Massey University Archives , Ā Te Kunenga tukunga kōrero

The Massey University Archives has two main collections: the Massey University Archives Collection and the New Zealand Institutions Collection. 

Our archive collections are accessible to university staff, students, and members of the public.

You can view Archives items by:

• Viewing selected digitised items on Tāmiro or,
• Using our Virtual Reading Room service or,
• Visiting the University Archives in person.

Visit the archives

Room 1.38, Practical Teaching Complex
Albany Drive, Manawatū campus
Massey University
Palmerston North

University Archivist:
Louis Changuion

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.00pm

Restricted material

The University Archivist may need to restrict access to some material for preservation reasons or under the provisions of legislation such as the:

• Public Records Act 2005
• Privacy Act 1993
• Official Information Act 1982.

Digitised collections – Tāmiro

Tāmiro has digitised items from both the Massey University Archives collection and the New Zealand Institutions collection. Our staff are digitising material from the collections constantly. By using Tāmiro, you may not have to physically visit the Archives to view our collections.

Tāmiro digitised heritage collections

Massey University Archives collection

The collections held at the University Archives include the following.

• Records, documents and memorabilia of Massey University and the institutions that preceded it – including the Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North University College, Palmerston North College of Education and Wellington Polytechnic.
• Archives relating to disciplines taught and researched at Massey University.
• Archives of organisations affiliated with Massey University.
• Personal papers (with research, informational or historical value) of staff and students of these institutions.

The collections include:

• minutes
• correspondence files
• reports and publications
• financial records
• newspaper clippings
• photographs
• maps and building plans
• audio-visual material
• digital material
• museum objects.

List of Massey's archives and inventories

New Zealand Institutions collection

This is a collection of material of New Zealand businesses, individuals and community, cultural and professional organisations, most of which have broad links with the subject areas researched and taught at Massey University.

The collection holds:

• archives of businesses
• personal papers (with research, informational and/or historical value) of New Zealand individuals
• archives of community, cultural, professional and other societies, clubs and organisations.
  

Dairy Records Archive

This collection includes the Dairy Records Archive, which is an extensive collection of business records of dairy companies from across New Zealand. It often contains photographs and other material from the local communities of these companies.

The Dairy Records Archive started when dairy companies began to merge or close down from the 1960s onwards. It has particularly good coverage of companies in:

• Northland
• Taranaki
• Whanganui
• Manawatū
• southern Hawke’s Bay
• Wairarapa
• Christchurch
• Banks Peninsula
• Southland.

Most of the records date from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The types of records held vary, and for some institutions little is available. Often, minutes of meetings are available, and some companies also have:

• share registers
• financial records
• milk production records
• company histories
• legal papers
• photographs
• plans.

Find other collections at Massey

Donating external material

We are happy to receive material donated from people or companies outside the university. This can be material relating to the university’s history, and material associated with New Zealand’s:

• agricultural industries
• individuals
• businesses and community
• cultural and professional organisations.

We focus on material with historical, scientific and research value.

You can give us material in any format, whether paper, analogue or digital.

What to donate

You can donate a wide range of materials. Before donating material please contact us to discuss what you are considering donating first.

Donations we have received in the past include personal papers of staff, students, alumni and benefactors, such as:

• letters
• diaries
• speeches/lectures
• albums/scrapbooks
• memoirs/reminiscences
• photographs
• professional files
• genealogical information
• films
• oral histories
• videotapes and audiotapes
• objects
• organisational records.

We will also accept organisational governance and legal documents such as:

• articles of incorporation
• constitutions and bylaws
• planning documents
• minutes of meetings
• correspondence
• financial documents
• share registers
• reports
• production records
• memoranda
• diaries
• publications (including company histories)
• directories
• press releases
• membership records
• oral histories
• subject and research files
• architectural records
• photographs
• objects.

How to donate

Contact the University Archivist to discuss the donation first.

Email: Libarch@massey.ac.nz
Phone: +64 6 951 6800

Transferring internal material

The University Archives serves as the memory of the university and works in partnership with university offices to preserve the institution’s memory.

We encourage internal transfers of material and records to our care if they are no longer needed for administrative purposes and if they reflect the university’s activities and history.

We will receive material in any format, whether paper, analogue or digital.

Once the material is held by the archives, it will be preserved and, subject to any legal requirements and university regulations that may restrict access, made available to researchers.

What to transfer

We will receive a wide range of transferred material, including:

• documents of decision-making bodies (such as council, academic board, college boards) and of the committees that report to those bodies
• vice-chancellor’s correspondence
• records of academic and support units
• records of associated bodies including students’ associations
• university publications including magazines, the Calendar, annual reports, course booklets and marketing material
• photographs, films, videos and oral histories
• newspaper cuttings
• architectural drawings and site plans
• objects.

How to transfer

Contact the University Archivist to discuss the transfer.

Email: Libarch@massey.ac.nz

Phone: +64 6 951 6800

Then, complete and submit the transfer agreement.