Tracing New Zealand Family History

Basic rules

Start with yourself, work backwards through each generation. Work from the known to the unknown.

Interview relatives, particularly older relatives. Write or talk to family members. Ask them about family names, where the people lived, when and from where they emigrated. Some records may be held within the family; e.g. letters, school yearbooks, wills, photographs, Birth, Marriage and Death certificates.

Write down what you find and where you found it. What institution? Which collection of records? What volume and page number? Which microfilm reel? This is important as you may want to go back at a later stage.

• Record the sources searched, even if the results are negative.
• Search every possible surname spelling, including phonetic and typographic errors. Re-check material already gathered - clerical errors creep into documents and dates may have been entered incorrectly.
• Various family history charts can be downloaded from the New Zealand Society of Genealogists website.
• Many genealogical computer programs are now available. A local Genealogy group maybe able to advise the pros and cons of the various programs.

"Bloodline: Nelson resources for genealogists" is produced by Nelson Public Libraries, and is available at the District Library, Blenheim (Reference only) and may be helpful if your ancestors arrived or settled in Nelson.