William Massey led the Reform Party to victory in the 1912 general election and the Herald's praise for him shows he would have been the paper's choice for New Zealander of the Year.
The Herald had always opposed the Liberal Party, which had been in power for 20 years.
It contrasted Massey to the Liberals who, it said, were opportunists; they would blow hot or cold on any and every question just to retain office.
Massey on the other hand, said the paper, had the courage of his convictions and the ability to make the changes he believed necessary.
Massey remained Prime Minister until he died in 1925 - New Zealand's second longest serving PM after King Dick Seddon - and faced more than his fair share of crises.
