massey have continued their education after high school. About 19.0% of people aged 15 or older have a bachelor's degree or higher. Another 46.2% have a certificate or diploma from after high school.

Most adults in Massey are employed. About 56.4% work full-time, and 10.5% work part-time.

Education in Massey

Massey has one secondary school, Massey High School. The principal there is Glen Denham, who used to be the captain of the Tall Blacks basketball team.

There are also several primary schools in Massey. These include Lincoln Heights School, Royal Road Primary School, Massey Primary School, and Don Buck Primary School. Massey Primary School was the first school in the area. It opened in 1925. It's important to know that Massey University is not in Massey. Its main campus is in Palmerston North, and its Auckland campus is in Albany.

How Massey is Governed

This section explains how Massey is managed by local and national governments.

National Government Representation

In New Zealand's national Parliament, Massey is part of the Upper Harbour electorate. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Harbour is Paula Bennett. She is from the National Party and won the election in 2014 and 2017. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the country's parliament.

Local Government Representation

For local decisions, Massey is part of the Waitākere ward. It also falls under the Henderson-Massey Local Board area. This board is part of the Auckland City Council. Local boards help make decisions about local services and facilities.

The Henderson-Massey local board area covers many suburbs. These include West Harbour, Massey, Ranui, Te Atatū Peninsula, Te Atatū South, Lincoln, Henderson, Western Heights, Glendene, and Sunnyvale. In 2013, this whole area had a population of 107,685 people.

Sports in Massey

Massey has a local rugby club called the Massey Rugby Club. This club is part of the North Harbour Rugby Union. They have won the championship six times: in 1993, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Famous former All Black rugby player Jonah Lomu signed to play for Massey in 2005. He couldn't play that season because of an injury. However, he did play his first game for the club in 2006.

Notable People from Massey

Massey is home to some well-known people. Rugby players George Pisi and Tusi Pisi are from Massey. They have played for North Harbour, Samoa, and the New Zealand 7's team. The musicians from the band Blindspott also come from Massey.

Parks in Massey

Massey has many parks and reserves for people to enjoy.