Auckland Council Libraries: Heritage Māori collections

Heritage Māori collections

Ngā kohinga taonga tuku iho Māori

Māori collections are held at the majority of libraries across the region. They include both current and heritage materials.  


Collection highlights

  • Sir George Grey New Zealand Māori manuscripts and letters. 

  • Other New Zealand manuscripts like an 1840 copy of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

  • Kōti Whenua Māori minute books 1865-1975.

  • Waitangi Tribunal reports.

  • Māori newspapers 1842-present.

  • Māori photographs, tribal histories, maps, whakapapa and whānau reunion books.

  • Māori Births and Deaths Index to 1961, Māori Marriages Index 1952 and Māori Elector's Roll 1909 and 1918.


Specialist Māori collections 


Grey New Zealand Māori Manuscript Collection 

Held in our Heritage Collections Reading Room these manuscripts collected and donated by George Grey are often the first reference for scholars writing and researching Māori subjects.


This collection was inscribed on the New Zealand register of the UNESCO Memory of the World in 2011. See all Auckland Libraries inscriptions.


Grey Printed Māori Collection

Sir George Grey's collection of books printed in te reo Māori are housed in the Heritage Collections Reading Room. Includes some very rare publications, including the first book printed in New Zealand - Ko te katekihama III (The third catechism). 


Printed Māori Collection

Books in te reo Māori that were not donated by George Grey. Part of the Heritage Collections housed in  Heritage Collections Reading Room


Te Kohinga Matua, Central City

A comprehensive collection at Research Central that includes:

  • Māori serials

  • Māori Land Court Minute Books

  • Raupatu Document Bank

  • Waitangi Tribunal reports

  • facsimile copies of the Grey Māori mauscripts.


Te Wāhi Rangahau, Manukau

A specialist collection at Research South that includes:

  • Kōti Whenua Māori minute books on microfilm from 1865 to 1975

  • Raupatu Document Bank

  • Turton’s Māori Land Deeds on microfiche

  • Māori electoral rolls

  • Journals of the Polynesian Society.


Tikanga Māori Collection, Takapuna

This collection brings together material in te reo Māori and relating to tikanga Māori. It is housed in the New Zealand Collection at Takapuna Library. Resources include:


  • niupepa (1842 - 1933 held on microfiche)

  • some Waitangi Tribunal reports.


Te Kohinga pukapuka taonga Māori, Henderson

An extensive collection held at Waitākere Central Library. Make an appointment with a specialist librarian to access these by emailing libraryresearch@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.



Key online resources 


Auckland Council Libraries:Heritage Māori collections At Central City Library we offer the largest Māori research and reference collection in a public library. Most Auckland Libraries feature Māori collections.