Ngā mauhanga hauora ā-hinengaro
Mental health records
On this page you'll find information about mental health records such as patient files, admission and discharge registers and other archives.
This page refers to patient information only. For general hospital administration records, head to Collections search. Contact us for more information.
He Whakatūpato Kupu Kiko
Content warning
He kōrero matatapu pea kei roto i ngā pūranga, ka whakararu pea i te tangata. Tērā pea he kōrero hauora, he whakaahua me te reo whakarihariha kei roto i ētahi pūranga, ka kīia ai i tēnei rā he tawhito, ā, he mōrihariha. Me tūpato i te wā e whakauru atu ana.
Archives can contain sensitive content that may be distressing. Some items may include medical details, graphic images and language now considered outdated or offensive. Take care when accessing them.
Know before you start
Restricted access
To protect personal privacy, access to patient records is restricted for 100 years from the last date on file.
To give you access to a restricted record, we need to see written permission from the agency responsible for the restriction.
Please note that some offices have files and registers that are over 100 years old but they are still restricted. Contact us to find out more.
Requesting access to restricted files
This is how you can request access permission to restricted records.
Contact us — Contact us and we will refer you to the relevant government agency.
Contact them — Get in touch with the relevant government agency to obtain written permission to access the records.
Access the record — If you obtain permission in written form, there are two ways to access the record:
the government agency you've obtained the permission from will organise access to the record, or
you will need to contact us again with your permission letter, and we will enable access to the record.
What’s digitised
Open access records that have been digitised and are over 100 years old can be found on Collections search.
What you can find
Most of the mental health records we have date from the 1860s to the early 1970s. For more detail see the lists for each region.
This page refers to patient information only. For general hospital administration records, visit Collections search. Contact us for more information.
There are 3 broad categories of patients’ mental health records:
Registers — A register is usually the primary mental health record we have. It has an admission number, usually a patient file number, and dates of the patient’s admission, discharge or death. The majority of our records are indexes and registers, which do not contain much information.
Alphabetical indexes to registers — These were sometimes created to make it easier to find patients in the registers. They can be found in the registers or as separate volumes.
Patient files (sometimes called ‘case files’) — Patient files were created by staff in the institutions, and some of them may still be held in hospitals or in Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand’s record centres. You can also find many individual patient files in our archives. However, there isn’t a file for every patient. Please note that patient files are not listed by patient name on Collections search to protect personal privacy, except files that are over 100 years old.
Our different offices have different records:
Some records for mental health institutions throughout New Zealand from 1853 to 1960 can be found in the Health Department archives in the Wellington office.
Some staff and patient records for individual institutions can be found in our Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin offices.
Some court case records relating to mental health care can be found in all our offices.
For more specific information on what we have in each office, check out each location individually.
Archives codes and terminology
When you look up records, you might find a string of letters and numbers (for example, CAWS 3420 CH931/1-229) next to their title. These are our archival codes or references.
You don't need to use them to search on Collections search or our digital archives. They can be useful if you visit our offices in person or contact us to access a record, as they can help our archivists quickly find records.
For more information on referencing the archives, check out the Copying and citing archives page.
To familiarise yourself with the records terminology, check out the 'Definitions of archival terms' guide.
Browse the archives
The best way to go about locating a record is to contact us first. We will be able to help you find out what records a specific office has, and how to access them.
Go to Collections search to search our records.
If you still can’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Mental health archives by region
Here you can search our archives by location. Under each location, you can find what is available in each regional archive, and how to request access to restricted records.
Auckland
Our Auckland office has files and records from institutions in the Auckland and Waikato regions.
