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For information about records for non-Christian religions in New Zealand, go to the Religious Records page.

The keeping of church records in New Zealand generally began when representatives of each religious organization arrived in the islands. Records of the Church of England (Anglican) exist from 1814 while those for the Catholic church date from 1838, and the records of the Baptist church date from the 1850's. No one religion was ever predominant enough in New Zealand to be considered a "state church". For more information about the various churches in New Zealand, see New Zealand Church History and New Zealand History.

Civil authorities in New Zealand began registering vital statistics of European settlers in 1848, but registration did not become compulsory until eight years later. Registration of Maori marriages became compulsory in 1911 and births and deaths in 1913. Church records can contain information on many individuals who do not appear in the civil records.

Church records continued to be kept after the introduction of civil registration, but they generally contain less information than civil registration records, particularly after 1876. For birth, death, and marriage records after 1848, see New Zealand Civil Registration- Vital Records.

Online Resources and Websites

 * 1844-1870 - Church records : Church of England in New Zealand baptisms, 1844-1870 at FamilySearch - images
 * 1886-1946 - Baptismal register, 1886-1946 at FamilySearch - images
 * 1857-1975 - Church records, 1857-1975 at FamilySearch - images
 * 1857-1914 - Parish registers, 1857-1914 at FamilySearch - images
 * 1907-1950 - Parish registers, 1907-1950 at FamilySearch - images
 * 1883-1940 - Register of Anglican Maori birth, death records in Wairoa District, 1883-1940; also land deals at FamilySearch - images
 * 1886-1945 - Baptismal register, 1886-1945 at FamilySearch - images

Baptisms

 * Birth and baptism dates
 * Place of baptism
 * Christian name of the child
 * Christian and surname of the father
 * Christian name of the mother (some include maiden surname)
 * Parents’ abode
 * Occupation of the father
 * Name of the officiating minister

Children were generally baptized within a few days of birth. If a child died soon after birth, death information was sometimes added as a note.

Marriages

 * Date and place of marriage
 * Full names of the bride and groom
 * Parish of residence of the bride and groom
 * Marital status of the bride and groom prior to this marriage
 * Married by banns or license
 * In the case of a minor, whether with consent of parents
 * Name of the officiating minister
 * Signatures or marks of the bride and groom
 * Signatures or marks of witnesses

Marriage registers may also include other information about the bride and groom such as their ages, occupations, and names of parents. In cases of second and later marriages for a woman, they may include her former married names along with her maiden name.

Marriage registers sometimes include the published banns. These were announcements of intent to marry which were made for two or three Sundays prior to the marriage, and gave an opportunity for anyone to come forward who knew of any reason why the couple should not be married.

Burials

 * Dates of death and burial
 * Place of burial
 * Name of the deceased
 * Place of abode at time of death
 * Age of the deceased
 * Occupation of the deceased
 * Name of the officiating minister

Occasionally parents' names, cause of death, and even the date and place of birth are given for the deceased. Burials were recorded in the records of the church where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of death. Burial records exist for individuals for whom no birth or marriage record exists. In addition, stillbirths may have been recorded in a burial register when no baptism occurred.

Online Resources and Websites

 * 1856-1980 - Register of New Zealand Presbyterian Marriages 1848 to 1935 at the Presbyterian Research Centre - indexes
 * 1848-1920 - Register of Otago & Southland Marriages 1848 to 1920 at the Presbyterian Research Centre - indexes

Online Resources and Websites

 * 1875-1926 - at FamilySearch - images