Memory of the World Aotearoa / New Zealand

11/06/2026

It’s International Archives Week and this year's theme is , in recognition of this year’s theme, the Hocken Collections have shared more about the Herries Beattie papers and the role they play in supporting justice.

These papers were added to the Memory of the World Aotearoa Register in 2018!

International Archives Week - Herries Beattie papers for justice! ⚖

The International Council on Archives has designated this week International Archives Week 8–12 June 2026, under the global theme : Rights, Memory & Futures.

The theme reflects a shared recognition of the fundamental role archives play in supporting justice, rights, and democratic societies.

We've picked the Herries Beattie papers as a collection that exemplifies the role of archives supporting justice, rights and democracy.

The collection played an important role in supporting the success of Ngāi Tahu’s Wai 27 claim. The Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal hearings process resulted in a number of very significant findings in the 1990s and ultimately the Ngāi Tahu Claim Settlement Act on the 29th September 1998.

Claimants were able to refer to the historical information collected by Beattie to support their claims to land, resources and very importantly to means of financial and cultural redress.

The Herries Beattie papers national significance is recognised by their inclusion in the Memory of the World Ngā Mahara o te Ao Aotearoa New Zealand Register in 2018.

The papers are digitised and available from Hocken Digital Collections.

For more information: https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/pages/beattie https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/opportunities-and-resources/publications/te-karaka/herries-beattie/ https://unescomow.nz/inscription/herries-beattie-papers-1848-197

Anna Blackman Head Curator Archives

09/06/2026

Today, on , we celebrate the vital role archives play in preserving the stories, knowledge, and evidence that shape our collective memory.

The UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand Register seeks to recognise items of recorded heritage that have national significance, bringing their cultural and historical value to people's attention alongside the work undertaken by libraries, archives, and museums to preserve this valuable heritage.

To celebrate, we are sharing some items from the Canterbury Provincial Government Archives, 1853–1877, cared for by the Christchurch Repository of Archives New Zealand. The archives were inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand Register in 2023.

The Canterbury Provincial Government Archives consist of approximately 470 boxes of papers, 240 volumes, and 20 map folders—around 35,000 listed items in total. The archives document the functions of the provincial government of the time and include material relating to land, immigration, public works (including railways), goldfields administration, education, public health, social welfare, policing, and justice.

These remarkable records provide a unique window into the growth of Canterbury and today, we celebrate archives such as these, which ensure that the documentary heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand remains accessible for future generations.

24/04/2026

On Anzac Day, we remember all New Zealand service personnel who served and died in during conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

To commemorate Anzac Day this year, we are sharing some photographs from the New Zealand Official Photographs, World War 1914-1918. This collection comprises 1,838 black and white glass plate negatives, arranged into two sequences: The H Series and UK Series, four photo albums, and two photographic prints.

Taken between 1917 and 1919, these images depict the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France and along the Western Front. They offer a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of service personnel—writing letters home, training, and carrying out routine tasks—as well as New Zealand’s contribution to significant battles such as Passchendaele, Bapaume, and Le Quesnoy.

Held by the Alexander Turnbull Library National Library of New Zealand , this collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa New Zealand Register in 2017, recognising its enduring historical significance.

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou
We will remember them.

07/03/2026

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting Rosaline (Rose) Margaret Frank, one of New Zealand’s first professional women photographers. 📷🌸

Born in Nelson, Rose began working at age 21 as an assistant to William and Frank Tyree at the Tyree Studio, established in 1878. The studio specialised in portrait photography and documenting important civic occasions in the Nelson region. Rose played a key role in running the business and, in 1914, purchased the studio when William Tyree left for Australia.

Rose also ensured the remarkable Tyree Studio photographic archive would be preserved for future generations. In 1948 she sold around 1,220 negatives to the Alexander Turnbull Library and later donated a further 120,000 negatives to the Nelson Historical Society. She had carefully safeguarded the entire catalogue for years in a brick and concrete strongroom.

In 1974, the collection was transferred to the Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao , where it continues to be cared for alongside the Alexander Turnbull Library National Library of New Zealand. In 2017, the Tyree Studio collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

Today we honour Rose’s legacy and celebrate the extraordinary historical record preserved through the Tyree Studio collection. 💜

03/03/2026

To celebrate we are sharing this incredible footage of Royal Albatross Toroa at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula. This was filmed by Lance Richdale c.1939-1940 and is part of the Lance Richdale Papers held by the Hocken Collections University of Otago.

