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Kia ora and welcome to Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand.

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Ngā aratohu rangahau
Help with your research

Need research support? Start here if you’re new to archives or want help researching your specific topic.

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Kimihia he pūkete
Finding a record

Already know what you're looking for? Learn the best ways to find the different types of records we hold.

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Whakahaere mōhiohio
Managing information

Want to know more about managing government records? Read our best practice information management guidance and advice.

Learn how to manage your information

Kei te kimi i tētahi pūkete?
Looking for a record?

Use our new Collections search to find what you need.

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E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira mā.

Ko Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga tēnei e mihi atu nei.

Nau mai, haere mai.

Tēnā koutou katoa

To the many authorities, voices and esteemed leaders.

Archives New Zealand is hereby greeting you.

Welcome, welcome.

Greetings to you all

Ngā kaupapa kaingākau
Popular topics

Ngā kōrero mai i te pūranga
Stories from the archives

View more stories

Old coloured photo of an orchestra performing on a stage

Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO)

'From the Archives — New Zealand Symphony Orchestra' online exhibition is a collaboration between Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO), and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Coloured illustration of a black moth and words written on the top Pūrerehua (Kahukura) on a background of circular blue patterns
Discover

Ngā Whakaputanga Kura School Publications

In this online exhibition, explore newly digitised School Publications artworks by celebrated New Zealand artists. You'll also find out about the history of School Publications and how we acquired the records related to them.

Hand drawn drawings of a flying machine on an old paper. Some text written in black.

Patent specifications show the storied history of Kiwi ingenuity

We hold tens of thousands of examples of kiwis inventing and improving upon products, processes, and new experiences.

An old map showing plan of a district

Researching the Land Deeds records

The Deeds are high-use records at our reading room in Christchurch, covering Canterbury, Westland, Nelson and Marlborough.

3 mean standing on snow with mountaineering gear. Man on the left is standing behind a film camera

He arawātea 'tūturu' ki te whakaora ā-ataata nei i ngā tīpuna A ‘reel’ opportunity bringing the past to life

Find out about the family connection that one of our archivists has with one of the archives in our holdings.

Ngā tuhinga tūāpapa ā-ture o Aotearoa
New Zealand's constitutional documents

Photo of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni - the New Zealand declaration of independence
Long Story

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni The Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – e mōhiotia ana ki te reo Ingarihi ko te Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand – he tuhinga turepapa tēnei, otirā he hiranga tuku iho, he hiranga ahurea.

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – known in English as the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand – is a constitutional document of historical and cultural significance

Pages from the Treaty of Waitangi
Discover

Te Tiriti o Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi

Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi — e mōhiotia ana ki te reo Pākehā ko te Treaty of Waitangi — he whakaaetanga o ngā tangata whenua me te Karauna. Tūhuratia ngā kōrero mō Te Tiriti, mai i te timatanga ki tēnei rā.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi — known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi — is an agreement between tangata whenua and the British Crown. Discover the story of te Tiriti, from how it happened to where it is today.

Text written on an old grey paper with a heading and the first letter of each sentence written in a calligraphic style.
Quick Read

Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wāhine The Women's Suffrage Petition

When Governor Glasgow signed the Electoral Bill on 19 September 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing nation in the world where women had won the right to vote.

In 1893 Aotearoa New Zealand became the first country in the world in which all women gained the right to vote in general elections — thanks to the women who created, organised and signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition.

Tūhuratia te kohinga ā-motu o ngā toi pakanga
Discover the national collection of war art

View more war art

WWI

WWI

WWII

WWII

Other wars

Other wars

Ngā mea hou
What's new

View more news

New way of working begins for National Library and Archives New Zealand

From today, a new joint leadership structure bringing the National Library Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa and Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa closer together takes effect.

01 July 2025

Important changes to the Government Loan process in the Wellington reading room

Please note the upcoming changes to the Government Loan process due to the closure of the 10 Mulgrave Street Wellington reading room from Monday 30 June to Friday 29 August 2025 (inclusive).

23 June 2025

Message to customers from Poumanaaki Chief Archivist

The construction of the new archival building in Wellington is complete, and we are now preparing for what will be a large-scale and progressive move there of staff, equipment and holdings from July 2025.

21 May 2025

He whakatūpato kupu kiko
Content warning

He kōrero matatapu pea kei roto i ngā pūranga, ka whakapāmamae pea i te tangata. Ko ētahi pea o ngā kōrero, he mōhiohio, he reo manioro ka kīia ināianei he tawhito, ā, he mōrihariha hoki. Me tūpato i te wā e whakauru atu ana.

Archives can contain sensitive content that may be upsetting. Some items may include disturbing information and language now considered outdated and offensive. Take care when accessing them.