Overview
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Te Kura Pūkenga Tangata offers teaching and research in a wide range of disciplines, including:
- anthropology
- geography
- te reo Māori
- creative writing
- history
- linguistics
- media studies
- philosophy
- psychology
- teacher education
- urban planning.
We foster deep connections across Massey and beyond to forge innovative, relevant and valued ideas, research and teaching.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Massey
We are deeply committed to being a Tiriti-led university, demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through our practices. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.
Te Whare o Te Tiriti o Waitangi — Home of the Treaty at Massey
Why SHAPE matters
Contribute to people's lives and tackle major challenges of our times by studying Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE).
Develop in-demand skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and connecting complex ideas.
How we fit
Our college is home to five schools:
Institute of Education
Teacher education, specialist programmes for other education careers, and research focused on equality in education.
School of Humanities, Media & Creative Communication
Explore cultures, society, theories and ideas – and the arts – with a rich variety of specialisations.
Te Pūtahi-a-Toi
Te Pūtahi-a-Toi produces graduates and research inspired by te ao Māori (the Māori world).
School of People, Environment & Planning
New Zealand’s largest multi-disciplinary university social science unit – Massey's School of People, Environment and Planning.
School of Psychology
Meet the real world head on. We examine today's challenges and contribute to people's wellbeing and resilience.
Who we are
Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Professor Cynthia White
Cynthia White is a world-renowned expert in applied linguistics and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of New England. Notable roles include:
- chair of Marsden Fund Council's Humanities panel
- member of International Committee of International Applied Linguistics Association
- New Zealand Officer on Australasian Council of the Deans of Arts and Social Science's board).
Professor Bill Fish
Associate Professor Alison Kearney
Alison Kearney is a registered teacher with a PhD in Education. At Massey, Alison has taught in the Initial Teacher Education, Masters and Doctoral programmes and more recently, the Specialist Teaching Programme. Her research and teaching interests focus on educational equity, learning and motivation.
Professor Kerry Taylor
Kerry Taylor works in New Zealand history, focusing on the history of dissent and protest politics. He has published widely on the history of communism in New Zealand, and on visual and material culture. Notable roles include:
- Board of Australasian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres
- Trustee of the Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust.
Professor Hēmi Whaanga
Hēmi Whaanga specialises in mātauranga, indigenous methodologies, linguistics and te reo Māori, ethics and technology. His background includes research, leadership and teaching, and he has contributed at disciplinary, institutional, national and international levels.
Professor Bethan Greener
Beth focuses on how states and others seek to provide security and what this means for world order. Her research interests also include the relationship between liberalism and the use of force, how states seek to use their agencies for security provision, international policing through the UN, South Pacific security, gender and security, and the relationship between public and private security.
Professor Mandy Morgan
Mandy Morgan focuses on theoretical debates about relationships between feminisms, poststructural theories and psychologies. She also studies how domestic violence service providers and clients understand their experiences.
Research
Our research develops new knowledge to benefit communities in New Zealand and globally, and contributes to generating future knowledge. Our researchers and research students work collaboratively across disciplines, and with experts around New Zealand and the world.
Our researchers win grants and other funding from prestigious sources such as the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau.
Massey researchers awarded Te Pūtea Rangahau funding
Consultancy
We often carry out research for partners outside Massey or collaborate with partners on certain topics or as part of long-term relationships. Our consultancy draws on expertise from within the College and around the university, offering fresh thinking.
Research teams
Examples of how our people create and share new knowledge.
Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities (DMIC)
DMIC is an international model for maths education founded in equity. The Hunters bring their Cook Islands heritage and professional expertise to this collaborative and culturally responsive teaching method.
Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa – Matāuranga Māori Disaster Risk Reduction Centre
Our Māori researchers and community research partners contribute to a resilient Aotearoa New Zealand. Our work seeks culturally informed solutions to the effects of climate change and natural disasters. We use indigenous innovation to minimise the impacts on communities and the wider environment.
Psycurity – the psychology of security Dr Veronica Hopner
Massey's Psycurity Cluster examines contemporary issues such as freedom, privacy and security, and how these impact individuals, groups and communities. It's a partnership between:
- Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies
- School of Psychology.
