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*[https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Ddeaths '''Online Index to New Zealand Death Records (1848 to 50 years ago)'''], also available if the deceased person was born more than 80 years ago.
*[https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Ddeaths '''Online Index to New Zealand Death Records (1848 to 50 years ago)'''], also available if the deceased person was born more than 80 years ago.
*[https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dmarriages '''Online Index to New Zealand Marriage Records (1848 to 80 years ago)''']
*[https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dmarriages '''Online Index to New Zealand Marriage Records (1848 to 80 years ago)''']
==Definition==
==Background==
Civil registration is the government administered registration of births, marriages and deaths. The records refer to critical events in a person's life. Civil registration records are an excellent source for information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths.  
In 1848, when the European population of New Zealand was becoming substantial, civil registration was began. As a British colony, the format and system was broadly similar to the system of civil registration that had been established in England in 1837. At first it was voluntary and no marriages were recorded. In 1854 marriages were included and it became compulsory for Europeans in 1856. Changes in 1875 and 1880 increased the detail recorded in the registers, making them very rich sources for genealogists. Specific Maori registration was introduced in 1911 for marriages and 1913 for births and deaths, but suffered from non-universal coverage.


Civil registration records are crucial for research in New Zealand. They cover a large part of the population and the records are indexed from 1848. They are easily accessible and contain a rich amount of genealogical information.  
New Zealand, like Britain has a system where Indexes were created each quarter or year listing names only. These are easily accessible for free, but the original certificates must be ordered for a fee.  


''See the FamilySearch tutorial ''[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/new-zealand-births-deaths-and-marriages-online/34 ''"New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages Online"'''' ''']''
''See the FamilySearch tutorial ''[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/new-zealand-births-deaths-and-marriages-online/34 ''"New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages Online"'''' ''']''
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=== General Historical Background  ===
=== General Historical Background  ===


Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths of the European population in 1848. After this date, most individuals residing in New Zealand were recorded. From 1867, civil registration also included records of divorce. Compulsory registration of Maori marriages began in 1911. Registration of Maori births and deaths followed in 1913, though not all Maoris complied at that time.
Civil registration required individuals to register vital events, with the local district registrar and a copy was sent to the Registrar General’s Office. Not all events were properly registered because:
*Registration was not compulsory until 1856.
*Some district registrars occasionally held off sending in registration of an event for a brief time, and you may find the year of the registration later than the actual year of the event.
*Some district registrars occasionally held off sending in registration of an event for a brief time, and you may find the year of the registration later than the actual year of the event.


=== Information Recorded in Civil Registers  ===
=== Information Recorded in Civil Registers. ===
 
The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones.
 
The most important civil records for genealogical research are photocopies of original entries from the registers of birth, marriage, and death. Certified copies (certificates) are legal documents which normally do not provide all the information given in the original entries, and are therefore not as valuable for genealogical research. Photocopies of original entries are also less expensive to obtain than certificates.


'''Births.''' Birth records generally give:  
'''Births.''' Birth records generally give:  
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*Child’s sex  
*Child’s sex  
*Date and place of birth  
*Date and place of birth  
*Names of the parents-including the maiden surname of the mother  
*Names of the parents-including the maiden surname of the mother. From 1875 their ages, birthplaces and marriage date were also included. 
*Father’s occupation  
*Father’s occupation  
*Parent’s signature  
*Parent’s signature  
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Some points to keep in mind include the following:  
Some points to keep in mind include the following:  


*After 1876, birth records provide additional details, such as the birthplace and age of the parents. After 1880, the date and place of the parents’ marriage and their length of residence in New Zealand is provided.
*Births were generally registered within a few days of the child’s birth by the father, a close relative, or a neighbor.  
*Births were generally registered within a few days of the child’s birth by the father, a close relative, or a neighbor.  
*For Stillborns, see under "Deaths" in this section.  
*For Stillborns, see under "Deaths" in this section.  
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*Date and place of the marriage  
*Date and place of the marriage  
*Ages of the bride and groom  
*Names of the bride and groom
*Ages of the bride and groom. From 1880 their birthplace was also recorded. 
*Marital condition (whether single, widowed or divorced)  
*Marital condition (whether single, widowed or divorced)  
*Names of the bride and groom
*Occupations  
*Occupations  
*From 1880 onwards, residences of the bride and groom. 
*From 1880 onwards, the names of both parents of the bride and groom, including maiden names and the father's occupation. 
*Signatures of the bride and groom (helpful in cases of a common surname)  
*Signatures of the bride and groom (helpful in cases of a common surname)  
*Names of witnesses
*Names of witnesses


