Start your search

Get started by entering a term into the search box. You can search for:

• keywords, like the name of a person or type of record
• a record’s code (R-number) – a unique number given to the record by Archives New Zealand, and used to identify it
• series – groups of records that are related to each other
• government agencies that have transferred records to us.

Search results

Your results may include:

• individual records or items
• series of records – groups of records that are related to each other
• government agencies that have transferred records to us
• accessions – groups of records that were transferred to us at the same time.

Understand your search results

For each item in your results, you’ll see the:

• item’s title
• code (R-number)
• years it was used by the government agency that created it (if it’s a record or series)
• location – the Archives building that holds it
• access status – whether you need to get permission if you want to view it
• type – whether it’s physical or digital.

If you’re not sure what a term in your search results means, find the definition in our glossary.
See definitions of the archival terms we use in Collections search

View your results as a list

The first time you use Collections search, your search results will display in a grid. Click on the list icon to see your results as a list. You’ll see more information about each record this way.

The image shows where to find the list icon, on the right of the search results page.

If you’re signed in, Collections search will remember your preference and always display your results as a list.
Learn how to sign into Collections search 

Filter your results

You’ll often get a large number of results if you enter names or keywords into Collections search. Use the filter at the top of the results page to find the most relevant records.

Read our guide to using the search filter 

Digitised records

Some records in our collections have been digitised, so you can view them online. If a record is available to view online, it will have an image in its entry on your search results page.

View digitised records

To view a digitised record online:

1. Open the record’s page.
2. Find View online in the information about the record at the top of the page.
3. Click on the underlined code next to View online.

Order records to view in a reading room

If you want to view a record in person, you’ll need to visit the reading room that holds it. You can order up to 5 records at a time:

• online, using our order form 
• in the reading room on the day of your visit.

Sign up for Collections search with RealMe before you order

Before we can order your items, you’ll need to: 

• fill in our registration form
• have a RealMe account.

Learn how to sign up for Collections search

Online ordering

In future, you'll be able to use Collections search to order records to view in a reading room. For now, use our online form. Remember to include:

• the titles and codes of the records you want to view
• the day you plan to visit
• proof that you have permission to see any restricted records you’ve ordered – find out how to get this on the record page.

Fill in the item order form

Reading room ordering

You can order more records in the reading room on the day of your visit. You may need to return some items first, so you don’t have more than 5 at a time.
Reading room order times

If you order an item in the reading room, it may take up to an hour to arrive.

Search help and support

We're here to help if you're struggling to use Collections search or you can't find what you need. Send us a question and an archivist will respond.
Ask an archivist about searching for records