Genealogy
Waitakere participates in New Zealand's Family History Fair
Kingsgate Hotel, Te Rapa, Hamilton, 17 - 18 July
The Waitakere branch of the New Zealand Society
of Genealogists will be an exhibitor at New Zealand's first ever
Family
History Fair.
supported by Waitakere Library &
Information Services.
The exhibit will include a selection of photographs of west Auckland from
the J.T. Diamond photograph collection held in the
J.T. Diamond
Reading Room on Floor 2, of the
Waitakere Central
Library.
New Zealand's Family History Fair will be a weekend of exhibits,
seminars, displays, resources, research and help desks. There will be over
70 trade exhibitor stands, repositories, libraries and museums, New Zealand
Society of Genealogists branches and interest group displays as well as
beginners and specialist helps desks.
There will also be interesting and
unusual look-up indexes, online databases to explore and genealogy resources
for sale.
Browse New Zealand's Family History Fair website for further information
on this unique family history experience.
For advice on discovering your family history view
Beginning Genealogy or contact the New
Zealand Society of Genealogists.
What's New?
Beginning Genealogy
| Click to enlarge |
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| Wedding group, Barr family. Photographer unknown. J.T. Diamond Collection, 2921-1 (187). |
Beginning Genealogy
Reference Department at the Waitakere Central Library
Cemetery Records
Local History Room Resources
Electronic Resources
International Genealogy Resources
Recommended International Genealogy Websites
Useful New Zealand Genealogy Websites
What Next?
Beginning Genealogy
Start with the information you know about yourself and work backwards. Talk
to family members about births, deaths and marriages and burial information
and gather names, places, dates and events. Other useful sources of
information that you may have at home are family bibles, photographs,
letters, naturalizations and citizenship certificates, school records,
diaries, journals, newspaper clippings and family memorabilia.
Discuss with your family members the possibility of making copies of birth,
death or marriage certificates which they have in their possession.
What to do first?
Record all the details you know already about yourself to build a picture of
your family on a family pedigree sheet (start with yourself and work back
one generation at a time). Completing family group sheets will help you find
out about people on your pedigree family sheet. These sheets are available
from the
New Zealand Society of Genealogists.
A New Zealand Society of Genealogists member will be available in the
Reference Department of
Waitakere Central
Library to answer your questions Monday - Thursday between 9am - 1pm, and on weekends by appointment only.
Two excellent books for family history research by Anne Brommell are:
New Zealand Beginner's guide to family history research
Tracing Family History
overseas from New Zealand
Another excellent book for family history research is
Find Your Family on
the Internet : a New Zealand Guide by Ros Henry which provides
sound genealogical research as well as providing a guide to the computer
resources available to researchers via their home computers.
Reference Department of the Waitakere Central Library
Browse the genealogy resources in the
Reference Department of the
Waitakere Central Library.
Births Deaths and Marriages
The Births, Deaths and Marriages (1840-1990) microfiche in the
Reference
Department are an
index only for names and the year of event happening. The microfiche provide
a reference folio number which can be used for ordering copies of births,
deaths and marriages certificates. You may need to search under a given
and/or surname.
Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages records from 1990 onwards are
available in the
Auckland Research Centre at the
Central City Library
of the
Auckland City Libraries.
New Zealand Government records for Births, Deaths and Marriages provided by
the Department of Internal Affairs. The historical
data provided is limited to Births that occurred 100 years ago, Stillbirths
that occurred at least 50 years ago, Marriages that occurred 80 years ago
and Deaths that occurred 50 years ago or if the deceased's date of birth was
at least 80 years ago.
Visit the
Department of Internal Affairs for information on ordering Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Union certificates.
The
B.D.M. Maori
is available on microfiche. It covers births (1913 - 1960); deaths (1913 -
1960), marriages, (1911 - 1951), but includes some entries outside these
dates. One alphabetical sequence for the whole period covered by each index
lists each person by surname and by first name. You may need to search under
a given name and/or surname, or on the ordinary Electoral Rolls.
