Access to Public Archives | Services
To make the most of a visit to Archives New Zealand when researching land, whakapapa or other areas of interest, you will need a good understanding of your topic. It is often helpful to visit other places that hold material relevant to your research before you come.
Your local library is a good place to start. Libraries usually have collections of books relevant to the area, as well as information about individuals. Librarians may also be of assistance in pointing you in the right direction.
The Māori Land Court is an important source and has details of partitions, successions and adoptions. At every Māori Land Court registry there is a Māori Land Court Information Office, which aims to help researchers who are starting out. For contact information for your closest Māori Land Court click here.
Many large public libraries and some tertiary institution libraries have full sets of the Māori Land Court Minute Books (1865-1975) either photocopies or on microfilm. A full set of the Māori Land Court Minute Books is available on microfilm at the following locations:
The Office of the Registrar-General handles the registration of births, deaths and marriages. It may be able to provide details and certificates of those individuals you are researching. However, it may be less helpful with research into the nineteenth century because the registration of Māori marriages did not become compulsory until 1911, with the registration of Māori births and deaths not compulsory until 1913.
If you are seeking advice on preservation of taonga the National Preservation Office, Te Tari Tohu Taonga, offers free advice to institutions - including libraries, historical societies, archives, museums, community groups, iwi and hapu - on how to care for documentary heritage material, including books, photos, sound recordings and electronic formats. For example, they can advise you how to care for photos hanging in a whare nui or how to ensure a building provides the right conditions for storing heritage material.
They don't do 'hands on' conservation but can refer you to a conservator, or you can visit the New Zealand Professional Conservators Group Pu Manaaki Kahurangi website for a list of conservators and other information.
The two services that provide access to archives are:
Copies of archives can usually be provided through either service, provided that copying will not damage the original archive.