51本色

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences , Te Kura P奴kenga Tangata

Creative thinking for a changing world. It's at the heart of everything we do at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Overview

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Te Kura P奴kenga Tangata offers teaching and research in a wide range of disciplines. 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 college, 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 practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Kunenga ki P奴rehuroa 鈥 The Treaty of Waitangi at Massey

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Study with us

Learn from experts in your chosen subject and build a great career. Our study options include anthropology, creative writing, geography, planning, psychology, sociology, te reo M膩ori, teacher education, speech and language therapy and more.

Our research

Our researchers are contributing to people's lives and tackling the major challenges of our time with their work. Discover research activities in each of our disciplines.

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Partner with us

We partner with diverse communities and organisations that make a difference in the world. Partner with us to get involved.

Who we are

Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Professor Kerry Taylor

Professor Kerry Taylor

International Director and Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor 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 visual and material culture.

Kerry is a trustee of the Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust.

Professor Bill Fish

Professor Bill Fish

Research Director and Head of School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication (acting)

Bill Fish focuses on the philosophy of mind and perception. He is particularly interested in na茂ve realism and exploring if this view can be extended to theories of consciousness more generally.

Associate Professor Tara McLaughlin

Associate Professor Tara McLaughlin

Head of Institute of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Tara McLaughlin specialises in inclusive early years education and early intervention, with a focus on social-emotional learning, intentional teaching, and professional learning and development for teachers. Her research explores how evidence-based and culturally responsive practices can support equitable outcomes for children, families, and educators.

Professor H膿mi Whaanga

Professor H膿mi Whaanga

Ng膩ti Kahungunu, Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩ti Mamoe, Waitaha
Head of School Te P奴tahi-a-Toi

H膿mi Whaanga specialises in m膩tauranga, indigenous methodologies, linguistics and te reo M膩ori, ethics and technology.聽 His background includes research, leadership and teaching and he has contributed at disciplinary, institutional, national and international levels. 聽

Professor Bethan Greener

Professor Bethan Greener

Head of School of People, Environment and Planning

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 Kirsty Ross

Professor Kirsty Ross

Head of School of Psychology (acting)

Kirsty Ross is a registered senior clinical psychologist with a PhD in Psychology. She coordinates and teaches within the clinical psychology training programme at Massey. Her research and teaching centres on child and family clinical psychology, clinical health psychology, trauma (particularly the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences) and developmental and systemic psychology.

Professor Jenny Poskitt

Professor Jenny Poskitt

Director of College Projects

Jenny has experience as a primary school teacher, teaching undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. Her research includes educational assessment, student and professional learning, which has contributed to policy, research, and professional practice locally, nationally and internationally. Jenny is involved in service, management, and leadership roles throughout the university.

Associate Professor Peter Rawlins

Associate Professor Peter Rawlins

Director of Academic Quality

Peter has been a registered teacher since 1985. He has won several teaching excellence and innovation awards. Peter鈥檚 research focus is in Assessment and Mixed Methods Research. He is on the executive committee for the New Zealand Assessment Institute, and the Global governance board for the Mixed Methods International Research Association.

Dr Tony Fisher

Dr Tony Fisher

Director of Teaching and Learning

Tony Fisher is a linguist by training, and has over twenty years of experience teaching in a range of contexts. His research interests include political communication, with a specific focus on televised political debates. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Linguistic Society of New Zealand.

Schools

Our college is home to five schools:

Institute of Education

Teacher education, specialist programmes for other education careers, speech and language therapy, and research focused on equality in education.

School of Humanities, Media & Creative Communication

Explore cultures, society, theories and ideas 鈥 and the arts 鈥 with a rich variety of specialisations.

Te P奴tahi-a-Toi

Te P奴tahi-a-Toi produces graduates and research inspired by te ao M膩ori (the M膩ori world).

School of People, Environment & Planning

New Zealand鈥檚 largest multi-disciplinary university social science unit 鈥 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.

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, Manawat奴 and Wellington campuses

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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

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.

Humanities and social sciences news

Discover news from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Visionary M膩ori visual arts programme celebrates 30 years

Thursday 11 December 2025

Toioho ki 膧piti 鈥 Bachelor of M膩ori Visual Arts, a pioneering programme that has shaped generations of M膩ori artists and advanced Indigenous-led arts education, celebrated its 30th anniversary last week at Te Kunenga ki P奴rehuroa 51本色.

Master of Sustainable Development Goals wins silver at Global Education Awards

Tuesday 9 December 2025

Te Kunenga ki P奴rehuroa 51本色鈥檚 Master of Sustainable Development Goals (MSDG) programme has been internationally recognised for its innovative approach to sustainability education, earning silver at the QS Reimagine Education Awards.

51本色 Wellington hosts JEANZ Annual Conference on December 11鈥12

Monday 8 December 2025

The conference theme, 鈥淢edia Freedom in Changing Political and Industry Landscapes,鈥 looks at the tensions, opportunities and threats facing journalists in New Zealand today.

Call for applications for RNZ scholarship for Massey journalism student

Friday 28 November 2025

To mark the milestone of its 100th birthday, Radio New Zealand is awarding one $8,000 scholarship to any current or prospective Massey journalism student who is currently enrolled in a postgraduate or undergraduate journalism major.

Contact the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Student enquiries: please contact the Massey Contact Centre

Enquiries

Pro Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Office Karen O'Hagan

Directors鈥 Offices

Academic Programmes Fiona Paewai

Teaching and Learning聽(TBC)

International Manager Kerry Taylor, Ann Wu-Ross

Regional Directors鈥 Offices

Auckland (TBC)

Wellington 聽Megan Burnett

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Auckland campus

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Auckland campus
Location

Physical address
Level 2
Atrium Building
Auckland

Postal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
51本色
Private Bag 102 904
North Shore MSC
Auckland

Use our Auckland campus maps or find us on .

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Manawat奴 campus

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Manawat奴 campus
Location

Physical address
Level 3 Sir Geoffrey Peren Building
Manawat奴 campus
Palmerston North

Postal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
51本色
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North 4442

Use our Manawat奴 campus maps or find us on .

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Wellington campus

College of Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥 Wellington campus
Location

Physical address
Level C (ground floor)
Block 7
Wellington campus
Tasman Street
Wellington 6021

Postal address
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
51本色
Private Box 756
Wellington

Use our Wellington campus maps or find us on .

Social media

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