Helpful Search HintParents have thirty days to register the birth of their child. The
registrations of children born in December may be located in the January
birth registrations of the following year.
Archives New Zealand provides online
Reference Guides
which contain summaries of commonly used records held at Archives New
Zealand. The Reference Guides on Citizenship, Personal Identity, War,
Migration, Education, Mental Health and Government Employment are able to be
viewed or printed off by users. Find
more Archives New
Zealand genealogy resources.
Search the New Zealand Electoral Rolls (1865 - 1981) on microfiche or the New
Zealand Electoral Rolls (incomplete run from (1990 - 2008) or the Wise's New Zealand Post Office Directories (1880 - 1955) on microfiche which
lists cities, towns and townships in New Zealand to establish exactly where
family members lived and their occupations. Review the Wise's New Zealand
Post Office Directories (1889 - 1955) on microfiche for the names of people
who may be able to help you with your research.
The Electoral Rolls enable researchers to trace people's movements and
indicate dates of death. A physical copy of the most recent New Zealand
electoral roll is available in all
Waitakere Library & Information Services libraries.
New Zealand Biographical clippings, 1890 - 1988 is a microfiche
edition of more than 230 volumes of obituary and biographical clippings
arranged in chronological order by the Alexander Turnbull Library.
The New Zealand Herald newspaper on microfilm from
13 November 1863 - current day is available only in the
Reference Department of the
Waitakere Central Library.
View the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
members' interests sections of past copies of the New Zealand Genealogist
Journal of the New Zealand
Society of Genealogists to locate
other researchers who have similar research interests.
The Waitakere Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists has made
their collection of books, indexes, magazines and microfiche available for
everyone to use in the Reference Department of the
Waitakere Central Library.
Browse the collection.
The Maori Land Court Minute Books
on microfilm contain detailed information about Maori history, land and
whakapapa. The Maori Land Court Minute Books database covers the period
1865-1910 and indexes all Minute Books from the Maori land court districts.
The database which is a key tool for searching for information in the Minute
Books is available in the Reference Department.
International Genealogy Microfiche
The IGI Index (International Genealogy Index) recorded by the Church of
Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church).
New South Wales births, deaths and marriages. Parish Records for
England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Cemetery Records
Auckland and Waitakere city cemeteries
The following are the main public cemeteries in Auckland and Waitakere
cities.
Symonds Street 1841 - 1886
St Stephens 1844 - 1982
Symonds Street Cemetery was the main Auckland cemetery until it closed in
1886. Burials for St Stephens Cemetery in Parnell date from 1844 to 1982.
Use the
Symonds St and St Stephens database from the
Auckland City Libraries website to search cemetery records in this
combined database.
View the
maps
in the Symonds Street virtual exhibition.
Auckland City cemetery
information -
from the Auckland City Council website.
- Waikaraka Cemetery 1890 -
- Otahuhu Public Cemetery 1894 - 1984
- Hillsborough Cemetery 1916 - 1974
- Waiheke Cemetery 1943 - 1992
Cemetery Records database
Search this database for records for Hillsborough, Onetangi (Waiheke
Island), Otahuhu and Waikaraka cemeteries. This database covers all burials
in these cemeteries up to the present day. They also cover burials for St
Ninian's Church and Cemetery in Avondale and other small cemeteries on Great
Barrier Island.
Waikaraka Cemetery record book
Search the plot book from 1890 to 1906 on the
Auckland City Council Archives
database.
Waikumete Cemetery
Waikumete Cemetery was established in 1899, covers an area of 108 hectares
and since 1908 has served as the main cemetery in the Auckland region. It is
the largest cemetery in New Zealand and one of the largest cemeteries in the
Southern Hemisphere.
Waitakere City Council has created Waikumete Cemetery's online search. The online
cemetery search allows people to search cemetery records and find
information about their family. By entering the details you know, you can
get more specific information such as the full name, age, date of death,
type of burial, and funeral director.
Please note that plots marked confidential will not show in search results.
