Beginning to Research in New Zealand

[Lottie]

Hi

All those who are searching for relatives who came /possibly came to New Zealand - and are not sure where to start - feel free to ask for advice.
I don't know all, but do know where most records are held!!

Those who subscribe to Family Tree Magazine - there is an article in the June issue, about researching in New Zealand, using the internet. some very useful links are given.

All the Best

Lottie
New Zealand

NZ Born, of English Worcestershire, Scottish ( Midlothian & Peebleshire ) and Finnish origins!

[Ken Boyce]

Hi Lottie

I've been searching for my mother's longh lost brother Leonard Frederick? PERRIS b Islington c1907 went to New Zealand c1930 and disappeared According to recent information from my Australian sister (we were united for the first time last week after some 40yrs at opposite ends of the globe!) he was a married sea captain plying between NZ and Australia and died of a heart attack a few weeks before my sister was to meet with him in Aust c1970 She does not remember how the proposed meeting came about and has no other details.

How would I go about tracing his NZ history.

Regards

[Lottie]

KenResearching with an flexible time-frame, it often preferable to start at the end and work back!

Shipping Arrivals in NZ are only indexed up until 1910 - a process which is being worked on, but few Passenger Lists are availbale for dates after then, at present.

IMHO the best place to start, would be locating his death.
This site http://www.govt.nz/recordrecordid=570

Will do searches ( for a fee ) and also once Death located in the index , can provide a Certificate Copy.
NZ Death Certificates are mini Biographies - not just, date , cause ,place and age. But also place of Birth, whether married/widowed, spouse's name( sometimes maiden name also) how long resident in New Zealand, how long married , how many children living or dead and their ages.

http://www.archives.govt.nz/index.html
Hold Will/Probate Indexes and its more than possible that a Master Mariner would leave one.

Once you have achieved ( hopefully the above ) you may be able to commence to search for possible descendants.
With that the following organistaion NZ Society of Genealogists may be able to assist.

All the Best

Lottie
New Zealand

[Lottie]

Ken

Meant also to say, that NZ National Archives hold records of those who served in the 2 World Wars, if your Uncle did serve in NZ Forces his records will be there at this Web- Site

http://www.archives.govt.nz/index.html

Though its possible, that as a Master Mariner on the Trans Tasman run, he may have been classed as ' employed in essential services ' but Archives will also have Record of that.

Lottie

[Burrow Digger]

Lottie,

Can you please advise where I can obtain a BMD certificate from overseas, with a credit card?

My parents still live in NZ, and my mother was adopted. She has her original birth certificate under the Adoption Act. So now I need to get my grandmothers birth certificate, but I dont live in NZ anymore.

Thanks

BD

[Burrow Digger]

I think I found it. I'm going to try this site.

http://www.bdm.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Index?OpenDocument

But they dont let you pay online? How antiquated. :(

I dont really want to have to write to NZ BMD and wait weeks to get a certificate/response. Is that really the only way?

[Lottie]

Burrow

Try -
http://www.govt.nz/record?recordid=570

You can pay online, do it myself !!!

Lottie

[Burrow Digger]

Lottie
How exactly does one pay the NZ government online? I dont see any shopping cart. Do I need to give them my card details in an email?
How do you pay online?

Thanks
BD

[Lottie]

Burrow Digger

Sorry should have explained - no there isn't a shopping cart - what I do is download form and complete it it, then copy and paste to an HTML email.
Suggest you email them ( address on page) and ask if there is a better way.

Actually things may have changed. Registrar's Office moved from Lower Hutt, where I am, into Wellington, 18mths ago.( only 20k distant) When they were in the Hutt , I usually paid by cheque and collected the Certs. from the office, but now my husband does the ordering and collecting and I know pays by EFTPOS.

Check with them as to how they cope with Overseas purchases, and perhaps let the forum know!
I have just rung them and , besides being 13th in Line, they say all our information is on our web site - one of the numbers to select was to purchase Cert, using Credit Card etc etc. so obviously they do accept them!

hth
Lottie:)

[IreneH]

Simpler way is to simple ring them up gave them the particulars and your CC number and you will have it in 8-10 working days.
Theres a 0800 number.
I get all mine that way - they are very helpful.

Irene

[Lottie]

Irene

Yes fine if you are a resident of NZ, but Burrow Digger enquiring , lives in Canada, and was attempting to locate a way to purchase online !

Lottie
Lower Hutt
New Zealand

[Lottie]

Also meant to say, agree with post saying not to use 0800 numbers when ringing from Overseas.
If you use the Wellington phone No. you will be subject to delays , ( Like I was 13th in queue , yesterday) taped phone response doesn't recognise " I'm phoning from Overseas '" ;)
Also you would have to ensure , you got the time difference correct.

Preferable to use the FAX if concerned about email CC details.


Lottie
New Zealand

[Burrow Digger]

We do have calling cards, I could use those.

Does the dept have an email address? I'd much prefer to send an email. You ask your question and wait for a reply, and you're not kept waiting in hold forever :)

Thanks

BD

[Lottie]

Burrow

bdm.nz@dia.govt.nz (bdm.nz@dia.govt.nz)

is the address for all departments !!

all the Best

Lottie

[whiteraven]

http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/cbluff/passengerships.html

I hope this helps

[Burrow Digger]

Not that I need to worry about all this now - but its now over 3 years later and my mother finally got her original birth certificate. I have been lucky enough to get her maternal grandfathers line all the way back to the 1600s in Cornwall.

But thanks for all the advice.

[RestiesMum]

Hi Lottie,

I wonder if you could advise me? I am searching for my gx3 grandfather Humphrey Smale. He disappears from the UK censuses after 1861 and reappears in 1891.

Meanwhile, I know his son Jethro and his wife Fanny arrived in Wellington in April 1876 aboard the Waipa and are back in UK by 1881. I just wondered if it was possible they had come out to join Humphrey (and his wife Susan). I have trawled through passenger lists that I can find online, but wondered whether there are any other online sources I could try such as NZ censuses? I'd be very grateful for any ideas.

Sods law, we came to NZ on the holiday of a lifetime a couple of years back to visit relatives, little realising they were not the first to come to Wellington. Could have had some happy hours digging in local libraries etc!!!

Best wishes

Sunic |wave|

[Chisel]

Not a lot on line especially censuses. However for your future reference NZBDM http://bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/
& Archives http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Unfortunately these are unlikely to help you if your family was only visiting.

Oops should have read all the previous emails as I've just repeated what been said before.

[IreneH]

Hi RestiesMum,

NZ does not keep census records after the information gather has been collated.

Have a look at the BMD records online and see if a death for appears.

Irene