News From Previous Years
2007
Agreement in Principle between the Crown and Taranaki Whānui
On Thursday 13 December 2007, the Crown signed an Agreement in Principle with the Port Nicholson Block Claims Team, who are mandated to represent Taranaki Whānui (Wellington). This represents a significant milestone for both the Crown and Taranaki Whānui (Wellington). The Agreement in Principle includes a sale and leaseback mechanism on a number of properties.
Under the Agreement, the Port Nicholson Block Claims Team will be able to purchase the land on which a number of buildings that have a strong cultural association with Taranaki Whānui (Wellington) are sited. The organisations include Archives New Zealand’s Wellington Office, the Wellington High Court, and the National Library of New Zealand.
The offer provides Taranaki Whānui (Wellington) with a direct connection to sites which are very important to them.
The Office of Treaty Settlements is in the process of developing the detail of the sale and leaseback mechanism with the Port Nicholson Block Claims Team. As part of that process, there will be ongoing discussions with the agencies involved.
For further details on the Agreement visit the Office of Treaty Settlements website: www.ots.govt.nz
50 Years of Archives in New Zealand Celebrated
More information 
(64 kb)
Chief Executive’s speech (424 kb)
Archives New Zealand’s contribution to national identity
A research paper (285 kb) commissioned by Dianne Macaskill, Chief Executive & Chief Archivist, on the role of archives in forming a national identity. This paper was the basis of a presentation by Tom Norcliffe, Archivist, to Te Aronui Humanities Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, August 2007.
Early Auckland region records to return home
More information (RTF 19 kb)
Archives New Zealand opens new Auckland building
More information (294 kb)
New Zealanders at War
Press Release (16 kb)
Records from Passchendaele
Press release (37 kb)
This is New Zealand — in a Cinema Near You
Film Festival press release (37 kb)
Archives New Zealand at ARANZ Conference
Dianne Macaskill’s key note speech (357 kb)
Archives New Zealand at NZSOG Conference
More information (18 kb)
Dianne Macaskill’s key note speech (708 kb)
Media Release (18 kb)
War Art
Archives New Zealand’s WAR ART exhibition opened on Tuesday 24 April. The exhibition features 26 oil paintings from the National Collection of War Art.
This is New Zealand Remastered Film Premiere
Film Premiere Speech (100 kb)
Revised Storage Standard for Local and Central Government (2nd April 2007)
Media Release (24 kb)
Auckland Office Closure - Moving Premises
Archives New Zealand’s Auckland Office is moving to new premises at 95 Richard Pearse Drive, Mangere.
This means the following services will be unavailable from May 2007:
- written reference is unavailable from 4 May
- box sales will be unavailable from 25 May
- the reading room is closed from 25 May.
The standard Government Loans Service will be unavailable from 1 June 2007. We will make provision for extreme urgency, such as the loan of files relating to schedules legal proceedings etc. These loans will be on a charged basis. The turnaround time is likely to be three days or more.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Full services are expected to resume at our new Mangere building on Monday 17 September 2007.
Authorisation for General Disposal Authority for District Health Boards (12 February 2007)
Media Release (38 kb)
Archive’s Erebus commemorative exhibition in final days (1 February 2007)
Media Release (23 kb)
Art at Archives
Archives New Zealand will work with young Wellingtonians to create a three-part mural to commemorate Waitangi Day 2007.
Media Release (102 kb)
Waitangi Day Poster (573 kb)
2006
District Health Boards draft general disposal authority now available for public comment (15 November 2006)
Media Release (21 kb)
Release of Mel Smith Report on Ministers’ Papers (26 October 2006)
A review of the systems and processes for managing Ministers’ papers and security classified information.
Storage Standard Review: Have Your Say (12 October 2006)
Archives New Zealand is reviewing its storage standard. We expect the revised standard will become the first mandatory standard issued under the Public Records Act.
Digitisation Standard Exposure Draft: Have Your Say (10 October 2006)
Archives New Zealand is developing a standard for the digitisation of paper or other analogue original source records. This standard will be issued as a discretionary standard under the Public Records Act.
Directory of Archives in New Zealand Online (20 September 2006)
The Directory of Archives in New Zealand / Nga Pae Mahara is available online. The directory lists nearly 200 repositories around New Zealand, providing contact details and an outline of the archival material they hold.
Erebus Reports Digitised (8 September 2006)
Archives New Zealand has digitised the Air Accident Investigation Report and the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Erebus Disaster to make these documents available online.
Project update: The DHB General Disposal Authority project is nearing completion (4 September 2006)
Media Release (22 kb)
Report on Archives and Records Education and Training Workshop (30 August 2006)
Workshop Report (15 kb)
Changes to Remote Reference Service
More (11 kb)
General Disposal Authorities Implementation Guide (Revised)
This revised Guide is to assist public offices in implementing General Disposal Authorities.
Accessing papers deposited by Ministers of the Crown
More (58 kb)
Project Update: District Health Boards disposal authority project progressing
Media Release (52 kb)
Revised advisory notice: Making Access Decisions under the Public Records Act (2 March 2006)
This notice has been revised to reflect the Public Records Act 2005. It provides guidelines for government agencies who are determining access conditions on public records.
