Massey Memorial

The Massey Memorial is a historic monument located in Wellington, New Zealand.

It is situated at Point Halswell and commemorates William Ferguson Massey, who served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925. The memorial is accessible at all times, and visitors can reach it by taking a short walk from the bottom of Shelly Bay Road. The location of the memorial can be found on a map available on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website.

The Massey Memorial was built shortly after Massey's death in 1925, and the Massey Burial Ground Act was passed, allocating land at Point Halswell to be set aside as a burial ground for him and his widow. Public subscriptions raised funds totaling £5,000, and the government contributed £10,000. Auckland architects Gummer and Ford and consulting architect Samuel Hurst Seager were engaged to design a fitting tomb and memorial. The exterior of the Massey Memorial is made of pale Takaka marble, resting on a base of dark grey Coromandel granite. The memorial was unveiled in September 1930. The fort was converted to a crypt, and a gun-pit lined with marble was used as a vault. The memorial is in the care of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and is governed under the terms of the Massey Burial Ground Act.

Visitors to the Massey Memorial can enjoy a lovely uphill walk to the memorial, which offers stunning views of the city and its surroundings. The memorial is very clean and tidy, and the walk up to it is generally considered an easy route, taking an average of 27 minutes to complete. The location is accessible by car, and there is a car park below the memorial. The Massey Memorial is a Category I Historic Place, registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1984. The monument has also been featured in popular culture, such as the movie Tongan Ninja, which features the Massey Memorial as the place of the final fight between Tongan Ninja and...

In summary, the Massey Memorial is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in New Zealand's history and culture. The monument is a fitting tribute to one of the country's most prominent leaders, and the stunning views from the memorial make it a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.