This is a guide for researching Pakeha genealogy. It includes some of the resources we have in the Taranaki Research Centre at Puke Ariki.
Getting Started
Start with yourself and work backwards.
Ask others in your family, particularly older members, about your family history.
Check out our Books and journals for information on how to research genealogy.
Did your ancestor arrive on one of the early ships into New Plymouth or other New Zealand ports? See Shipping List Information.
Birth, Deaths and Marriages certificates contain very useful information about family members.
Shipping List Information
A database is available in the Taranaki Research Centre of passenger arrivals and departures, as reported in the Taranaki Herald shipping news from 1843 to 1885. This index has been a joint effort between Puke Ariki and the New Plymouth Genealogy Group. Data from 1852-1885 is also available online.
Indexes and lists of passengers are stored at National Archives in Wellington. This library is open to the public and staff will conduct searches for people outside Wellington for a fee.
Shipping lists can also be found on the Internet. You need to be aware that not all of these are accurate or contain complete lists.
Other resources in the Taranaki Research Centre:
Microfiche
- Births, deaths, marriages indexes 1840-1990
- Maori births, deaths, marriages indexes 1913-1965
- Electoral rolls 1865-1975
- Alexander Turnbull Library Biographies Index (approx. 1940-1987)
- Index to New Zealand Cemetery records (latest one 1998)
- Wises New Zealand Post Office Directories 1866-1955
- Maori newspapers 1842-1933
- Maori Land Court records
- Miscellaneous fiche, include land, military, shipping, wills and probate indexes
- Indexes to births, deaths, marriages, recorded in the Taranaki Herald from 1852-1935
Jury lists
Military records
Electoral rolls from 1975 onwards
Taranaki phone books from 1958 onwards
Family biographies of selected Taranaki families
Files on various Taranaki places and topics
Index to Wesleyan/Methodist baptisms to 1900
Index of New Plymouth street names and their provenance
Maps and plans depicting the Taranaki region
Architectural plans
Archives of local companies, businesses and societies
Personal papers of Taranaki identities and families
Databases/Electronic files
Births, deaths, marriages indexes 1991-1995
Maori Land Court Index
An online archives database with access to the Image Collection and the Archives catalogue
Indexes to births, marriages and jury lists recorded in the Taranaki Herald from 1852-1935
Indexes to the Taranaki Almanac and early Taranaki military records
Photographs
There is a photographic collection in the New Zealand Room of Taranaki people and places. This is a small proportion of the entire collection, which will be available in 2003. There is currently a card catalogue index to this collection, which will be replaced by an online database of records and images.
Oral archive
Puke Ariki has a record and tape collection of Taranaki people and sounds. This is available through the Taranaki Research Centre.
Newspapers
The Daily News and Taranaki Herald are currently available on microfilm for viewing and printing. Puke Ariki holds the Taranaki Herald from 1852 and The Daily News from 1976.
We hold paper copies of most of these newspapers, which, depending on their age and fragility, may be available for viewing at Puke Ariki. These are not to be photocopied but a digital camera copy or transcription may be permitted.
Taranaki Research Centre - General Information
The research centre is open during Puke Ariki opening hours.
Bags cannot be taken into the research centre - lockers are available.
There are charges for printing and photocopying.
Photocopying is not permitted from bound newspapers, or from some older, rare, or fragile material.
If you are unable to visit the library in person you can phone, fax, email or write to our staff, who will carry out research for you. If the enquiry is brief and takes less than 15 minutes there is no charge; after this time we charge $15 per 15 minutes.
How To Get Information About Births, Deaths and Marriages
The BDM indexes are an extremely useful start to researching your family tree. Once you have the dates and names verified using the microfiche in Puke Ariki, you can then apply to the Department of Internal Affairs for a full certificate. The full certificates give added information such as maiden names, occupations, ages of children, place married, and the place born, which make them valuable for family research.
Each microfiche index contains slightly different information, depending on whether it is a birth, death or marriage. They contain all or some of the following details – a folio number (identify the district where the event registered and allows registry staff to find certificates), surname, Christian name, mother's name and district.
Before using the microfiche, it helps to have an idea of the date of the event (or at least a date range) and the correct spelling of the surname.
Puke Ariki also has a database of the BDM indexes from 1991-1995. This contains exactly the same information as the microfiche indexes, but is easier to search. Please ask Puke Ariki staff if you wish to use this.
Internet Resources
Some websites that may be of use to you include:
New Zealand Society of Genealogists
This is the official website of the NZSOG – it has a number of useful resources including materials for sale, contact details for various services and links to useful websites.
New Zealand Genealogy Links
A collection of miscellaneous links to various New Zealand online sources e.g. executions 1852-1957, selected school roles, descendants of the Bounty mutineers, historic tribes and canoes. Many of these may not be particularly useful, but they make fascinating reading.
Iwidex
Iwidex is an index to the sources of information on tribal history, tikanga-a-iwi, and whakapapa held in the heritage and research collections of Auckland City Libraries. It has its strengths in its focus on people, whakapapa and the land. The information contained in this index is drawn from a wide range of materials, both published and unpublished.
Cyndi's List
This is a huge list of links to genealogy sites maintained by an American woman. It is strong on United States genealogy, but also has big sections on the United Kingdom and European genealogy. One of the most useful sections is the list of new links added each month – this is useful just to browse through to see what contributors have added.
Family Search Internet Genealogy Search
This website is maintained by the Church of the Latter Day Saints and includes a surname search, as well as maintaining email discussions on family names, and links to free downloadable software for managing your family tree.
UK Family History Online
This site claims that it provides easy access to information and links to the main UK family history sites on the web. Also includes links to Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Records Offices.
Cyndi's List of Genealogy sites on the Internet - Ireland and Northern Ireland
Provides links to a comprehensive collection of Irish websites
Stratford Geneaology - branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Waitara Geneaology - branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Other Resources in Our Collection
The library has a large number of resources on genealogy including books and magazines. These are housed with the general collection and are available for loan.
Journals include:
- New Zealand Family Tree
- Family Tree Magazine
- New Zealand Memories
Books include the following (check the genealogy section at Dewey Decimal number 929 for more):
- Genealogy Online / Crowe, Elizabeth P.
- Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs / Taylor, Maureen Alice
- A Beginner's Guide to Family History Research in New Zealand / Anne Bromell
- First Steps in Genealogy / Main, Colleen P.
- The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for more successful family history research / Croom, Emily Anne
- Tracing Family History Overseas from New Zealand / Anne Bromell
- A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering your Female Ancestors / Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo
- The Oxford Guide to Family History
- There are also a number of family histories (relating to Taranaki) kept at the library. Check our catalogue for these or ask a librarian to help you.
Other Resources in the Community
New Zealand Society of Genealogists New Plymouth Branch
Location: New Plymouth Branch Rooms and Family Research Library,
Moturoa Shopping Centre,
New Plymouth (access via car park off Whitely Street)
Contact: Michael Butler
Email: Michael.butler@clear.net.nz
Open: Monday 10am - 3pm, and 6pm - 8pm
Wednesday 12noon - 3pm
Friday 10am - 12noon
Saturday 10am - 12noon
Charges: Free to members
$5 to the public per day or part day
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Family History Centre
320 Mangorei Road
New Plymouth
Ph: (06) 758-9646