The Richdale papers were inscribed to the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa Register in 2016, and document Richdale’s internationally recognised contributions to ornithological knowledge and conservation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC80fF36FU&t=4s

A black and white film, recorded without sound, from the Lance Richdale papers (Hocken Archives MS-1260-053/001) showing northern royal albatross / toroa in ...

27/02/2026

Recently Memory of the World Trustees, David Reeves, Stefanie Lash, Steve Russell and Charlotte Macdonald, were able to visit the new plaque recognising He Tohu's three documents that are inscribed on the New Zealand Register: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and the Women’s Suffrage Petetion.

He Tohu is a permanent exhibition of three iconic constitutional documents that shape Aotearoa New Zealand, located in the National Library of New Zealand building, Wellington. Learn more here: https://natlib.govt.nz/he-tohu

05/02/2026

On the 6th February 1840, Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed following a meeting at Waitangi in February 1840.

The treaty was taken to locations around New Zealand for debate and signing over the next seven months. While the Waitangi Sheet is the most well-known sheet and first signed at Waitangi on the 6th February 1840, Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi is a group of nine documents, seven on paper and two on parchment. Together they represent an agreement drawn up between representatives of the British Crown on the one hand and representatives of Māori iwi and hapū on the other.

Click through these images to learn more about each of the sheets of Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi.

03/12/2025

Early this month committee members celebrated the inscription of the William F Crawford Collection to the Memory of the World Aotearoa Register at Tairāwhiti Museum.

The William F Crawford collection consists of over 5000 glass plate negatives, taken by William Fitzgerald Crawford, the collection is an unparalleled record of the development of Gisborne and the district between 1874 and 1912, and covers all aspects of life from important events to rural living, and is the first entry from Gisborne region.

The event celebrated the nomination of this collection and the incredible work of the Tāirawhiti Museum in caring for, preserving and the digitisation of the collection to ensure accessibility for all.

Read more about the event and the collection in this article from the Gisborne Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/gisborne-herald/news/how-a-5000-image-gisborne-archive-earned-unesco-memory-of-the-world-status/D53YMFQNU5F5VLY6ZLY6IVJJTY/

31/10/2025

Did you know that October 31 is World Cities Day? To celebrate, we are highlighting the Armson Collins Architectural Drawings held by Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury.

Established in 1870 by William Armson, the firm was Christchurch’s oldest and New Zealand’s second oldest practice. The collection contains over 5000 architectural drawings, specifications and photographs of public, domestic, educational, ecclesiastical and commercial buildings, and documents the changes in style and technique of architectural drawing in New Zealand.

Following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, the collection has taken on further significance, as many of the non-domestic buildings in central Christchurch sustained damage, with many being demolished. The collection was extensively consulted for the recovery and rebuild of Christchurch, in particular the restoration of the iconic Art Centre of Christchurch complex highlighting the importance of architectural archives.

The Armson Collins Architectural Drawings were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa New Zealand Register in 2018. They are held by the Macmillan Brown Library University of Canterbury


Images:
Arthur T Chapman - house - No 2, 159651; Christchurch Botanical Gardens, 29685; Christchurch Public Library, Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street Corner, 155753; Canterbury College - Back elevation, 157936, Armson Collins Architectural Drawing Collection, MS-1418, Macmillian Brown Library

28/10/2025

in 1835, thirty-four northern chiefs signed, He Whakaputanga o te Ranagtiratanga o Nu Tireni the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand. A further eighteen signatures were collected by 1839.

Its four sections declared Aotearoa a sovereign state, and that full sovereign power and authority resided in Te Whakaminenga o Ngā Hapū o Nu Tireni, General Assembly of Hapū or Confederation of United Tribes. It was officially recognised by British authorities in 1836.

In recognition of its significance, He Whakaputanga was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand Register in 2015. It is cared for by Archives New Zealand.

Since 2017, He Whakaputanga has sat alongside Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition in He Tohu at the National Library of New Zealand.

Learn more about He Whakaputanga https://www.archives.govt.nz/discover-our-stories/the-declaration-of-independence-of-new-zealand