Auckland Lunatic Asylum/Oakley Hospital
What you can find
Register of admissions ‘B’ 1853, 1869 to 1879 [YCAA 1017/1]
Casebooks 1853-1916 (Notes: these are indexed, there are some gaps, some casebooks include photographs) YCAA 1048/1-17
Registers of committed patient admissions 1853, 1879 to 1968 (Note: these are only indexed to 1916) [YCAA 1021/1-11]
Committed patients case files 1855 to 1877, 1889 to 1964 (Notes: these are only indexed to 1917) [YCAA 1026/1-1001]
Committed patients case files 1856 to 1869 [YCAA 1025/1-2]
Registers of discharge, removal and death 1889 to 1917 [YCAA 1036/1-4]
Registers of patients absent on trial 1878 to 1967 [YCAA 1024/1-10]
Maintenance payment ledger 1885 to 1910 [YCAA 1045/1-3]
Record book of investigations into relatives’ ability to pay maintenance 1890 to 1899 [YCAA 1044/1]
Visitors book 1891 to 1911 [YCAA 1075/1]
Casebook of patients at Motuihi Island 1895 [YCAA 1049/1]
Official visitors books 1897 to 1973 [YCAA 1049/1; YCAA 1099/1-2]
Post-mortem record books 1905 to 1951 [YCAA 1040/1-3]
Register of voluntary boarders 1912 to 1968 [YCAA 1020/1-9]
Voluntary boarder case files 1912 to 1964 [YCAA 1028/1-420]
Register of World War I soldier patients 1914 to 1919 [YCAA 1020/1]
Remanded patient case files 1914 to 1964 [YCAA 1027/1-43]
Registers of remanded patients admissions 1912 to 1929, 1948 to 1968 [YCAA 1023/1, 6-8]
Index books of daily patient admissions 1954 to 1968 [YCAA 1022/1-2]
Index books of chronic patients 1962, 1965 [YCAA 1041/1-2]
Registers of discharge and transfer 1918 to 1968 [YCAA 1037/1-8]
Register of patient deaths 1918 to 1968 [YCAA 1029/1-3]
Registers of mechanical restraint and seclusion 1921 to 1965 [YCAA 1038/1-9]
Registers of escapes 1936 to 1963 [YCAA 1039/1]
Psychological clinic record book 1938 to 1947 [YCAA 1043/1]
Register of World War II soldier patients 1941 to 1954 [YCAA 1042/1]
Mortuary register 1948 to 1965 [YCAA 4263/1a]
Registers of voluntary boarder discharges and transfers 1956 to 1968 [YCAA 1088/1-3]
Carrington patient files 1963 to 1975 [YCAA 4486/1-2341]
How to request access
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
Clinical Records Department
Building 21, Auckland City Hospital
Private Bag 92024
Auckland 1023
Email: GROI@adhb.govt.nz
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You will need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Kingseat Hospital
What you can find
First year admission register 1932 to 1945 [YCBR 5163/1a]
Anniversary date admission register 1932 to c1943 [YCBR 5162/1a]
Registers of Admission – committed and remand patients 1932 to 1969 [YCBR 4987/1a, 2a]
Admission books (looseleaf) 1972, 1976, 1982 to 1984 [YCBR 5174/1a-1c]
Register of discharges and transfers 1932 to 1965 [YCBR 5131/1a, 2a]
Register of discharges, transfers and deaths 1968 to 1986 [YCBR 5136/1a-3c]
Register of escapes 1936 to 1969 [YCBR 5164/1a]
Register of patients absent on trial 1932 to 1969 [YCBR 5132/1a-3a]
Register of mechanical restraint and seclusion 1937 to 1969 [YCBR 5135/1a-3b]
Committed patient files c1932 to 1964 [YCBR 4644/1-253]
Remand patient files c1934 to 1966 [YCBR 4642/1-10]
Voluntary boarder files c1933 to 1968 [YCBR 4643/1-188]
Registers of death 1934 to 1970 [YCBR 5137/1a-2a]
Staff and patients’ work books 1949 to 1963 [YCBR 5893/1a-3a]
Kingseat/Raventhorpe Hospital staff cards A to Z c1953 to 1976 [YCBR 5130/1-5]
How to request access
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
The Director Tiaho Mai
Middlemore Hospital
Private Bag 93311
Otahuhu
Auckland 1640
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You'll need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Raventhorpe Hospital
What you can find
Register of admissions 1946 to 1966 [YCBR 5151/1a]
Admission book (looseleaf) 1979 to 1988 [YCBR 5173/1a]
Register of voluntary boarders 1946 to 1969 [YCBR 5150/1a]
Register of patients absent on trial 1946 to 1969 [YCBR 5149/1a]
