“BIG BILL” - William Ferguson Massey
Prime Minster of New Zealand 1912-1925

William Ferguson Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, was one of its most influential leaders. He was a prominent figure in Imperial affairs, who remains controversial in his adopted country because of the adversarial style of politics, which he practised with vigour and enthusiasm. His political beliefs were firmly grounded in his Ulster upbringing, with his election slogan -”Every man his own landlord”- a throwback to the politics of landlordism in nineteenth century Ulster.

He was in many ways the political antitheses of the other great Ulster man who became Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1891-1893 - John Ballance, the Liberal and social reformer who was born in Glenavy, Co Antrim.

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