All information here is accurate at the time of publication and is supplied
by funeral directors and families. If a correction needs to be made please
contact Waikumete Cemetery. Please note all
records need to be verified before changes can be made.
Once you have located the person you are seeking please click on the
underlined area's to open a full details page. Contact staff at the
Waikumete Cemetery office by telephone or in
person for genealogy assistance. A charge will be incurred for each
completed genealogy search.
Purewa Cemetery
In 1899, the Anglican church established Purewa Cemetery through a gift of
land. The cemetery still remains one of the Anglican Church's most important
assets. The 45 acre cemetery is administered by the Purewa Cemetery Trust
Board.
Purewa Cemetery information from the
Purewa cemetery website.
North Shore Cemeteries
Burial records can be found through the
Cemetery Search on the
North
Shore City Council website.
Information is available on the following cemeteries:
- Albany Village Cemetery
- Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery
- Mt Victoria Cemetery, Devonport
- North Shore Memorial Park, Albany
- O'Neill's Point Cemetery, Birkenhead
- St Mary's Pioneer Cemetery, Torbay
North Shore City Council provides information
on
cemeteries and the crematorium.
West Auckland
Rodney City Council
administers ten cemeteries in the Rodney District, primarily in the western
and northern regions.
Burial records can be found through the
Cemetery Search
at Rodney City Council.
Information is available on the
Rodney City Council website for the following cemeteries:
- Helensville Cemetery
- Hoteo North Cemetery
- Kaipara Cemetery
- Kaukapakapa Cemetery
- Kumeu Cemetery
- Tapora Cemetery
- Te Kapa Cemetery
- Wainui Cemetery
- Warkworth Cemetery
- Wellsford Cemetery
South Auckland cemeteries
Mangere Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium 1894 -
This cemetery at 85 McKenzie Road, Manger is managed by the Mangere Lawn
Cemetery Trust Board.
Manukau Memorial Gardens
This cemetery in Papatoetoe is managed by the
Manukau City Council Burial
records can be found at
genealogy search.
Cemeteries in New Zealand
Search
New Zealand Cemeteries at
Auckland City Libraries.
Local History Room Resources
The Local History Collections are held at the
Waitakere Central Library
and are available in the
J.T. Diamond Reading Room.
The
Local History collection
includes books, archives, manuscripts, maps, memorabilia, ephemera, local
newspapers, photographs, research files, oral histories and the Appendix to
the Journals of the House of Representatives.
If your family lived in West Auckland search the local history resources,
for example:
Search the library catalogue for school magazines,
school jubilee booklets, church histories and other local history
publications relevant to the area where your family lived.
Local History Online will ultimately provide
access to the existing digital and electronic local history collections of
Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney Libraries. It provides access to indexes
for the local newspapers of Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney Libraries. The
Waitakere newspaper index covers the Western Leader, West Weekly and Aucklander,
West edition from 2002. Customers can read the full text of the newspapers
in the J.T. Diamond Reading Room, or interloan their request. It also provides access to the J. T. Diamond
photographic collection.
Waitakere Library & Information Services is the only place in New Zealand
which holds all copies of the
Western Leader online since its inception in
1967.
The Reference Department has
the Western Leader on microfilm from
January 1981 - May 1987.
Electronic ResourcesThere are now many resources available online. They include a selection of
useful websites and
e-resources some of some of which can be accessed from home.
Ancestry Library Edition
This database is a genealogy research tool created for library users which
provides instant access to a wide range of resources
for genealogical and historical research. With more than four billion names
in over 4,000 databases, Ancestry Library Edition includes records
from the United States census, military records, court, land and probate
records, church records, directories, passenger lists and
other records. These collections are continuously expanding, with new
content added every business day.
Patrons can only access Ancestry Library Edition at their local Waitakere
Library & Information Services learning centre and is not
available to patrons logging on at home. Please contact your
local library for
more information on accessing
Ancestry.com
The following genealogy CD-Rom databases can be searched in the
Reference
Department of the
Waitakere Central Library.