After 1880, marriage records also give the full names of parents (including mothers’ maiden names), the occupations of the fathers, and the birthplace and the residence of the bride and groom. They often include other information about the bride and groom such as their residences, and the name of the person giving consent. In cases of second and later marriages, they may include the names of previous spouse and the death date. CD 3282 New Zealand Marriage CD is available at Family History Library, SLC, from 1836-1956. 
They often include other information about the bride and groom such as their residences, and the name of the person giving consent. In cases of second and later marriages, they may include the names of previous spouse and the death date.


If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of the marriage, search Records of Intent to Marry notices from 1856 to 1920. These are indexed from early to 1880. These notices provide a bit more information than that which is found in the certificates of marriage--including the name of the consenting adult for the minor and the length of residence. To find these in the FamilySearch Catalog, look in the Place Search under:  
If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of the marriage, search Records of Intent to Marry notices from 1856 to 1920. These are indexed from early to 1880. These notices provide a bit more information than that which is found in the certificates of marriage--including the name of the consenting adult for the minor and the length of residence. To find these in the FamilySearch Catalog, look in the Place Search under:  
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*'''Marriage registers.''' Church ministers recorded in register books, the marriages they performed. Marriages often occurred where the bride resided.
*'''Marriage registers.''' Church ministers recorded in register books, the marriages they performed. Marriages often occurred where the bride resided.


'''Deaths.''' '''''Pre-1876''''' civil registrations of deaths generally give:  
'''Deaths''' civil registrations of deaths generally give:  


*Name of the deceased  
*Name of the deceased  
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*Name, description and residence of the informant (especially helpful in cases of young children who died under the age of 18 as the informant is usually a parent)
*Name, description and residence of the informant (especially helpful in cases of young children who died under the age of 18 as the informant is usually a parent)


'''Deaths. ''Post-1876'''''death registers give''':'''
From 1876 the following additional information was recorded:  


*Birthplace of the deceased  
*Birthplace of the deceased  
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'''Divorce Records.''' Civil officials began keeping divorce records in 1867. The Family History Library does not have New Zealand divorce records in their collection. You can obtain information from divorce records by contacting the Registrar General Office. The address is given later in this section.  Archives New Zealand also holds divorce records. See [[New Zealand Archives and Libraries]].
'''Divorce Records.''' Civil officials began keeping divorce records in 1867. The Family History Library does not have New Zealand divorce records in their collection. You can obtain information from divorce records by contacting the Registrar General Office. The address is given later in this section.  Archives New Zealand also holds divorce records. See [[New Zealand Archives and Libraries]].


=== Locating and Searching Civil Registration Records ===
== Accessing New Zealand Civil Registration  ==


''See the FamilySearch tutorial ''[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/new-zealand-births-deaths-and-marriages-online/34 ''"New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages Online"'''' ''''']  
''See the FamilySearch tutorial ''[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/new-zealand-births-deaths-and-marriages-online/34 ''"New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages Online"'''' ''''']  


Civil registration records are kept at two locations in New Zealand:
To access an original New Zealand civil registration record is a two step process:
# Find the record in the index
# Order the original certificate. 
 
=== Indexes ===
The official indexes can be found on [https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search BMD Historical Records], run by the Department of Internal Affairs. 
 
They are also available on Ancestry ($) in the following collections:
 
[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8949 New Zealand, Birth Index, 1840-1950]


*General Registrar’s (Central Registry) Office. Copies of the certificates of births, marriages and deaths were sent to this office from the local registration district offices. Indexes were produced from the returns of these certificates.  
[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8950 New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1937]
*Local churches. You may visit the church where an event was recorded. <br>


To obtain certificates, visit the [http://www.bdm.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Index?OpenDocument Department of Internal Affairs Births, Marriages and Deaths Web site].
[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8952 New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1966]  


As of 2007, the mailing address for obtaining civil registration records is:
Indexes until 1896 can also be found on FamilySearch at the collection [[New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Civil Record Indexes]]


'''Births Deaths &amp; Marriages'''  
'''Births Deaths &amp; Marriages'''  
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