With the growth of interest in heritage, many Puke Ariki customers want to research the history behind the house they have bought, intend buying or already live in. Sources for this tend to be fragmented and you need to search in a number of areas to get a complete picture.
Library collection
The library catalogue can be used in-house at Puke Ariki or accessed online.
These books tend to cover the more well-known houses. Some subject headings to try searching include:
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - New Plymouth
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Patea
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Hawera
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Kaponga
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Opunake
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Waverley
- Historic Buildings - New Zealand - Manaia
- New Plymouth - Historic houses etc
- New Plymouth (NZ) - Buildings, structures etc
- Central Business Districts - New Zealand - New Plymouth
Some examples of titles that can be found using the above subject headings:
Photograph collection
There are many photos of houses held in the Taranaki Research Centre (TRC), on Level Two in the South Wing of Puke Ariki. Check in the card catalogue index under the following subject headings:
- The name of the original owner (if you know this)
- New Plymouth - buildings - private residences
- Inglewood - buildings - private residences
- Waitara - buildings - private residences
- Stratford - buildings - private residences
- Eltham - buildings - private residences
- Hawera - buildings - private residences
- Patea - buildings - private residences
- South Taranaki - buildings - private residences
- Inland Taranaki - buildings - private residences
- Coastal Taranaki - buildings - private residences
- North Taranaki - buildings - private residences
Archives Collection
Ask TRC staff to search the Archives database for you or alternatively search here.
Check under the following subject headings:
- Architecture
- Buildings
- Family life
- Houses
- Housing
The information contained in this database includes letters, diaries, photographs, taped interviews and plans.
There is also a card catalogue that lists architects and the houses and public buildings they designed. Information listed on these cards includes the name of the building and the date it was built. There are also some references to further information in maps and plans held in the Architectural Drawings and Plans Collection. Ask Puke Ariki staff to help you look at these.
There are a number of photocopied articles and newspaper clippings kept in the vertical files collection, also in the Research Centre. Look in the section called Locations - Buildings.
Besides these sources, there are uncatalogued items held in the Puke Ariki Archive collection. The most useful of these are building permit registers from about 1902-1980. These are indexed under the name of the property owner and record the section number and any construction of houses, sheds, renovations and additions. To search this collection you need to have a list of owners for the approximate period you are interested in.
Council Records
Staff members in the main council offices also have access to information about individual houses in the New Plymouth District. So far, there is no single database of a property that records its history, though there are projects under way to enhance this.
Finding the history of a property can mean staff members have to search a combination of databases, old building plans and council records. To do this you can contact the council directly or you may channel your query through the Taranaki Research Centre. Whatever route you choose to use, it is helpful to tell staff which avenues you have already explored. This saves double handling and miscommunication.
The Planning Policy Team at the council has information on buildings and items of historic value in New Plymouth, Inglewood, Waitara and surrounding districts. These are referred to as Heritage A, B and C buildings. These buildings have been assessed in accordance with the criteria in the District Plan. The Heritage A items, which have the most significant heritage values, are subject to planning rules. Heritage B and C items are not subject to rules; however the council is interested in preserving these building by using incentives.
Information that is usually available on these buildings includes:
- The address of the house
- A photo
- Any significant architectural features
- The name of the architect, builder or engineer if known
- A brief history of the building (if information available)
- A heritage category for planning purposes
This information only assesses the historic integrity and does not contain information on structural elements of the building.
Staff in the Planning Policy Team can be contacted directly about this information or again you can channel your query through the Taranaki Research Centre.