Please ask reference staff if you need help using these databases.
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Baptism
Index before 31 Dec 1904.
New Zealand WWI Service Personnel and Reserves Index
(2002)
New Zealand Burial Locator II
(2008)
New Zealand Electoral Roll 1881
(2005)
New Zealand Electoral Roll 1893
(2004)
New Zealand Marriages 1835-1956 Version 2
(2006)
Maori Land Court Minute Books Index
(2002)
National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868
(2008)
New Zealand Society of Genealogists Index
Version 5
International Genealogy ResourcesResearchers can browse
Nuie Islanders in World War I (2001) and Qaravi na'I tavi
+ They did their duty : soldiers from Fiji in the Great War (2009) by Christine Liava'a.
Browse The Oxford Companion to family and local history for a comprehensive
guide on family and local history research in the British Isles (2008)
edited by David Hey.
To research British ancestors read
Ancestral Trails: the complete guide to
British genealogy and family history (2005) by Mark D Herber.
Tracing your Scottish family history
(2009) by Antony Adolph
guides the reader step-by-step through the process of genealogy research
while also providing an authentic perspective of Scotland and the lives of
its people.
To trace Irish ancestry read the
Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy (2008) by Brian Mitchell.
Browse Plugging into your past: how to find real history records online
(2004) by Rick Crume to discover online genealogy sources in the United States of America.
View From Generation to Generation: how to trace your Jewish genealogy and
family history
(2004) by Arthur Kurzweil for Jewish genealogy information.
To help with researching your family on the internet read
@ home with your ancestors.com : how to research family history using the internet (2007) by Diane Marelli.
Recommended International Genealogy Websites
Cyndi's List has been a genealogist's
starting point since 1996.
Federation of Family History Societies
Search the 67 million online records compiled by Family History Societies
researchers.
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints LDS
Search online births, deaths, marriages, census, church and other indexes.
IGI (International Genealogy Index)
Search this index of parish records (baptisms, deaths and marriages)
worldwide, recorded by the Church of Latter Days Saints - the Mormon Church.
It has hundreds of millions of entries spanning many centuries, and is a
great research aid to the family historian.
ScotlandsPeople (User Pays Website)
The official government source of genealogical data for Scotland. ScotlandsPeople is one of the largest online sources of original
genealogical information. It has almost 50 million searchable records.
National Archives of Australia
Search for
births, deaths and marriages records
and for family history information, case studies and resources about family members.
New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Search the Historic Indexes : Births and Deaths Records and the Marriage
Records provided by the New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths &
Marriages which is an agency of the Department of Justice and Attorney
General New South Wales.
Library and Archives Canada
Search for births, deaths and marriages, census, immigration, military, land
and employment records at the
Canadian Genealogy Centre.
Guild of One-Name Studies is the world's
leading organisation of one-name studies. A one-name study is a project
researching facts about a surname and all the people who have held it, as
opposed to a particular degree (the ancestors of one person) or descendancy
(the descendants of one person or couple). The Guild was founded in Britain
in 1979 and is recognised as a centre of excellence in one-name studies.
Useful New Zealand Genealogy Websites
Archives New Zealand
Archway contains information about more than 1.5 million records that have
been transferred from government agencies to
Archives New Zealand's four
offices in Auckland, Christchurch,
Wellington and Dunedin.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum offers a wide range of military resources
for example
Cenotaph Database.
This is a biographical database of New Zealanders who have died in the 19th
century from the New Zealand Wars and South Africa, through the First and
Second World Wars to Korea, Malaya and Vietnam. Cenotaph started primarily
as a roll of honour of those who died as a result of war service. It
includes many personnel who have died since war service. Virtually all those
who served in World War I are included particularly those from the Auckland
region and regiments. The records of 1,000 women who served as nurses in the
Boer War and World War I have been added.
Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum
This maritime website has information on New Zealand settlement and
immigration including captains' logs, surgeons' logs, personal diaries and
social history.
