Vital Records in New Zealand

When researching for New Zealand ancestors, you will need to keep in mind that records were kept for both early Europeans and those of the Maori origin. You will want to focus your research on locating birth, marriage and death certificates, ship's passenger list information and church records. Civil registration began in New Zealand in 1848, for European births, marriages and deaths. This became mandantory by 1856. The registration of Maori marriages became mandantory in 1911, and registrations of births and death in 1913. These records can be located at the:

Registrar General's Office Leven House, P.O. Box 31-115 191 High Street Lower Hutt, New Zealand

The Registrar General's Office can provide the researcher with certified copies of certificates, or a microfilm print-out for entries made prior to 1901. Electoral rolls from 1928 to present are also available.

The National Archives of New Zealand has much of the same civil registration data as the Registrar's office, however the Archives is the only source for electoral rolls prior to 1900. It also contains the most complete set of ship's passenger lists available for New Zealand. You will want to write to them for this information.

The National Archives of New Zealand P.O. Box 6148 Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

Available Indexes of Passengers Emigrating to New Zealand: 1839-1850, New Zealand Company 1853-1870, Provincial Government 1870-1888, Government/Vogel Scheme 1887-1973, list of all immigrants

Once you have searched back to a point prior to civil registration, you will need to consult church records. Many paishes have early records of baptismal, marriage, and burial registers. These registers may be in the care of the priest or minister in the parish where the event occurred. However, the 1st place to write is to the proper diocesan archives. Many of these records are kept at different church archives for safe keeping.

Anglican Church Diocese of Auckland Archives 429 Parnell Road P.O. Box 37-242 Auckland, New Zealand Baptist Church New Zealand Baptist Historical Society New Zealand Theological College 85 Victoria Avenue Remuera, New Zealand Catholic Church Archdiocese of Wellington Archives P.O. Box 198 Wellington, New Zealand

Methodist Church Methodist Church of New Zealand Archives P.O. Box 931 Christchurch, New Zealand Presbyterian Church Knox College Library Arden Street Dunedin, New Zealand Salvation Army Salvation Army Archives P.O. Box 6015 Wellington, New Zealand

Be sure to check out this site for: New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriage Office http://inform.dia.govt.nz/internal_affairs/businesses/doni_pro/bdm_pro/bdm.html

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