Out-patient files c1949 to 1979 [YCBR 4645/1-212]
Register of deaths 1946 to 1970 [YCBR 5138/1a]
How to request access
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
The Director Tiaho Mai
Middlemore Hospital
Private Bag 93311
Otahuhu
Auckland 1640
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You will need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Tokanui Mental Hospital
What you can find
Registers of admissions, male and female 1912 to 1969 [YCBG 5930/1a-4a]
Casebook 1912 to 1920 [YCBG 5939/1a]
Patient records 1912 to 1956 [YCBG 5904/1-36]
Registers of death 1913 to 1921 [YCBG 5921/1a-1b]
Registers of discharge and transfers 1920 to 1969 [YCBG 5933/1a-5b]
Registers of admission: voluntary boarders/inpatients 1920 to 1969 [YCBG 5908/1a-4a]
Registers of mechanical restraint and seclusion 1926 to 1941, 1959 to 1969 [YCBG 5922/1a-1b]
Registers of patients on leave 1930 to 1950, 1962 to 1969 [YCBG 5934/1a-4a]
Register of escapes 1936 to 1969 [YCBG 5923/19]
Voluntary boarders 1956 [YCBG 5907/1-32]
Committed patient files 1956 to 1968 [YCBG 5905/1-288]
Committed and voluntary boarders: patient files 1957 to 1972 [YCBG 5906/1-626]
Admission books 1964 to 1980 [YCBG 5938 1a-2a]
Staff and patient work books 1939 to 1959 (7 volumes, chronological) [YCBG 5935/1a-6a]
How to request access
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
The Manager, Medical Records
Waikato Hospital
Private Bag 3200
Hamilton 3240
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You will need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Auckland Court records
What you can find
Auckland Supreme (High) Court — Lunacy Files, Auckland 1871 to 1920 [BBAE 5525]. These files contain petitions, orders and other legal papers relating to the declaration that an individual was or was not a lunatic as defined under the Lunatics Act in force at the time. Search for the person’s name to see if we have a file.
Auckland Magistrates (District) Court — Auckland Mental Defect Files 1960 to 1973 [BADW 10271 (Boxes 1-138)]. These files contain legal and medical papers relating to decisions or declarations that a person was a 'mental defective' under the Mental Defectives Act 1911, and to related committals and/or arrests.
How to request access
If a Magistrates Court record is restricted, you can request access permission from the Court Manager, Auckland District Court: Email: auckland.dc@justice.govt.nz
Wellington
Our Wellington office has registers of patients in lunatic asylums and mental hospitals for the whole of New Zealand from 1853 to 1960. The registers are not indexed (listed alphabetically), but separate indexes exist for the period 1853 to 1951.
The Wellington office also has records from institutions over the broader region, including Nelson.
What you can find
Mental health indexes of patients (6 volumes) 1853 to 1951:
Index 1 October 1853 – November 1910 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/1]
Index 2 November 1910 – September 1922 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/2]
Index 3 September 1922 – December 1930 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/3]
Index 4 January 1931 – June 1939 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/4]
Index 5 July 1939 – June 1945 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/5]
Index 6 July 1945 – December 1951 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/6]
General registers
12 volumes 1853 to 1960, in order of patient admission. The registers for committed patients may include the following information:
name of patient
name of the institution
date of admission
date of discharge or death
number of the section of the Mental Health Act under which discharge occurred
cause of death if it occurred in institution.
This information will not tell you the reason why the patient was admitted to the institution.
