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Dunedin

The Dunedin Regional Office was established in 1993. It holds archives from the Otago and Southland region (i.e. south of the Waitaki River).

Functions of the Office include:

  • The provision of secure and effective care, control, custody of and equitable access to the archives of Central Government in the region through the provision of a full range of archives services and an appropriate range of recordkeeping services at the local level.
  • A conduit for communication to and from the regional community and Archives New Zealand's Head Office; and for the provision of advice to the Chief Archivist and group managers on regional issues and regional views on national issues.

The services we offer:

The Dunedin Regional Office offers a range of services to the public and to Government

  • Reading room: Our reading room is open to the public between 9.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Trained staff are available to help you to access the holdings, which are available for reference only. A photocopy service is available.
  • Send a remote reference request via our online form.
  • Government loans service: Follow this link to view more information about Government Loans.
  • Tours and talks to interested groups. Staff are available to speak to groups on various aspects of Archives New Zealand's work, or about holdings. Guided tours of the Dunedin Regional Office can also be arranged, and tailored to suit the needs of the group. For further details, contact the Dunedin Regional Office.
  • Exhibitions: Physical exhibitions periodically held on-site relate a variety of historical and topical themes as a means of promoting awareness of Archives New Zealand's role in the preservation of the country's documentary heritage.
  • E-mail us: dunedin@archives.govt.nz
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Holdings:

The Dunedin Regional Office holds over 5,500 linear metres of archives, in the form of files, bound volumes, maps, plans and photographs.

The archives record Government activities carried out from the 1840s to the present day. The archives constitute an official record of New Zealand's past and include information on education, customs, courts, companies, forestry, railways, works, land settlement and many other activities.

The following list gives an indication of the range of Government departments or agencies, the archives of which are now held by the Dunedin Regional Office:

  • Department of Lands & Survey
  • Department of Justice
  • Police Department
  • Public Works Department/Ministry of Works & Development
  • Railways Department
  • Television New Zealand
  • Department of Health
  • NZ Forest Service
  • NZ Fire Service
  • Department of Social Welfare
  • Ministry of Commerce, Companies Office
  • NZ Post Office
  • Department of Customs

Genealogical sources held by the Dunedin Regional Office are listed in our Family History Research GuidePDF Document (1,404 kb), and include probates, immigration records, and military service records. Further information about genealogical sources held here and at other Archives New Zealand offices is available in our series of reference guides.

Contact details:

Street Address: 556 George Street, Dunedin
Postal Address: P O Box 6183, Dunedin North, New Zealand
Telephone: 64-3-477-0404
Facsimile: 64-3-477-0422
E-mail Address: dunedin@archives.govt.nz
Open: 9.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Closed on Public Holidays.
Carparks: 6 free carparks, 1 disabled persons carpark, all sign-posted at street vehicle entrance.
Bus routes: Normanby, Opoho, Pine Hill - get off at Albany St stop - one minute walk north.

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