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Archives New Zealand news and updates, including service changes, collection access, digitisation projects, recordkeeping reports, consultations, and information management guidance.

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Information Management

State of Government Recordkeeping report 2024/25 tabled in Parliament

Report highlights ongoing recordkeeping challenges across government.

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Information Management

2026 Survey of public sector information management

Take part in the 2026 survey between 3 to 21 August 2026.

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Announcements

More access to Archives collections in Wellington

Saturday access to Archives collections is now available in Wellington.

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Announcements

Intermittent issue affecting Collections search

Seeing an ‘internal error’ message when using Collections search? Try these steps to continue your research.

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Media

Children attend Anzac Stories launch

Looking for a great way to help 9–13‑year‑olds explore Aotearoa New Zealand’s Anzac history? The Anzac Stories website brings the past to life with engaging, stories and records.

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Information Management

Give us feedback on our draft guide for Topic 6: Te Tiriti o Waitangi

We invite your feedback on a draft guide for our Information Management Maturity Assessment Topic 6: Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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Announcements

Hundreds of previously classified MFAT files released to the public

Over 300 previously classified MFAT files held by Archives New Zealand’s Wellington office have been released, as part of a joint declassification process between the two organisations.

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Announcements

Improving your search experience

We've updated Collections Search to make it easier to use.

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Announcements

Farewell Stephen Clarke

Farewell to Stephen Clarke, Chief Archivist and General Manager of Archives New Zealand from 2020-2022.

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Announcements

New Zealand’s largest ever audiovisual digitisation project a success

Utaina, one of the largest audiovisual digitisation projects in the world and the largest in New Zealand to date, has concluded.

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Information Management

Updated IM Maturity Assessment — what’s changed and why

We've reviewed the IM Maturity Assessment and user guide, and made some minor changes. Find out what's changed and why.

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Information Management

Review of the Associate Minister of Health’s compliance with the Public Records Act 2005

Associate Minister of Health’s compliance with the Public Records Act 2005 and the Information and records management standard

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Announcements

Shared reading rooms at Te Puna, National Library

From 1 September, some of our high-use collections will be available through the new shared reading rooms at the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

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Announcements

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.

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Information Management

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).

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Announcements

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.

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Information Management

State of Government Recordkeeping Annual Report 2023/24 tabled in the House of Representatives

The Poumanaaki Chief Archivist’s Annual Report on the State of Government Recordkeeping 2023/24 was tabled in the House of Representatives today.

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Information Management

We've released the digitised archival transfers as the default setting report

Read the report about digitised archival transfers as the default setting for the public offices.

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Media

Decisions announced on new way of working for Archives New Zealand and National Library

Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua, has announced the final decision for organisational change to bring Archives New Zealand and National Library closer together in the way they work.

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Announcements

Wellington Archives reading rooms update

The construction of the new archival building is completed, and we are now preparing for the move in July 2025.

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Announcements / Information Management

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.

Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu has apologised on behalf of Archives New Zealand for failures in monitoring government recordkeeping.

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Information Management

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

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Announcements

Survivors of 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

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Announcements

Printed copies of Royal Commission of Inquiry report ‘Whanaketia’ now available to public

Printed copies of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report ‘Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light’ available to the public.

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Discover

Digitisation at our regional offices – April to June 2024

Our teams across the motu worked hard to get digitised material online and available for researchers.

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Announcements

Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry publishes final report

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions has published its final report — 'Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light'.

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Announcements

Moving to the new archival building

Our new archival building in Wellington is set for kaimahi to begin occupation from the middle of next year. We'll keep you updated on any impacts the shift may temporarily have on our services.

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Announcements

Work stopped on Levin site intended for a proposed regional repository

Te Tari Taiwhenua the Department of Internal Affairs has stopped work on a proposed regional repository in Levin, due to funding constraints.

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Announcements

Poumanaaki Chief Archivist's closing comments on Te Maeatanga digitisation programme

After the closure of Te Maeatanga digitisation programme on 30 June, I’d like to acknowledge the important mahi undertaken by all kaimahi involved in the programme since its inception in 2017.

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Announcements

Release of hundreds of previously classified MFAT files to the public

We're releasing over 700 previously classified Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) files held by our Wellington office, in a joint process between the two organisations.

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Announcements

Answers to your questions about our Te Maeatanga Digitisation programme closure

On this page you'll find answers to some of the questions you may have about the closure of our Te Maeatanga Digitisation programme and options you have.

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Announcements

Release of revised List of protected records for local authorities

The updated List of protected records of local authorities has now been published as a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette Notice, 15 May 2024, Number 2024-go2240.

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Announcements

Poumanaaki update on Digitisation

Te Maeatanga Digitisation programme closure update from Poumanaaki Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu.

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Announcements

Closure of Te Maeatanga Digitisation Programme and on demand service

Update from Poumanaaki Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu

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Information Management

New temporary care records protection instruction issued

Learn more about the new temporary care records protection instruction issued by the Chief Archivist.

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Resources

New guide to navigate MFAT historical records

A new guide will help researchers and members of the public navigate thousands of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s historical records.

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Information Management

The care records definition is now available

Using your feedback, we’ve now published the care records definition.

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Announcements

A welcoming and inclusive digital experience for all

We’re rolling out some new features on archives.govt.nz based on recommendations from user research. Find out more about this mahi and learn how we’re working towards creating a welcoming and inclusive digital experience for all our users.

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Announcements

The Utaina project — from shelf to digitisation

Watch our latest video and see how the Utaina project is preserving Aotearoa New Zealand's audiovisual history, capturing this taonga for future generations.

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Information Management

Intention to issue mechanism to protect care records

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga is working on a new section 20 general notice mechanism to protect care records with the intention to replace the current disposal moratorium by late October 2023.

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Information Management

Updates on the disposal moratorium

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is continuing its activities, but it no longer has an active role in determining what records may be in scope of the disposal moratorium. Here’s what you need to know about your recordkeeping.

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Announcements

Summary of Lessons Learnt from AIMS

In 2019, Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand initiated the Archival Integrated Management System (AIMS) Project to replace the previous system, Archway.

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