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* 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 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. | 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: | ||
* Child’s name | *Child’s name | ||
* 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 | ||
* Father’s occupation | *Father’s occupation | ||
* Parent’s signature | *Parent’s signature | ||
* If a child’s name was changed after the registration of birth, then the altered name may be given. | *If a child’s name was changed after the registration of birth, then the altered name may be given. | ||
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. | *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. | ||
* Late registrations of births were kept by the Registrar General for registrations occuring at least two years after the birth. The name appears in the index for the year the birth was registered. | *Late registrations of births were kept by the Registrar General for registrations occuring at least two years after the birth. The name appears in the index for the year the birth was registered. | ||
* In 1894, an act of Parliament allowed for the re-registration of the birth of any child born out of wedlock in cases when the parents married after the child’s birth. | *In 1894, an act of Parliament allowed for the re-registration of the birth of any child born out of wedlock in cases when the parents married after the child’s birth. | ||
'''Marriages.''' Marriage registers give: | '''Marriages.''' Marriage registers give: | ||
* Date and place of the marriage | *Date and place of the marriage | ||
* Ages of the bride and groom | *Ages of the bride and groom | ||
* Marital condition (whether single, widowed or divorced) | *Marital condition (whether single, widowed or divorced) | ||
* Names of the bride and groom | *Names of the bride and groom | ||
* Occupations | *Occupations | ||
* 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. | 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. | ||
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 Family History Library 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 Family History Library Catalog, look in the Place Search under: | ||
NEW ZEALAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION | NEW ZEALAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION | ||
The following records document the legal completion of a marriage. | The following records document the legal completion of a marriage. | ||
* '''Certified Copy (Certificate).''' This is a legal document, issued by the Registrar General, which normally does not provide all information given in the original registers of marriages. | *'''Certified Copy (Certificate).''' This is a legal document, issued by the Registrar General, which normally does not provide all information given in the original registers of marriages. | ||
* '''Photocopies.''' A photocopy of the original entry from the marriage register gives all of the information that was provided when the marriage was registered and is the most desirable documentation for genealogy and family history. | *'''Photocopies.''' A photocopy of the original entry from the marriage register gives all of the information that was provided when the marriage was registered and is the most desirable documentation for genealogy and family history. | ||
* '''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.''' '''''Pre-1876''''' civil registrations of deaths generally give: | ||
* Name of the deceased | *Name of the deceased | ||
* Date and place of death | *Date and place of death | ||
* Place of residence | *Place of residence | ||
* Cause of death | *Cause of death | ||
* Sex of the deceased | *Sex of the deceased | ||
* Age of the deceased | *Age of the deceased | ||
* Rank or occupation of the deceased | *Rank or occupation of the deceased | ||
* 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. | '''Deaths. ''Post-1876 '''''death registers give''':''' | ||
* Birthplace of the deceased | *Birthplace of the deceased | ||
* When and where buried | *When and where buried | ||
* Full names of parents--including the mother’s maiden surname | *Full names of parents--including the mother’s maiden surname | ||
* Father’s rank or occupation | *Father’s rank or occupation | ||
* To whom, where and at what age married | *To whom, where and at what age married | ||
* Age of surviving spouse | *Age of surviving spouse | ||
* Sometimes religious denomination | *Sometimes religious denomination | ||
* Ages and gender of living children | *Ages and gender of living children | ||
* Length of residence in New Zealand | *Length of residence in New Zealand | ||
Civil registrations of death often exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of death and they were recorded at the office of the district registrar in the district where the death occurred. | Civil registrations of death often exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of death and they were recorded at the office of the district registrar in the district where the death occurred. | ||
In 1913, stillbirth registration began. The laws of New Zealand provided that when a child died within a few days of birth, it was recorded as a stillbirth. If the still birth was unregistered as a birth, it was to be registered as a death. Always be sure to search for it in the registrations of death. | In 1913, stillbirth registration began. The laws of New Zealand provided that when a child died within a few days of birth, it was recorded as a stillbirth. If the still birth was unregistered as a birth, it was to be registered as a death. Always be sure to search for it in the registrations of death. | ||
'''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 the "[[New Zealand Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section of this outline. | '''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 the "[[New Zealand Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section of this outline. | ||
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=== Locating and Searching Civil Registration Records === | === Locating and Searching Civil Registration Records === | ||