New Zealand Public Records

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Records NZ is a trusted online index of New Zealand records. The index includes information from both public and private sources and is categorised by area. The guide gives direct access to the original provider of the data-sets so that you can skip the middle man. Whilst the majority are free, we have also included fee based records where applicable.

Records NZ is available to the general public and serves many useful purposes. Those in fields including genealogy, investigations, employment screening, journalism and other research areas will find it of particular use. Check with all relevant laws and standards before considering using selected records for employment background checks.

The index summarises the collection spanning into the billions of public records.

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There’s a lot of interesting and useful searches to discover in the index, so be sure to take your time and explore all that’s on offer. And when you’re done, be sure to bookmark us and visit again as we are always expanding.

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Uncover why people across the country are turning to Records NZ for research.

Military BannerSearch the service records of the New Zealand Defence Force and find those in your family who were active in Wars. Military Records of those deceased are available to anyone upon request. Find out if your ancestors were war heroes and what medals they were eligible for.

Discover memorials where names might be mentioned and more.

Searching for birth records and adoption details? If you’re over 20 you can request a copy of your original birth certificate from before the adoption. You can request this directly from Births, Deaths and Marriages. This can give you names and a way of discovering information about your birth family.

If you are heading down this path, have you considered having support? There are organisations that can assist you through this process.

Symonds Street CemeteryDeath records are an important vital record that can help trace your family history. You can gain access to historic information online where the death occurred over 50 years ago or the person’s date of birth was at least 80 years ago.

These certificates can give a valuable insight, as after 1875 they contained the names of the parents, as well as their profession, occupation or rank of the father.

Many NZ regional and city councils also provide cemetery records online which contain additional information. You can also learn the block and plot numbers so you can locate the site.

When screening potential employees, a criminal record check should always be considered. It can help protect your business and in some industries it is mandatory. 

International: Public Records Australia