Centre for Indigenous Psychologies
The centre is an inclusive physical and intellectual space. Through our teaching and research, indigenous psychologies are embraced, experienced, understood and developed — in ways to benefit all communities.
Health and Ageing Research Team (HART)
HART is an interdisciplinary group of researchers examining the health and wellbeing of older adults in New Zealand. Research projects include:
- health, work and retirement
- opportunities and challenges for older workers.
Research centres
Our research centres seek innovative solutions to contemporary issues.
Joint Centre for Disaster Research
JCDR is an international centre for research and teaching in disaster risk and emergency management. We develop community disaster resilience by providing state-of-the-art graduate teaching and research programmes to both New Zealand and people worldwide.
Joint Research Centre in Applied Linguistics
Professor Cynthia White
The Centre contributes new knowledge via online language learning innovations such as pairing students with native Mandarin speakers via video. It's a partnership between Massey University and Beijing Language and Culture University.
Highlighted research
More examples of how our people create and share new knowledge.
Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa – Matāuranga Māori Disaster Risk Reduction Centre
Our Māori researchers and community research partners contribute to a resilient Aotearoa New Zealand. Our work seeks culturally informed solutions to the effects of climate change and natural disasters. We use indigenous innovation to minimise the impacts on communities and the wider environment.
Political Ecology Research Centre (PERC)
PERC is dedicated to connecting groups and individuals whose work emphasises and critiques the relationships between society, environment and politics. PERC members study, teach, research and/or practise political ecology.
He Tātai Whenua: A Te Ao Māori landscape classification
Modern environmental mapping systems can provide almost everything there is to know about the environment, except what Māori know about it. This project brings together mātauranga and the latest geographic information systems to improve environmental reporting, decision-making and monitoring.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) research
Several Massey research centres and networks focus on sustainability, and on the UN's SDGs. Our researchers recognise sustainability is important in all human activity and branches of knowledge.
SDGs include gender equality, peace and justice, sustainable cities and more.
Austin Assessment to detect brain-based visual difficulties
Austin Assessment is a screening tool to identify children with vision impairments caused by damage or injury to the brain, not the eyes. An estimated 3.4% of children in mainstream classrooms are affected. Assessment involves a simple activity to match playing cards.
Digital Culture Laboratory (DigiLab)
DigiLab's research aims to help us:
- better understand our digital environment
- develop responses and resources to improve social and cultural outcomes.
Clinics
Massey clinics offer services for the public, as well as research or training for staff, students and professionals.
Our psychology clinics
Massey's three on-campus clinics provide psychology services to the public, as well as professional development for psychologists, interns and students.
Location: Auckland, Manawatū and Wellington campuses
Speech-language Therapy Clinic
A teaching clinic offering therapy for children and adults who experience communication and eating difficulties. Supervised by specialist staff, students provide assessment and intervention support at the clinic and in the community.
Location: Auckland campus
Scholarships and financial support
Massey offers students a range of awards, grants and scholarships to:
- help with fees and living expenses
- support academic and research excellence.
Donate to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
We welcome your support in raising money to enable excellence in scholarship, teaching and research in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Contact the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Student enquiries: please contact the Massey Contact Centre
Enquiries
Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Office Karen O'Hagan
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor's Office Trish Hutton
Directors’ Offices
Academic Programmes Linda Lowe
Teaching and Learning Linda Lowe or Trish Hutton
International Manager Djhoanna Lambert
Regional Directors’ Offices
Auckland Jeannine Boutin Flegel
Wellington Megan Burnett
College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Auckland campus
- Location
Physical address
Level 2
Atrium Building
AucklandPostal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 102 904
North Shore MSC
AucklandUse our Auckland campus maps or find us on Google Maps.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Manawatū campus
- Location
Physical address
Level 3 Sir Geoffrey Peren Building
Manawatū campus
Palmerston NorthPostal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North 4442Use our Manawatū campus maps or find us on Google Maps.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Wellington campus
- Location
Physical address
Level C (ground floor)
Block 7
Wellington campus
Tasman Street
Wellington 6021Postal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Massey University
Private Box 756
WellingtonUse our Wellington campus maps or find us on Google Maps.