NZ Research

NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc. http://www.genealogy.org.nz/
Online Catalogue and Family Research Centre.
Getting started http://www.genealogy.org.nz/resources/researchnz.htmlNewspapers
Many older newspapers were not published daily and thus it is not too difficult to search all issues for a three-month period to find a birth notice. Many will contain parent’s names or state the birth of a child (name) to the wife of Mr. (name) of (location) on date.
Many NZSG branches, local historical groups and local museums have indexed their local papers. Check you local NZSG branch for these indexes.
Public libraries often hold local newspapers on microfiche or film. Many Maori newspapers published between 1842 and 1932 can now be searched on line at the Maori Niupepa Collection.
The Alexander Turnbull Biographical Index should be checked. This is available in many public libraries.Church Records
Check the Church, School and District History section of the NZSG library that will be available to NZSG members from March 2002.
Local church registers for many parts of NZ still exist and are available from the church, its archives or libraries and local branches of NZSG. They will give you dates and parent names and perhaps in some cases names of other family members.Intentions to Marry
The intentions to marry have been indexed by the names of both bride and groom up to 1880, and later dates can be checked using the indexes at Archives NZ, Wellington. These records often hold more information than a marriage certificate.School Records
The national NZSG School Records project is currently underway. These records often provide birth dates, parent or guardian name, last day at school and destination if the student was moving to a new location. Brothers and sisters are often in the same school roll, perhaps in sequential entries if they all enrolled together. The beginning of this index, up to 1940, is now on the NZSG Index. The next issue will have significantly improved coverage, around 3500 schools. This index is available only to NZSG members and observes a 60 year closure rule on availability of records.
Check with the local NZSG branch to see if they have indexed the records for the area that is being researched.
Perhaps you may find your nearest archives, library or school still retains copies of school rolls and will allow you to search them.NZ probates
Most NZ probates have been indexed. The indexes are available on the NZSG Index, some portions on microfiche, and in hardcopy form in many Archives NZ regional offices. The index identifies the date of the probate of the wills in New Zealand courts and are held by Archives New Zealand. Not all probate index records contain a death date, but often the will or other supporting documentation obtainable from Archives New Zealand will reveal more about the deceased person. You will be able to identify the full name, place of death, occupation, death date (if recorded), court, the probate number (to allow the documents to be found), the filed date (usually shortly after the death date), type (whether there is a will or the person died intestate), and where the documents can be viewed.Electoral Rolls
These often show all family members of voting age at an address. Search forward and backwards to other years once you have found your family.
The 1893 electoral roll. This was the first opportunity for women to vote and a very high percentage did. Their names, residence and occupation (for example "wife") are also shown. This index is on the NZSG Index.
Become a member: http://www.genealogy.org.nz/about/join.html
Special interest Groups within NZ: http://www.genealogy.org.nz/sig/index.html
Includes Australia, Channel Islands, Cornish, East Anglia, East India, European, Greater London, Irish, Hugenot, Isle of Man, Maori, Midlands/Northwest England, North America, North East England, Pacific islands, Scottish, Southern England, Welsh
Brides and Grooms Index: http://www.genealogy.org.nz/services/match.html
NZSG has a matching brides and grooms index. Once you know the Folio (reference) number and year for the marriage you will be able to find the marriage partner's name without needing to search hundreds of microfiche frames. Knowing both partners' names also makes other records easier to search eg, probates, burials, and electoral rolls. This, in turn, will identify more family information,

Genealogy Humour...

The Top Ten Indicators That You've Become A Gene-Aholic 10. You introduce your daughter as your descendent. 9. You've never met any of the people you send e-mail to, even though you're related. 8. You can recite your lineage back 8 generations, but can't remember your nephew's name. 7. You have more photographs of dead people than living ones. 6. You've ever taken a tape recorder and/or notebook to a family reunion. 5. You've not only read the latest GEDCOM standard, you understand it! 4. The local genealogy society borrows books from you! 3. The only film you've seen in the last year was the 1880 census index. 2. More than half of your CD collection is made up of marriage records or pedigrees. 1. Your elusive ancestor has been spotted in more different places than Elvis! "The Family Tree" I think that I shall never see, the finish of a family tree, As it forever seems to grow, from roots that started long ago. Way back in ancient history times, in foreign lands and distant climes, From them grew trunk and braching limb, that dated back to times so dim, One seldom knows exactly when, the parents met and married then; Nor when the twigs began to grow, with odd named children row on row. Though verse like this was made by me, the end's in sight as you can see. 'Tis not the same with family trees, that grow and grow through centuries. CENSUS TAKER It was the first day of census, and all through the land; The pollster was ready ... a black book in hand. He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride; His book and some quills were tucked close by his side. A long winding ride down a road barely there; Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting, up through the air. The woman was tired, with lines on her face; And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place. She gave him some water ... as they sat at the table; And she answered his questions ... the best she was able. He asked of her children... Yes, she had quite a few; The oldest was twenty, the youngest not two. She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red; his sister, she whispered, was napping in bed. She noted each person who lived there with pride; And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside. He noted the sex, the color, the age... The marks from the quill soon filled up the page. At the number of children, she nodded her head; And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead. The places of birth she "never forgot"; Was it Kansas? or Utah? or Oregon ... or not? They came from Scotland, of that she was clear; But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here. They spoke of employment, of schooling and such; They could read some .and write some .. though really not much. When the questions were answered, his job there was done; So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun. We can almost imagine his voice loud and clear; "May God bless you all for another ten years." Now picture a time warp ... its' now you and me; As we search for the people on our family tree. We squint at the census and scroll down so slow; As we search for that entry from long, long ago. Could they only imagine on that long ago day; That the entries they made would effect us this way? If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel; And the searching that makes them so increasingly real. We can hear if we listen the words they impart; Through their blood in our veins and their voice in our heart.