William Massey, New Zealand Prime Minister - Our Space 63

56 years later he would be elected Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is commemorated by a plaque at Irish Green Street; by his statue at Connell Street Council offices; by the Keenaught Suite in Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre; and by Massey Avenues in both Limavady and Belfast.

His parents John and Mary Anne left their small farm for New Zealand in 1862, leaving William with his grandmother to finish his education at Limavady National School and in Derry. In 1870, aged 14, he arrived in New Zealand and worked as a farmhand until in 1876 he leased a hundred acres at Mangere, South Auckland, which became his home.

In 1882 he married Christina Paul the daughter of a Scots immigrant and of their seven children two also later became MPs.

A farming leader, he was elected to parliament in 1894 as a conservative and stayed there for the remaining 31 years of his life. Until 1912 he was an opposition leader; but founded the Reform Party, New Zealand's second organised political party. In 1912 he became Prime Minister. He supported farmers and opposed landlordism; he championed railways and road-building but opposed organised labour; he advocated incorporating New Zealand into Australia. During WW1 he pledged New Zealand's support for the UK.

Massey led his Reform Party through four elections and died in office, New Zealand’s second-longest serving prime minister.