Massey is a north-western suburb in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. It was formerly a northern suburb of Waitakere City, which existed from 1989 to 2010 before being replaced by the Auckland Council. The suburb was named after former Prime Minister of New Zealand William Massey. Massey is a relatively large suburb and can be divided into three reasonably distinctive areas, Massey West, Massey East (separated by the north-western motorway) and Massey North (situated to the north of Royal Road). Parts of Massey East are also known as ‘Royal Heights’, which is home to the Royal Heights shopping centre.
The population was 18,759 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,884 from 2001.[1]
Massey is home to one secondary school, Massey High School, as well as several primary schools, including Colwill Primary School, Lincoln Heights School, Royal Road Primary School, Massey Primary School and Don Buck Primary School. Massey is not home to Massey University, which is based in Palmerston North with its Auckland campus at Albany. The suburb features a Leisure Centre and Library as well as the Westgate shopping centre on Hobsonville Road next to the north-western motorway and is set to be extended significantly to the north in the near future.[2]
The local rugby club is a member of the North Harbour Rugby Union and won the championship in 2005. Former All Black Jonah Lomu signed to play for Massey in 2005, but due to an injury was unable to play for them that season. He did however eventually make his debut for the club in 2006.
In Parliament Massey is represented by Te Atatu Labour MP Phil Twyford and Te Atatu National list MP Tau Henare. It is the centre of the local body ward of the same name that elects multiple councillors. The ‘Massey Ward’ contains the suburbs of Whenuapai, Hobsonville, Herald Island, West Harbour, Massey, Ranui, and Henderson North. It has a population of 49,413 (2006 census).[3]
Massey is home to rugby players George Pisi and Tusi Pisi (North Harbour, Samoa and New Zealand 7?s) as well as the musicians Blindspott and 2kean.
