Massey University, Palmerston North

Massey University's Manawatū campus is the original campus of Massey University, founded in 1927 as Massey Agricultural College. Located south of the city of Palmerston North, the campus covers approximately 40 hectares and is surrounded by university-owned farmland, much of which is used for agricultural training. The campus accommodates a range of academic and administrative units, including teaching and research in sciences, humanities and social sciences, business, and health, as well as the office of the Vice-Chancellor. Massey University owns more than 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of farmland across eight farms, most of which are situated near the Manawatū campus.^[3][4]

The Turitea statistical area, which includes Massey University’s Manawatū campus but does not include the Turitea suburb to the southeast, covers 9.72 km² (3.75 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 350 as of June 2025,^[2] giving a population density of 36 people per km².

Turitea had a population of 339 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 105 people (−23.6%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 357 people (−51.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 138 males, 201 females, and 3 people of other genders in 36 dwellings.^[7] 13.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 21.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (1.8%) aged under 15 years, 255 (75.2%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (22.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 6 (1.8%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 59.3% European (Pākehā); 10.6% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 30.1% Asian; 6.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 3.5%, and other languages by 31.9%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 41.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 22.1% Christian, 3.5% Hindu, 3.5% Islam, 2.7% Buddhist, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.1%, and 6.2% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 90 (27.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 204 (61.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 42 (12.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $11,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (2.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 57 (17.1%) full-time, 63 (18.9%) part-time, and 24 (7.2%) unemployed.^[5]