Ngā rekoata whakapapa, urupā, nehunga anō hoki Family history, cemetery and burial records

Our archives include records that may be useful for your family history research.

Visit Find a burial or cremation record to find original burial, plot and administrative records for Auckland's cemeteries.

Part of family history research can include details about family homes, dwellings and businesses.

Dwelling and business records fall into two main groups:

• records relating to building permit or consent applications and plans
• file series dealing with dwellings, businesses and other buildings and properties.

A large collection of archival records comes from the council's building regulation records dating from the early 20th century.

These records include:

• building permit registers and indexes
• building applications
• specifications
• plans
• committee and council minutes
• correspondence with applicants and developers
• records relating to inspections.

Access to these records is usually by the property name or street address of the property.

The records contain the names and addresses of the owners of domestic and commercial buildings, as well as the names of their builders and architects.

The file series was put together by various Auckland Council business groups. They include issues such as:

• property subdivision
• encroachments
• health and sanitation
• tenders and contracts
• town planning
• water and electrical services.

Although people are identified in these records, sometimes locating them can be time-consuming unless you know of specific issues they were involved in.

Electoral or burgess rolls Official list of people qualified to vote for members of the council. In 1913 they were replaced by electoral rolls. are the rolls of people qualified to vote for members of the council.

Burgess rolls give details of the elector's name, address, and sometimes property descriptions and values.

Our health information records are usually a product of an 'inspection' or 'reporting' relationship with local health authorities, or a consequence of a major health issue like an influenza epidemic.

Councils have been responsible for the licencing of a variety of activities over time, including:

• auctioneers
• dogs
• drivers
• hawkers
• street musicians
• publicans.

Records are arranged by the date the licence was issued or registered, rather than the applicant's name and details.

They include:

• the name of the applicant
• address
• activity
• date the licence was issued
• comments or remarks regarding cancellations, renewals or prosecutions.

If your family served as a board member, councillor or even as mayor, they will appear as attendees of meetings in the minute books and in several other sources and lists.

They may also appear in photographic records.

Minute books of boards, councils and committees record all business discussed and decisions made in meetings. As such, they are key documents.

Although minute books are written in a formal manner, they can provide details about individuals.

In the early period, they dealt with correspondence from citizens and businesspeople about issues concerning them or services they required.

Some of these minute books include subject indexes which makes it easier to search by name.

There are occasional series relating to occupations and pastimes found among the local authority records.

These records provide basic ownership and descriptive information regarding properties throughout the region. The earliest of these dates from 1867 for the Mt Albert Highway District.

Information includes:

• names and occupations of owners and occupiers
• a legal description of property
• a brief description of the property
• the valuation or rating value.

Access to these records is either by the owner's surname or street address.

Some of these records are from series that relate directly to war.

There are also a number of records about war located in more general series.

The 'Our boys, our families research guide' showcases First World War research resources available at Auckland Libraries and Auckland Council Archives.

For research advice and to access our archives you can:

• visit an archives office
• email archives@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz with your request
• call Auckland Council Archives on 09 890 2427.

Visit Archival services to find out what else we can help you with.