Archives NZ developing framework for disposing of District Health Board records (2 March 2006)
Archives New Zealand is developing a general disposal authority in conjunction with District Health Boards about when and how to dispose of their records once they are no longer required.
Media Release (27 kb)
Free - Treaty of Waitangi Lunchtime seminars (Wellington 30 Jan - 2 Feb 2006)
More (44 kb)
Nominations for the Archives Council
The Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand is now inviting nomination of suitable individuals with the appropriate skills and expertise for positions on the Archives Council.
More (64 kb)
TREATY 2 U : a touring exhibition
Date
14 January 2006 - 14 May 2006
Location
Throughout New Zealand
Entry
Free entry
Website (external link)
Itinerary (external link)
It took 7 days to write, 7 months to sign, 165 years to debate… and counting. TREATY 2 U brings the story of the nation’s founding document to all New Zealanders through a unique touring exhibition. More (72 kb)
2005
New exhibition, making our mark, opened by Dame Cath Tizard (17 Nov 2005)
‘God Defend New Zealand’, the silver fern, the New Zealand flag - they’re all symbols of our national identity. making our mark tells the story of some of New Zealand’s symbols through Archives New Zealand’s collection.
The Exhibition is on in our Wellington office and opens on 18 November 2005 and runs until late 2006. Free entry.
Click here for more information or to view online
Click here for media release
Personal health information is private (Media release, 28 October 2005)
Archives New Zealand has moved to reassure New Zealanders that personal health records are private and will not be available to the public.
The assurance is in response to media comments that personal health information will be available to the public under the recent Public Records Act.
“Personal health information will not be publicly available”, says Dianne Macaskill, Chief Executive and Chief Archivist of Archives New Zealand. “This is protected by both the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code - the Public Records Act does not override them”.
Media release (30 kb)
New Archway phone service (26 September 2005)
Archives New Zealand is delighted to provide a new telephone service, targeted especially at remote users / researcher, to assist them to access information on Archway - our online finding aid.
Researchers who don’t have access to the internet and therefore cannot access Archway, can ask Archives New Zealand staff to search Archway on their behalf.
Researchers who have internet access are also welcome to use this service for help with their searches.
You can contact us between 9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday.
Online Request Forms
Archives New Zealand has made it easier for remote researchers to send in reference inquiries.
We have developed Online Request Forms for all common family history requests. The forms are designed to capture all relevant information for each request. They forms will also help us streamline our remote reference service.
The forms also link to our Reference Guides which provide in-depth information about our holdings and may help researchers to formulate their inquiries.
Annual Report 2004-2005 and first Report on the State of Government Recordkeeping released (20 October)
Archives New Zealand has just released its 5th Annual Report, which includes our first Report on the State of Government Recordkeeping, as required under the New Public Records Act. A summary of recommendations by the Chief Executive/ Chief Archivist on the state of government recordkeeping can be found on page 83.
The annual report can be found here
Archives New Zealand releases Electronic Recordkeeping Systems Standard (3 September)
Today Archives New Zealand releases its first new Standard under the Public Records Act 2005. The Electronic Recordkeeping Systems Standard (ERKSS) has been issued as a discretionary best practice standard for managing electronic records.
It applies to all public offices and local authorities, and will assist them to evaluate and select appropriate electronic recordkeeping systems.
Copies are being sent to all current holders of Continuum Resource Kits. To obtain a copy, please contact the Government Recordkeeping Programme team at rkadvice@archives.govt.nz, or click below.
Electronic Recordkeeping Systems Standard
Archway launched! (www.archway.archives.govt.nz)
Archives New Zealand's new finding aid, Archway, provides better access to government records for every New Zealander, according to the Minister Responsible for Archives the Hon Marian Hobbs, who launched it onto the internet this evening.
Archway enables the public and researchers to remotely search over 2 million government records from 4000 government agencies, to identify records that are of interest to them. It replaces the folders of paper-based indexes.The Minister Responsible for Archives, the Hon Marian Hobbs, says, “Governments are accountable to the people who elect them. Effective archives are essential to democracy by creating and maintaining an accurate and reliable record of government. Archway provides a platform to help achieve this accountability”.
“Archway provides invaluable contextual information about the successive iterations of government we've had in New Zealand since 1840, and the functions and activities of those governments and the records they've created,” says Archives New Zealand's Chief Executive and Chief Archivist, Dianne Macaskill.
“It uses sophisticated search functionality. In addition to the usual name search, Archway is innovative as it provides new ways to access records - users can search by organisation, agency, jurisdiction, function, series or by individual record”.
“Archway has something of interest to all New Zealanders - whether they are family stories based on the personnel files of our Boer War or WWI soldiers, or public stories like the Erebus tragedy or the salvage files for the General Grant. It also catalogues the national war art collection which we hold”.
“We are proud of Archway and excited about the opportunities it provides for all New Zealanders”.
Patricia Grace, Living Icon and winner of the 2005 Deutz Medal for Fiction, spoke of the opportunities Archway provides especially to Maori and to those who live remotely and need to research over the internet.
