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

Rapu mōhio mō:
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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

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.

black and white photo of a road sign on the left, a car, a scooter and a person wearing a robot constume walking on the road
Discover

He 80 tau o te Pokapū Kiriata ā-Motu. 80 years of the National Film Unit

Over six decades in the mid-twentieth century, the National Film Unit (NFU) made thousands of films about life in Aotearoa New Zealand. Discover the NFU’s work and history in our online exhibition.

Bunch of old papers with handwritten signatures on a black background

Te Petihana Reo Māori The Māori Language Petition

Discover the story of Te Petihana Reo Māori, the Māori Language Petition, from how it happened, who was involved and how you can see it today.

2 individuals in navy blue lab coats and light blue gloves standing at a table in a conservation lab, holding an artifact, with documents and labelled boxes marked 'Treatment in Progress' around them, suggesting a document preservation setting.
Discover

Dealing with killer collections at Archives New Zealand

Sometimes working with archives can be dangerous. Learn more about the unusual and potentially hazardous items we've come across at here at Archives New Zealand.

2 people looking at a vinyl record.
Discover

Utaina uncovers a special piece of Aotearoa New Zealand’s music history

Read the story behind the groundbreaking song Blue Smoke and find out how the Utaina team rediscovered a one-of-a-kind version of it 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
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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

Te Whakapāha nā Te Poumanaaki ki ngā mōrehu o te tūkino i te wā tiaki Chief Archivist apology to survivors of abuse in care

Ka nui te pono o te whakapāha a Te Poumanaaki, mō ngā mahi a Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga (ko National Archives i mua) mō tana mūhore ki te aroturuki tika i ngā mahi pupuri mauhanga Kāwanatanga.

The Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu sincerely apologises on behalf of Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand (previously the National Archives) for failing to effectively monitor Government recordkeeping

20 November 2024

Amendment to the Care Records Definition's Glossary of terms used

We've made amendments to the Care Records Definition's Glossary of terms used

31 October 2024

Survivors abuse in care are invited to attend a public apology

Survivors of abuse in care are invited to register their interest to attend a public apology event at Parliament - Tuesday 12 November

18 September 2024

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.