No.1 October 1853 to December 1892 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/7]
No.2 January 1893 to March 1906 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/8]
No.3 March 1906 to November 1910 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/9]
No.4 November 1910 to October 1914 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/10]
No.5 (labelled 4A) October 1914 to June 1918 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/11]
No.6 (labelled 5) June 1918 to March 1925 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/12]
No.7 (labelled 6) March 1925 to May 1931 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/13]
No.8 (labelled 7) May 1931 to June 1938 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/14]
No.9 (labelled 8) June 1938 to May 1945 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/15]
No.10 (labelled 9) May 1945 to October 1952 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/16]
No.11 (labelled 10) October 1952 to August 1958 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/17]
No.12 (labelled 11) September 1958 to March 1960 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/18]
Note: If you're looking for information about readmissions, you may need to use the book number. The book number is in brackets above.
Registers of voluntary boarders
9 volumes 1911 to 1960. For ‘voluntary boarders’, the name and address of the relative or friend that maintenance arrangements were made with are also included.
November 1911 to December 1929 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/19]
January 1930 to October 1939 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/20]
October 1939 to February 1947 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/21]
February 1947 to December 1950 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/22]
December 1950 to December 1953 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/23]
December 1953 to May 1956 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/24]
April 1956 to April 1958 [ADCB n 16174 H-MHD 5/25]
April 1958 to October 1959 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/26]
October 1959 to May 1960 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/27]
Register of minors
September 1912 to December 1953 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/28]
Index - Children in mental hospitals
1929 to 1939 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/29]
Register – Mental Health Patients discharged on probation
1955 to 1957 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/30]
1957 to 1959 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/31]
Register Mental Health Outpatients
1946 [ADCB 16174 H-MHD 5/32]
Porirua Mental Hospital - from 1910 previously Karori and Mt View
Porirua Mental Hospital (previously called Porirua Lunatic Asylum) was preceded by Karori Lunatic Asylum from 1854 to1873 and Mt View Lunatic Asylum from 1873 to 1910. Mt View was on the site of the current Government House. Records for Mt View and Karori have not survived. We do not hold the records for Porirua. These are still held by the Medical Records Section of Capital & Coast Health.
Contact details are:
Privacy Officer, Legal Department
Capital & Coast District Health Board
Private Bag 7902, Wellington
Phone: 04 385 5999 ext 82252
Courts records
Wellington Supreme Court
Lunacy Case Files 1875 to 1948 [AAAR 25135 W3558/244-253]
Mental Defective Case Files 1947 to 1951 (Note: this is a restricted list and cannot be displayed) [AAAR 25136 W3558/254-255]
List of Patients Wellington Lunatic Asylum 1889 [AAAR 25137 W3558/255 179]
Woodville Magistrates Court
Record of Lunatics 1909 to 1911 [AAOY W3298/999]
How to request access
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
Director-General
PO Box 5013
Wellington, New Zealand
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You will need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Nelson Lunatic Asylum
What you can find
Report book 1864 to 1892 [ADHS W5473/98]
Inspector’s report book 1875 to 1900 [ADHS W5473/85]
Attendant’s report 1889 to 1890 [ADHS W5473/87]
Patient case book 1912 to 1919 [ADHS W5473/110]
Report book 1864 to 1892 [ADHS W5473/98]
Register of escapes 1931 to 1938 [ADHS W5473/86]
Details of Nelson Lunatic Asylum 1967 to 1971 [ADHS 22722 W5672/46 10/1/1]
Ngawhatu - Stoke, 1922 to 2000
What you can find
Register of deaths 1917 to 1929 [ADHS W5473/91]
Registers of patients absent on trial [1922 to 1929 ADHS W5473/92] [1930 to 1954 W5473/97] [1954 to 1967 W5473/103]
