Centenary of Limavady-born Prime Minister of New Zealand William Massey marked at Stormont

Transcript

00:00100 years ago today, on the 12th of May 1925, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Sir James Craig,

00:09rose in this very house to pay tribute to the late Prime Minister of New Zealand, William Ferguson Massey.

00:16Craig described Massey as the greatest living Ulsterman of his day, a reflection of the deep pride Ulster took

00:22in one of its most distinguished sons.

00:26William F. Massey was born in Namavaddy in 1856, and Ulsterman by birth, he emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 14,

00:36where he became a farmer, earning the affectionate moniker Farmer Bill.

00:42However, Massey's impact extended far beyond the fields.

00:45Through sheer determination, skill, and unwavering sense of duty, he rose to become one of New Zealand's most significant political leaders.

00:54The New Zealand parliamentary debates recall Massey as an organised articulate and well-read statesman,

01:01sometimes to the point of verbosity and deeply influenced by biblical references.

01:07He took an opposition that had all but ceased to exist, and through force of personality and astute leadership,

01:15transformed it into a well-organised political force.

01:19Massey went on to serve as Prime Minister from 1912 until his death in 1925,

01:26making him New Zealand's longest-serving leader.

01:29His obituary in the Times declared that all through his career, through a New Zealander of New Zealanders,

01:35he would never allow it to be forgotten that he was an Ulsterman.

01:38His legacy, therefore, is not just one of political transformation,

01:42but also of a deep connection to his roots in Ulster.

01:47Today, Lamavaddy proudly honours Massey with an impressive two-metre bronze statue outside the council building in Connell Street.

01:52The statue is surrounded by plants of New Zealand origin, symbolising the enduring bond between his birthplace and his adopted homeland.

02:01Moreover, here at Stormont, the avenue leading up to this very Parliament building bears its name,

02:07a lasting tribute to his legacy.

02:09In May 1925, New Zealand freelance newspaper published a moving tribute to Massey,

02:15which includes the following lines,

02:17As we mark the centenary, let us remember William Ferguson Massey.

02:46Not only a great leader of New Zealand,

02:49but also as a son of Ulster,

02:50who carried the values of this land across the sea.

02:53His legacy continues to inspire,

02:55reminding us of the profound contributions that individuals from this small but proud part of the world can make on this global stage.