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The government records of New Zealand are centralized and well-organized, offering clear paths for genealogical research. Civil registration began in 1848, followed by national censuses and land surveys. The New Zealand Gazette published legal appointments, land transfers, and naturalization notices. Electoral rolls, available from the 1850s onward, provide recurring snapshots of adult populations. Government employee records, school admissions, and military service files from World War I and World War II help round out individual life stories. Māori land court records and tribal registers are also critical for tracing Indigenous ancestry. Researchers benefit from New Zealand’s early adoption of consistent and accessible public recordkeeping.
Government, Land, Court & Wills
Government Records
- New Zealand Gazette 1882 1,986 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1878 1,814 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1883 1,796 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1880 1,767 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1886 1,760 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1881 1,729 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1877 1,241 records
- New Zealand Gazette 1876 957 records
