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Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand

In Māori, Te Ara means 'the pathway'. Through interlinking text and image trails, the Encyclopedia takes you on a journey of discovery. Beginning with the theme of Peoples, it will eventually present a comprehensive guide to New Zealand - its natural environment, history, culture, economics and government.

An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand

Edited by A.H. McLintock and published in 1966. For many subjects it remains a valuable source. The contents have not been corrected or updated for publication online. Digitised as part of the Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand Project.

Heritage and History @ localeye

organizations and information connected with the history and heritage of Christchurch and Canterbury.
From localeye - Your online guide to Christchurch and Canterbury.

History @ Te Puna Web Directory

Links to New Zealand organisations and information.

The 1918 Flu Pandemic

New Zealand's worst disease outbreak, the lethal influenza pandemic of 1918. In two months New Zealand lost about half as many people to influenza as it had in the whole of the First World War. From nzhistory.net

1951 waterfront dispute

The waterfront dispute of 1951 was the biggest industrial confrontation in New Zealand’s history. Although it was not as violent as the Great Strike of 1913, it lasted longer – 151 days, from February to July – and involved more workers. From nzhistory.net

Anheizen.com

Anheizen.com is an educational web site which 'brings to life' the details of Tarawera eruption and the loss of the Pink and White Terraces. The site has personalised the tragedy with images, facts and real stories.

Anzac.org

This website has been conceived for helping overseas visitors to organise their travel to the Somme battlefields and memorials and to follow in the Australian and New Zealander fighters' footsteps.

Auckland street names

Auckland City Libraries' database Auckland City Street Names thus attempts to present verified information as to the origins of names, dates of formation, and any name changes for all streets within the boundaries of the Auckland City Council. All Auckland City Council area street names are included in the Auckland City Street Names index. Older streets in Mangere, Manurewa, North Shore, Papatoetoe or Waitakere, are listed in seperate databases.

'Black Tuesday': The 1912 Waihi strike

On 'Black Tuesday', 12 November 1912, in the midst of a bitter six-month strike by miners in the small New Zealand goldmining town of Waihi, striker Fred Evans was killed - one of only two fatalities in an industrial dispute in New Zealand's history. From nzhistory.net

A Brief History of Auckland Auckland

A Brief History of Auckland City written by Graham Bush. Covering the period 1840 to 1998, this history also includes a selected Auckland City chronology, a list of Mayors and statistics for City and Metropolitan population.

A Brief History of Invercargill Invercargill

From the Invercargill City Council. Includes images of historic buildings.

Brief history of New Zealand

from Pure NZ

Canterbury Heritage

Social history and cultural heritage studies of Christchurch and Canterbury.

Children and Adolescents in New Zealand 1930-1960

The family and child welfare as well as the rise of the teenager during the mid-century decades. From nzhistory.net

Christchurch before 1850 : inner-city and coastal heritage trails Christchurch

The first peoples: Waitaha to European in Christchurch. Inner-city and coastal heritage trails

Christchurch Chronology

A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989. Includes this week in history,

The Colonial View

Watercolours from the Fletcher Trusts Art Collection. With an overview essay on New Zealand colonial painting and painters.

The Daily Grind: Wellington Cafe Culture 1920-2000

The rise of Wellington's coffee scene. Produced by the Masters in Public History students, Victoria University of Wellington). From nzhistory.net

Declaration of Independence He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni

This is an international declaration signed on 28 October 1835 which recognises the sovereignty of the Independent Tribes of New Zealand. It was the forerunner of the Treaty of Waitangi and has a flag to symbolise tribal rights to trade as independent nations. Presented by Waitangi Associates

Early Christchurch

Fact sheets about the early European colonisation of Christchurch and some of its most famous personalities. From Christchurch City Libraries.

The Electronic Journal of Australian and New Zealand History

Peer reviewed journal on the history and culture of Australia and New Zealand, supported by the James Cook University.

The Exploration of New Zealand

Introductions and links to information about early Polynesian and European explorers as well as explorers of the New Zealand interior.
From nzhistory.net

Explore Historic Christchurch - City of Gothic Proportions Christchurch

A walking guide to 28 historic Christchurch buildings.

The First Four Ships

A project by The Press, Christchurch, to identify and gather information on the passengers of The First Four Ships to colonise Christchurch and Canterbury.

From Memory Oral History Programme

The From Memory Oral History Programme offers information and advice for interviewing New Zealand war veterans including background on each of the main Second World War campaigns in which New Zealanders served, and lists of suggested questions. It also features a comprehensive guide to creating oral histories which covers everything from finding interviewees to choosing the correct equipment. From nzhistory.net

Frontier of Dreams

Harmonizing my starting place: Charles Brasch, patron, poet and collector

This exhibition celebrates the life and legacy of Charles Orwell Brasch (1909-1973), the Dunedin-born man who formed much of New Zealand's artistic and literary tradition by his twenty-year editorship of Landfall, New Zealand's premier literary magazine. Online exhibition from Otago University

Hawaii Pacific Journal Index

From the University of Hawaii at Manoa who have selectively indexed over 50 titles. Titles indexed include: Archaeology in New Zealand, The Journal of the Polynesian Society, and New Zealand Journal of History.