Register of discharges and transfers – Female 1925 to1929 [ADHS W5473/93]
Register of discharges and transfers – Male 1925 to 1929 [ADHS W5473/94]
Registers of discharges and transfers 1930 to 1964[ADHS W5473/101] [1964-1969 ADHS W5473/102]
Register of voluntary boarders 1930 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/90]
Register of deaths 1930 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/95]
Admissions – Formal and informal 1964 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/88]
Patients weight book 1958 to 1970 [ADHSW5473/107], 1964 to 1972 [ADHS W5473/108]
Transfer of patients from Braemar 1966 to 1968 [ADHS 22264 W5623/167]
Committals – Completed forms for individuals to be committed 1990 to 1992 [ADHS 22264 W5623/162]
Braemar
What you can find
Admissions – Formal and informal 1960 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/89]
Register of deaths 1962 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/96]
Register of discharges and transfers 1962 to 1968 [ADHS W5473/100]
Register of patients absent on trial 1962 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/104]
Newspaper article (undated) details of Braemar Hospital, includes photos dated approximately 1884 and 1976 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 1]
The Year of the Child – Psychopaedic – Newspaper articles 1979 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 2]
Historical Society – History of Braemar 1987 to 1989 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 3]
'The Rag' (Bilge Pump) in house magazine – 1986 to 1989 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 4]
Official visitors book 1993 to 1996 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 7]
Patients Weight Book 1958 to 1996 [ADHS W5672/48 8]
Admissions and movements of patients 1963 to 1966 [ADHS 22698 W5672/48 9]
Assessment of patients and other issues 1991 to 1995 [ADHS 22264 W5623/162]
Psychological reports and patients – Various patients 1963 to 1968 [ADHS 22264 W5623/167]
'The setting up & development of a small unit to be used for the training of a wide range of mentally defective children – Richmond House' Braemar Training School 1966 to 1968 [ADHS 22264 W5623/167]
Seclusion register 1936 to 1963 [ADHS W5473/82]
Seclusion register 1963 to 1969 [ADHS W5473/83]
Seclusion Counterfoils 1965 to 1968 [ADHS W5473/84]
Post-mortem book 1929 to 1959 [ADHS W5473/99]
Register of admissions – Male 1912 to 1929 [ADHS W5473/105]
Register of admissions – Female 1912 to 1929 [ADHS W5473/106]
Register of admissions – Male and Female 1930 to 1963 [ADHS W5473/109]
Nelson Patient Files
To access individual patient records (items under 100 years old restricted from public view) found in series ADHS 18896, contact our Wellington office and Research Services will search to confirm whether a patient record is held. If so, we’ll provide you the full Archives Reference and the access contact details.
How to request access
All records containing patient health details except Registers of Patient Deaths are restricted for 100 years from the date of record closure.
If a record is marked as restricted in Collections search, or a record is less than 100 years old, you need to request access permission from:
Chief Executive
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Private Bag 18
Nelson 7042
Once you’ve obtained written permission, contact us to request the specific patient record. You will need to provide us with a copy of the access permission.
Christchurch
Our Christchurch office has files and records from institutions and psychiatric hospitals in both Canterbury and the West Coast. As our archive has a huge number of files and records about patients, staff and administrative matters in these institutions, only the key records that contain patient information are listed here.
Canterbury
Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs
What you can find
Registers of patients 1918 to 1957 (including Army, Navy, Air Force and civilian patients) [CAWS 170011828018297 CH542/1-10, & CAWS 18277 CH931/239a-c]
Indexes of patients 1957 to 1972 [CAWS 18279 CH542/11-12, CAWS 17002 CH931/240-241]
Registers of voluntary patients 1957 to 1972 [CAWS 17001 CH542/13-18]
Army patient case files 1943 to 1946 [CAWS 18278 CH931/230-232]
Air Force patient case files 1951 to 1957 [CAWS 18281 CH931/233]
Civilian patient case files 1943 to 1973 [CAWS 3420 CH931/1-229]
Please note that patient records are not listed by name on Collections search unless the record is over 100 years old.
Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum/Sunnyside Psychiatric Hospital
What you can find
Registers of patients/admissions 1854 to 1973 [CAUY 3212 CH388/1-9, CH764/3c-e, CH764/12-13]
Indexes of patients 1854 to 1939 [CAUY CH388/10, CH388/11]
Case books 1872 to 1917 [CAUY 12251 CH388/15-31, CH388/62]
Registers of deaths, discharges and transfers 1872 to 2001 [CAUY 321632213222 CH388/32-38, CH764/14-16, CH1077/8]
Register of soldier patients 1941 to 1955 [CAUY CH764/11a]
Registers of voluntary patients 1912 to 1969 [CAUY CH388/13, CH388/14, CAUY 3212 CH764/3a-b, CAUY 3215 CH764/8a-d]
Patient case files 1865 to 1973 [CAUY CH1025 and CH1077]
These are the initial admission dates. Information on an individual file may extend beyond this period depending on the length of a patient’s stay.
There were very few admissions before 1863 and we have very few patient files for admissions after 1961.
Case histories for patients admitted between 1872 and 1917 may be found in the case books in series 12251, which have been digitised and can be viewed on Collections search. Only open access patient files are listed in Collections search.
Templeton Psychiatric Hospital
What you can find
Registers of patients/admissions 1929 to 1995 [CAVX 3511 CH875/3, /7-8, /12]
Registers of discharges and transfers 1929 to 1999 [CAVX CH875/5 & CH875/11]
Register of deaths 1930 to 1995 [CAVX CH875/6]
West Coast
Seaview Lunatic Asylum/Seaview Psychiatric Hospital, Hokitika
What you can find
Case books 1869 to 1876, 1884 to 1916 [CAHW Series 27346]
Register of patients/admissions 1869 to 2003 [CAHW Series 3358]
Miscellaneous patient registers 1869 to 1976 [CAHW Series 27357] (includes discharges, deaths, removals, patients absent on remand or trial, transfers, weights, escapes, patients under observation, property register, and contributing patients ledger books)
Records of seclusion and mechanical restraint 1871 to 1967 [CAHW Series 12360]
Report books (ward reports) 1874 to 1967 [CAHW Series 12284]
Register of voluntary inpatients 1922 to 1970 [CAHW Series 27358]
Patient Case Files (indexed) 1892 to 2012 [CAHW Series 3357]
These files relate to patients admitted between 1892 to 1988. These are the initial admission dates. Information on an individual file may extend beyond this period depending on the length of a patient’s stay.
We only have a few files with admission dates before 1900.
Case histories for patients admitted between 1869 and 1916 may be found in the case books in series 27346, which have been digitised and can be viewed on Collections search. Only open access files are listed on Collections search.
How to request access
To request access permission for records from Canterbury and West Coast hospitals please contact:
Senior Corporate Solicitor & Privacy Officer
Te Whatu Ora Canterbury & West Coast
PO Box 1600
Christchurch 8140
Mental health court records
Supreme Court, Christchurch
What you can find
Lunatics Act administrative papers and forms 1863 to 1873 (includes notices of admission, death, discharge or removal, statements of bodily health and mental condition, and patient returns from Sunnyside Hospital) [CAHX 24997]
Lunatics/Mental Defectives Act files 1859 to 1953 [CAHX 24996]
These records carry a 100-year access restriction.
How to request access
Permission to access Supreme Court material can be obtained from:
Christchurch High Court
Post: WX10021 Christchurch
Magistrates Court, Christchurch
What you can find
Mental Defectives Acts Files 1937 to 1948 [CAHS 18534] — Compulsory mental health assessment and treatment orders can also be found in the Domestic/Family Proceedings Files series from the Magistrates’/District and Family Courts of the Canterbury and Westland regions, dating from the 1970s onwards. These files carry a 100 year access restriction.
How to request access
Permission to access Magistrates Court material may be obtained from:
Christchurch District Court
Post: WX10021 Christchurch
Dunedin
Our Dunedin office has records from government agencies in Otago and Southland.
What you can find
Our Dunedin office has many records relating to Dunedin Lunatic Asylum, Seacliff Hospital, Cherry Farm Hospital, and Orokonui Home:
Patient files and casebooks
Statutory admission papers 1863 to 1926 [DAHI 19850 D266/1-45]
Registers of admissions, discharges, deaths and so on.