Archway went live at a stakeholder function at Archives New Zealand's Head Office in Wellington tonight.
Recordkeeping Forum - Previous Papers (22nd July 2005)
Open or Closed? Making Access Decisions under the PRA 2005
Consultation on New Zealand's documentary heritage collections (21 July 2005)
Archives New Zealand has participated in the Reference Group setup by the National Library to consult nationally on New Zealand's documentary heritage collections.
We are encouraging organisations with an interest in the access and preservation of New Zealand's documentary heritage to consider this consultation paper and to provide input.
The consultation paper attached contains a range of questions designed to obtain information on the preservation and access needs for our documentary heritage.
Please check the information attached and respond to the National Library by 31 August 2005.
Archives New Zealand Cover Letter
(14 kb)
National Library Introduction (84 kb)
Consultation Paper (123 kb)
Public opportunity to comment on disposal recommendations (13 July 2005)
The public now have the opportunity to comment on recommendations for the disposal of records under the new Public Records Act 2005.
The first disposal recommendations are now available for comment on our website within 30 days of notification.
For more information click here (45 kb)
Otago’s provincial history returns home after 130 years (22 June)
Otago’s rich archival history as a self governing province is being returned to the Province this week after nearly 130 years.
Seven pallets of original records from the Otago Provincial Government (1853-1876) have been carefully prepared for the ferry and road trip home to Dunedin from Archives New Zealand’s head office in Wellington.
Media release (36 kb)
Otago Provincial Government Records returning home (7 June 2005)
The records of the Otago Provincial Government (1853-1876) are finally being returned home to Dunedin.
The records will no longer available from the Wellington office of Archives New Zealand from Tuesday 7 June while they are being prepared for the transfer to our Dunedin Regional Office in June.
Once the truck and trailer carrying the 50 linear metres of records reach Dunedin, they'll be added to Archway, our electronic finding aid.
Peter Miller, our Dunedin Regional Archivist, is delighted that these records are being returned to Dunedin. He estimates that the records will be available in mid July 2005.
| For further information please contact : |
Peter Miller Regional Archivist, Dunedin Regional Office, Archives New Zealand PO Box 6183, Dunedin North, Dunedin Phone: (03) 477 0404 Email peter.miller@archives.govt.nz |
NZ at forefront of global internet standards (27 May 2005)
Today New Zealand becomes just the third country in the world to ratify the most widely used international standard for metadata description to make it easier to find resources on the internet.
The Chief Executives of Archives New Zealand, National Library and the State Services Commission will sign a joint agreement to become affiliates of the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI), making New Zealand the third country in the world to do so following the UK and Finland.
Media release (31 kb)
Archives New Zealand releases 2005-2008 Statement of Intent
Yesterday Archives New Zealand released its annual Statement of Intent. Of significance is the new third Outcome - Archives in the community, which reads, “Significant archives are identified, preserved and acccesible for their communities”.
Statement of Intent 2005-2008 (1.98 Mb)
Public Records Bill passed (14 April 2005)
Parliament has today passed new law to improve the accountability of government institutions and meet the recordkeeping challenges of electronic information technology. More
Media release (22 kb)
Defence Service personnel files being transferred to Archives New Zealand (13 April 2005)
The personnel files of those who served in our Defence Services for the South African War or World War I respectively, are being transferred to Archives New Zealand from the NZ Defence Force. More
Media release (61 kb)
2004
Archives has Erebus cockpit tapes
Erebus Exhibition
The latest exhibition at Archives New Zealand, opening on the 5th November, is the Erebus Exhibition.
Christchurch Online Exhibition
The Christchurch regional office online virtual exhibitions centre.
Public Records Bill
- Outreach Kia whakakautoro - special issue on the Public Records Bill
- Introduced into Parliament on 1 September 2004
Seminar, 7 July: The Wonder Country: Tourism in New Zealand 1901-2003
Seminar Information (131 kb)
Statement of Intent 2004-2005
Statement of Intent 2004-2005 (1.39 Mb)
Draft Digital Strategy
The draft Digital Strategy is the government's vision for New Zealand to become a world-leader at using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to realise our economic, social, and cultural goals. It provides a framework to encourage "smarter" use and uptake of ICT by communities, business and government.
The following documents are available on the Manatu Ohanga | Ministry of Economic Development web site:
For more information please contact policy@archives.govt.nz
Archives New Zealand is working with the National Library and other government agencies to coordinate public comments received relating to the information sector and the Content vision proposed by the draft Digital Strategy. Archives New Zealand is coordinating comments that relate to archives and recordkeeping matters. This will assist the Ministry of Economic Development in ensuring that the consultation process is effective in obtaining comment from all sectors of society.
Any responses to the strategy dealing with archives or recordkeeping issues can be emailed to policy@archives.govt.nz
Alternatively you can send responses to:
Digital Strategy Submission
Archives New Zealand
PO Box 12-050
WELLINGTON
New Accession Reports
Feb-March 2004
(97 kb)April 2004
(71 kb)May 2004
(58 kb)July 2004
(13 kb)