He Tirohanga Ki Muri A view of the past

He tirohanga ki muri ~ A view of the past is an attempt to capture and convey a selection of Maori heritage materials from the Hocken Library, which not only speak of important events and relationships, but also acknowledge the mana, (prestige, dignity and authority) of our ancestors through the words and wisdom they have left behind. Online exhibition from Otago University

Historic Akaroa

photographs and information about the history of Akaroa. From the Akaroa Civic Trust

Historic Auckland

The website of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Pouhere Taonga.

Historic Lyttelton Buildings

This is a continuing series of articles written by local Lyttelton historian Liza Rossie some of which have been previously published in the 'Akaroa Mail' newspaper.

History Now

History Now began as Historical News, in 1995, it was revamped into a magazine format and renamed History Now. Full text of volumes 7 - 11 are online.

History of Christchurch Cinemas

A History of the Vote in New Zealand

Tracing the evolution of voting and democracy in New Zealand.

Home Away From 'Home': British and Irish Immigration to New Zealand, 1840-1914

A statistical, historical profile of English, Irish and Scottish immigrants to New Zealand, 1840-1914. From nzhistory.net

Horowhenua Historical Database

IPENZ Engineering Heritage

IPENZ has an active programme for the identification and promotion of New Zealand’s engineering heritage. The objective of this Heritage Programme is to inspire and teach present and future generations about New Zealand's engineering heritage by preserving the legacy of the past through its identification, maintenance and promotion.

Journal of the Polynesian Society

The early issues of the Journal contain a rich repository of indigenous texts and traditions contributed by Pacific peoples, as well as by missionaries and other sojourners, often published in local languages with English translations. Currently has 1892 - 1905 online.

Ko Tawa: Taonga From Our Ancestral Landscapes

Ko Tawa is designed to bridge past and present: to make these unique taonga accessible to young Māori growing up away from their home-marae communities, whilst also providing all visitors with an insight into the contemporary world of the Māori. Includes images and descriptions of taonga. From the collection of Gilbert Mair at Auckland Museum

Labour Day - a history

Celebrated on the fourth Monday in October, Labour Day commemorates the struggle for an eight-hour working day. The first Labour Day in New Zealand was celebrated on 28 October 1890, when several thousand trade union members and supporters attended parades in the main centres. From nzhistory.net

Literature in New Zealand 1930-1960

Explore the context of the flowering of New Zealand literature. From nzhistory.net

Living Heritage Tikanga Tuku Iho

An online bilingual initiative that enables New Zealand schools to develop and publish an online resource, based on a heritage treasure in their community

Long Journey for Sevenpence

This feature is based on Long Journey for Sevenpence: Assisted Immigration to New Zealand from the United Kingdom 1947-1975 by Megan Hutching. It records the experiences of some of the 77,000 women, children and men who came from Great Britain to New Zealand between 1947 and 1975 under the assisted immigration scheme. From nzhistory.net

The Māori - Volume one

By Elsdon Best. This sketch of pre-European Māori life by the early NZ anthropologist is based on the author's research notebooks dating back to the 1870s. Digitised by New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.

Manukau's journey - a Manukau timeline

Manukau's journey - a Manukau timeline is a selection of significant and representative events from the history of Manukau City and adjoining areas.

Maori and the Vote

Tracing the evolution of Maori voting and democracy in New Zealand

New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, 1939-40

From nzhistory.net

New Zealand Gazette Archive

New Zealand Gazette Archive comprises searchable and browsable PDF (portable document format) copies of issues of the New Zealand Gazette and related publications from 1841. Published by LexisNexis.

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga

Keeps New Zealand's heritage places alive and useful. Recognition, protection and promotion of New Zealand's historic and cultural heritage.

New Zealand Historical Cartoon Archive

From the NZ History Teachers Association, a collection of historically relevant cartoons with questions for students.

New Zealand History

An eclectic collection of information on New Zealand history, including the arrival of the Māori, The Musket Wars, and the Moriori.

New Zealand History Timeline

A month by month break down of events in New Zealand history with links provided for further information. From nzhistory.net

The New Zealand Natives' rugby tour of 1888/89

The story of the first New Zealand representative sports team to tour Britain, and the context in which they lived and played rugby. From nzhistory.net

New Zealand Politics Timeline

A timeline of political firsts produced by Christchurch City Libraries.

New Zealand Women and the Vote: Suffrage and Beyond

A history of the suffragist movement in New Zealand, the first country in the world to grant women the vote in 1893.
From nzhistory.net

New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers

Companion to television programme that celebrates our great achievers. The seven-part series will count down the top one hundred most influential New Zealanders as chosen by a specialist panel, in order of significance of their achievements.

No Pavlova Please: food in the 20th century

Glimpses into New Zealand's changing food and drink culture in the twentieth century. Includes historical sound files of our most famous radio announcer, Aunt Daisy. From nzhistory.net

Nuclear Free New Zealand.

