Searching for New Zealand Records
Ancestry has a large number of New Zealand Records, to search for these, the following steps are the best way to start. - Go to your local library and click the Ancestry Library Edition link from the Catalogue -- Rotorua District Library Catalogue
- When Ancestry opens, click the word Search from the top menu bar
- Don't select anything from the drop down menu, you want a new page to open that has Explore by Location and a continent map of USA with some tabs that have other continents on them will appear on your screen.
2. If you only want NZ click the map of NZ and from there you will get another window that has the Data Collection lists.
- See my blog post from 5th August for a sample of what's available.
- In NZ the electoral boundaries have changed on several occasions and this will mean that you will have to search not only by town but also by location e.g. Bay of Plenty for years 1853-1860 the electorate was called the "Southern Division" of the North Island, 1860-1870 it was Franklin. For more information on historic electorates see the book "New Zealand Electoral Atlas" by Alan McRobie, published 1989 and available to study in the Genealogy section of Rotorua District Library.
- When you start typing in the location box a menu will drop down showing the options you need to choose by clicking the appropriate town or region.
5. The results list will have the most probable names and dates at the top, if your ancestor does not appear there, try editing your search by broadening your search. E.g. Take the first name out.
6. Click the View Record link, then click the image to see the page with your ancestor's details.
7. If you want a copy of this you can click the print icon, select Full page view or zoomed (close-up) and click Continue. Ask a Librarian to help, as they will know which printer to choose and how to optimize your image.
These instructions are also available from the Librarian on the 2nd Floor so please don't hesitate to ask for help.