University of Auckland Library
University of Auckland, Special Collections holds Pacific Islands genealogy
resources for the Cook Islands , other British possessions and the Wesleyan
(Methodist) records.
New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages Office
Search Births, Deaths and Marriages Historical Records online.
New Zealand Society of Genealogists
The NZSG motto is "Family History - Preserving our Past for the Future."
This site has information available to members and non-members who want to
start researching their family history.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The "Debt of Honour Register" is a database listing the 1.7 million men and
women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars, and the
23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other locations worldwide where they are
commemorated. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000
Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second
World War.
Auckland City Libraries: Family History Resources has an extensive collection of family and local history resources located in
the
Auckland Research Centre
in the
Central City Library of
Auckland City Libraries
There are family history and genealogy eResources and databases available in
the
Digital Library.
What Next?
 All your genealogy research can be organised onto a permanent digital
format.
Digitizing your family history by Rhonda R McClure
explains how to digitally preserve your family heirlooms including
documents, photographs and home movies.
Genealogy Collection
The Genealogy collection has books, magazines, microfiche and microfilm on:
- How to research family history
- Published family histories
- New Zealand Street directories
- New Zealand Electoral rolls from 1865
- Genealogical indexes
- New Zealand births, deaths and marriage records
- New Zealand cemetery records
- Shipping records
- New Zealand settler records
- New Zealand Expeditionary Force rolls and rolls of honour
- Maori Land Court Minute Books
- Waitangi Tribunal Raupatu Documents
- Waitakere Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Collection
(List of contents)
All of the Genealogy collection is easily accessible in the
Reference
Department., Waitakere Central Library. Microfilm/ microfiche readers and a computer terminal are all free
for use, available on a first come, first served basis.
To find out what is in the Genealogy collection search our
library catalogue using the subject search
'Genealogy'.
Genealogy CD-ROMs
 Are
you interested in family history?
As part of our genealogy collection Waitakere Libraries owns copies of
several CD-ROMs available for anyone to use in the library when researching
their family history.
CD-Rom databases
The following genealogy CD-Rom databases can be searched in the
Reference Department
of the Waitakere
Central Library. You can ask reference staff if you need help using
these databases.
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Baptism Index
Contains baptismal records of the earlier parishes of the Diocese for the
period 1840-1904. The alphabetical index includes the individual ID code,
surname, Christian name, date of baptism and parish. Further information for
a specific record is available by purchasing a copy of a Certificate of
Baptism. This could include the birth date, mother's maiden name, residence,
celebrant and sponsor's names.
New
Zealand WWI Service Personnel and Reserves Index
This index contains information from the following sources: NZ Expeditionary
Force Nominal Rolls 1914-1919, 1st and 2nd Division Rolls of the NZ
Expeditionary Force Reserve, New Zealanders who served with the Australian
Imperial Force, Military Defaulters Lists 1919-1921, Native Reserve Lists,
New Zealanders who served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Index of
New Zealanders who served with Allied Forces.
New
Zealand Burial Locator Version 2
A directory containing over 3 million names searchable by surname or given
name. Its purpose is to assist in the location of a burial or death,
generally in New Zealand, but includes some that occurred overseas. Records
have been collected from many sources. The locator is not a complete
transcription giving full details of the burial, but rather points the
researcher to a source or sources from which more detail may be obtained.
New
Zealand Electoral Roll 1881
Contains the over 121000 records of the 1881 electoral roll for New Zealand,
sorted alphabetically.
New
Zealand Electoral Roll 1893
The first country in the world where women had the vote
New
Zealand Marriages 1835-1956 Version 2
Contains approximately 1.7 million names. Its principle purpose is to help
identify the matching entry to a marriage in the Registrar General Office's
index of marriages 1856-1956, it does not contain details from the
certificate. Any further information can only be obtained from a copy of the
original marriage certificate.