A quick history of the nuclear free movement in New Zealand. Topics include nuclear testing in the Pacific, nuclear ship visits, the adoption of nuclear free zone legislation and the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior in July 1985. From nzhistory.net

nzhistory.net.nz

Aims to be the first port of call for information on New Zealand history. Co-ordinated by the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Online Poll Tax Records

Published by New Zealand's Office of Ethnic Affairs, this website provides access to the Poll Tax Records compiled by Customs officials about Chinese immigrants to New Zealand via the Port of Wellington between 1881 and 1944.

'The Other Side of the Story' - Protest and dissent, 1940-60

Overview of wartime protest, the Holmes 'satchel snatch', the 1951 waterfront dispute and the Nelson women's railway protest.
From nzhistory.net

Our Land, Our People

Snapshots of New Zealand History. From the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Our Picturesque Heritage: 100 Years of Scenery Preservation in New Zealand

An insight into New Zealand's unique environment and heritage.
From nzhistory.net

Out and About - Homosexual Law Reform in NZ.

The Homosexual Law Reform Act was passed 20 years ago; no longer would men having consensual sex with each other be liable to prosecution and a term of imprisonment. Created this feature in conjunction with Radio New Zealand who are broadcasting a documentary - 20 Years Out! From nzhistory.net

Overview thematic history of Christchurch

The Christchurch City Contextual History Overview, an historic report which "slices" Christchurch up into the historic themes of Life in the City, The Built City, and Industry and Commerce. The report provides a broad overview and understanding of the city and its development in the last 150 years, which is pivotal for the future identifying and managing of heritage in Christchurch.

Polynesian mythology and ancient traditional history of the New Zealand race

By Sir George Grey. Digitised by New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.

Railway stations

From nzhistory.net

Rangiātea - Ko ahau te huarahi te pono me te ora

Rangiātea church, New Zealand's oldest Māori church, was utterly destroyed by fire in October 1995. The current website has evolved from the 1997 exhibition of the same name, and its subsequent publication, celebrating Rangiātea, and the Vestry's, commitment to rebuilding the church.

Rarangi Taonga: the Register of Historic Places, Historic Areas, Wahi Tapu and Wahi Tapu Areas

National schedule of New Zealand's treasured heritage places. From the Historic Places Trust

Richard Pearse

The first New Zealander to fly - very briefly. Includes virtual fliable plane!
From nzhistory.net

The School of Radiant Living in New Zealand (1938-1989)

An alternative lifestyle and health movement which counted Sir Edmund Hillary among its adherents. Includes recipes, the 'elimination diet' and an interview with the movement's founder, Herbert Sutcliffe.
From nzhistory.net

The Southern Districts of New Zealand

By Edward Shortland. Based on journals written while he was employed as a "Protector of Native Interests" by the colonial government in the 1840s, this book is an interesting account of his travels and dealings with local Māori and Pakeha, and concludes with a short appendix; "Vocabulary Of The 'Kaitahu' Dialect" Digitised by New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.

Sport in New Zealand 1930-1960

This period saw an increase in mass participation in sport, the consolidation of many national competitions, and greater achievement at international level.
nzhistory.net

Streets database Auckland

Auckland Museum has undertaken an ambitious task to record all Auckland streets, along with the hundred or so new Auckland streets created each year. They are recording the location of each, along with background information such as when the street was established, how it got its name, who lived there and what buildings or other features and event are connected with it. Where possible we are adding relevant images from the Museum's pictorial and other collections, and have references to sources in the Museum Library or other institutions.

Tī Kōuka Whenua - Tī Kōuka: A symbol for our city

local Māori history of Christchurch and surrounding area.

Te Kakano Taonga Database

Welcome to the knowledge basket of Te Kakano A basket that embraces the descendants of the pacific people. A basket that explains the Pacific world to all people. Cross the threshold, and gather stories of both the Maori and Pacific peoples.

Technological Innovation in New Zealand

History of technology in New Zealand. From the development of hydro-electric schemes to the Hamilton Jet, it has wide coverage, references are given and it even covers current innovations.

Timeframes

Timeframes includes selected New Zealand and Pacific images from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, the research library within the National Library of New Zealand.

Timeline - A brief history of women in New Zealand

The Timeline provides a brief history of women in New Zealand. From the Ministry of Women's Affairs

The Wandering Artist

Augustus Earle's Travels Around The World 1820-29. Online exhibition from National Library of Australia

We Call it Home: A History of State Housing in New Zealand

For one hundred years the state has provided housing for tens of thousands of New Zealanders unable to afford a home of their own. Just about all of us know someone who grew up in a state house, yet we know little of their individual stories. This exhibition provides an historical overview of the subject including some of the stories of state house tenants, historical film and sound clips and a wealth of historical and recent images. From nzhistory.net

Wellington Local History database

Index of newspaper articles, dating back to the 1940s when the clipping and indexing of local newspapers first began at the Libraries. It covers a vast number of topics relating to the history and development of Wellington City and the surrounding region.

Women's Suffrage Petition

A digital image of the actual petition held at National Archives