Archives New Zealand

Archives New Zealand is a government building in Wellington that preserves official documents, photographs, maps, and audio-visual materials spanning multiple centuries. The facility provides both physical reading rooms and digital access to these records for researchers and visitors.

The organization was established in 1957 following a major fire in 1952 that destroyed many public records at the Hope Gibbons Building. This loss led to the creation of a dedicated institution to better protect government documents for future generations.

The place operates under two names, Archives New Zealand and Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga in Māori, showing how the country values its bicultural identity. Visitors see both languages displayed equally throughout the building and its materials.

The building welcomes visitors with reading areas for examining materials and digital access options. Those interested in viewing original documents should check the access requirements beforehand.

The building houses the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, among its most treasured holdings. This historic agreement is one of the primary reasons the location holds special meaning for many visitors.