Dunedin – Register of patients 1863 to 1868 [DAHI 20104 D264/93]
Seacliff – Indexes to patient registers 1863 to 1920 [DAHI 20103 D264/91-92]
Admissions registers 1863 to 1961 [DAHI 20105 D264/94-98, D266/523]
Seacliff – Register of admissions (dipsomaniacs) 1884 to 1892 [DAHI 20113 D264/109]
Seacliff/Cherry Farm – Admission books 1920 to 1930, 1936 to 1950 [DAHI 9155 D342/1f-1k]
Cherry Farm Hospital log of admissions [DAHI 20391 D266/515a-b]
Dunedin and Seacliff – Registers of discharges and deaths 1868 to 1922 [DAHI 19990 D264/100-104]
Registers of discharges and transfers 1922 to 1969 [DAHI 20108 D264/105-106, D266/524-526]
Registers of deaths 1917 to 1969 [DAHI 20106 D264/107, D266/527a-b]
Registers of escapes 1912 to 1915, 1936 to 1969 [DAHI 20110 D264/99, D266/518]
Morgue register 1939 to 1983 (includes letters concerning ‘indigent’ patients who had no money to cover their own funeral costs and no next of kin who could pay) [DAHI 20372 D266/516]
Discharges index books da1952 to 1972 [DAHI 20244 D266/514c-514e]
Seacliff/Cherry Farm – Registers of mechanical restraint 1897 to 1968 [DAHI 19824 D264/78d-88e, D266/513a-i]
Patient admission files 1871 to 1949 [DAHI 19851 D266/46-143]
Patient discharge files 1950 to 1970 [DAHI 19852 D266/144-336]
Dunedin, Seacliff & Orokonui – Medical casebooks 1863 to 1916 [DAHI 19956 D265/1, D264/37-76]
On remand patient files 1920 to 1969 [DAHI 19854 D266/337-346]
Voluntary patient admission files 1912 to 1949 [DAHI 19855 D266/346-358]
Voluntary patients discharge files 1950 to 1969 [DAHI 19856 D266/359-427]
Seacliff – Registers/casebooks of voluntary boarders 1912 to 1929 [DAHI 19989 D264/89-90]
Other records that include patient information
Dunedin Lunatic Asylum provincial surgeon’s visiting book and daily reports 1863 to 1881 [DAHI 19825 D264/1b-1d, 35c]
Inspectors and official visitors report books 1870 to 1973 [DAHI 19826 D264/1e-2b, D265/3, D266/514a-b]
Dunedin – Keeper’s journals 1863 to 1867 [DAHI 19827 D264/1a, D265/2]
Medical superintendent outwards letters 1882 to 1916 [DAHI 19828 D264/3a-17a]
Photographs and plans of buildings, patients and staff
Seacliff Mental Hospital Photographic Collection [DAHI 20271]
Please note there are also many records that are not listed here. Open access patient records are listed by the person’s name in Collections search.
Supreme Court, Dunedin
What you can find
Lunacy Cases Index (A to M only) dated approximately 1862 to1908 [DAAC 21278 D349/296c]
Lunacy Case Files 1863 to 1937 [DAAC 21273 D140/267-272, D349/304]
Open access files are listed by the person’s name in Collections search. We have court records dated after 1908 about mental health that are not listed by name but are described by case number. Contact us for more information about getting access to these records.
How to request access
Patient and staff records — Access to patient records is restricted for 100 years from the date of last paper or last entry, and to staff or student records for 75 years.
You'll need to get access permission from:
Chief Executive
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora - Southern
Private Bag 1921
Dunedin 9054
email: CorporateRecords@southerndhb.govt.nz and include:
The information required (e.g. Archives NZ code R12345678)
Reasons for wanting access
Copy of your current photographic ID (e.g. driver licence or passport)
Court records — Files containing sensitive personal information are restricted for 100 years from the date they were closed, in line with relevant legislation. Contact us for assistance.
You'll need to get access permission from:
Dunedin High Court
DX: YX10176
Dunedin
0800 268 787, or +64 9 583 1900 from overseas
Email: dunedin.dc@justice.govt.nz