Maori
Land Court Minute Books Index
Indexes over 1100 minute books between 1865 and 1910 from the Taitokerau,
Waikato-Maniapoto, Tairawhiti, Waiariki, Aotea, Takitimu and Waipounamu
Maori Land Court Districts. This is an index only and does not contain the
Maori Land Court Minute Books
National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868
Digitally enhanced version of: National gazetteer: a topographical
dictionary of the British Islands. Composed from the latest and best sources
and illustrated with a complete county atlas and numerous maps. Originally
published: London, 1868. This four volume set of The National Gazetteer
shows information on geography, industry and agriculture.
New
Zealand Society of Genealogists Index Version 5
New Zealand Society of Genealogist's index to 4.7 million records drawn from
144 different record types. Indexes a variety of New Zealand genealogical
resources including selections of cemetery records, probate proceedings and
newspaper headlines.
More
The New Zealand Society of Genealogists also has a useful website you
might like to view.
www.genealogy.org.nz
The Waitakere City Council provide a online search of Waikumete
Cemetery records. The search allows people to search cemetery records
and find information about their family and friends.
Waikumete Cemetery Records
Waikumete Cemetery
is the largest cemetery in New Zealand. It officially opened
in 1886. The
online cemetery search allows people to search cemetery records and find
information about their family and friends.
Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry® Library Edition is one of the most important genealogical collections
available today. It has unparalleled coverage of the United States and the
United Kingdom, including census, church, court, and immigration records, as
well as record collections from Canada and other areas from 1300 to the present.
It includes four billion names, in four thousand complete databases and is
updated daily.
Ancestry® Library Edition makes family research easy for beginners while still
providing in-depth tools for even the most advanced genealogist. It is simple to
use - just type in your ancestor's name and any other details you know, such as
where they were born, when they got married.
Ancestry® Library Edition can be used for free at all
library branches
and learning centres.
Research Advice
A New Zealand Society of Genealogists member will be
available in the Reference Department of
Waitakere Central
Library to answer your questions Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm,
and on weekends by appointment only.
Contact them on (09) 818-2161 for an appointment.
Genealogy for Children
Recommended books for children
Websites for children
WorldGenWeb for Kids
Genealogy Today
USGenWeb
Cyndi's List
About.com: Genealogy
How to Interview a Relative
Photocopying
A photocopier is available for your use in the Reference
Department.
A4 Black and white 20c
A3 Black and white 30c
A4 Colour $1.50
A3 Colour $2.50
Waitakere Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Collection
The Waitakere Branch of the New Zealand Society of
Genealogists has made their collection of books, indexes,
magazines and microfiche available for everyone to use in
the Reference Department of Waitakere Central Library. These
items may not be borrowed and an appointment must be made
before viewing the CD-Roms.
Contact them on (09) 818-2161 for an appointment.
 Browse the collection.
Useful links
A selective list of some interesting genealogy websites:
New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages Office
Instructions for people wanting to request copies of certificates and other
information.
GENEoNZ
Includes Maori whakapapa/genealogy.
Archives New Zealand
Archway contains information about more than 1.5 million records that have been
transferred from government agencies to Archives New Zealand's four offices in
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.
Commonwealth War Graves
Commission
The "Debt of Honour Register" is a database listing the 1.7 million men and
women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars, and the
23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other locations worldwide where they are
commemorated. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000
Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World
War.
New Zealand Society of
Genealogists
The NZSG motto is "Family History - Preserving our Past for the Future." This
site has information available to members and non-members who want to start
researching their family history.
Auckland City Libraries: Family History Resources
The Auckland Research Centre has an extensive collection of family history
resources located in the Auckland Research Centre, on the second floor of the
Central City Library. Auckland City Libraries has eResources and databases for
family history and genealogy available in their
Digital Library
Auckland War Memorial Museum's Cenotaph Database
This
is a biographical database of New Zealanders who have died in the 19th century
from the New Zealand Wars and South Africa, through the First and Second World
Wars to Korea, Malaya and Vietnam. Cenotaph started primarily as a roll of
honour of those who died as a result of war service. Now it includes many
personnel who have died since war service. Virtually all those who served in
World War One are included.
"What's New" Archive
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