Research Central

Library Details
Opening hours
Open now
Thursday9am - 6pm
Friday9am - 6pm
Saturday10am - 5pm
Sunday10am - 5pm
Monday9am - 6pm
Tuesday9am - 6pm
Wednesday9am - 6pm
Address
Level 2, Central City Library
44-46 Lorne St
Auckland Central
Get directions Show full map
Get in touch with us
09 307 7771
Contact us
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Research Central Te Kohinga Rangahau mō Tāmaki Makaurau is on Level 2 of the Central City Library. It specialises in the history of the central parts of Auckland, including the Auckland CBD, Waiheke Island and Aotea Great Barrier Island.
Access to the library
The closest bus stops are on Queen Street, Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street East and West. Go to Auckland Transport journey planner page.
For information about parking in Auckland Central, we recommend the Auckland Transport website. Go to AT's Auckland Central parking page

Accessibility
Central City Library has three mobility parking spaces on Rutland Street right next to the library building.
Path to entrance is level and accessible
Lift access
Accessible toilet
Automatic doors

Facilities
Printing, photocopying, and scanning
Computer use
Free WiFi
Microfilm and microfiche readers
Research Central offers one of the most comprehensive collections of international genealogy, family history and whakapapa research resources in the southern hemisphere.
Our popular HeritageTalks event series feature guest presenters and experts from around the world. Heritage Talks are streamed via Zoom and many are made available via our podcast and YouTube. Visit our heritage, family and local history events page to see upcoming events and to book a space.
Listen to Heritage podcasts
View our YouTube content
Go to our heritage, family, and local events page

Our specialised research staff and librarians are available during normal opening hours. If you have a specific research enquiry please contact the team via our general enquiries form and we will be in touch. Go to the Research enquiries form

Also, on Level 2 of Central City Library, is our Atrium space which offers frequently changing displays and exhibitions.
Not in Central Auckland? Try our North, West or South/East Research Centres.
Go to Research North
Go to Research West
Go to Research South/East
Research services
Research services
Our research librarians can help with:
- Family history research
- Māori research, including whakapapa research
- Local history queries, including
- Accessing newspapers and Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) using microfilm and microfiche resources
- Accessing oral history records and recordings, loaning oral history equipment and oral history training. Contact Research Central about our oral history services.
- Ordering inter-library loans for resources not available from Auckland Council Libraries.
- Assisting students, particularly with finding primary resources
- One-on-one help via our Book-a-librarian service. Contact Research Central to book a session with our specialist research librarians. Go to Book-a-librarian form
- Guided tours of the Research Central collections. Contact Research Central to enquire about tours.
Collections and resources
Collections and resources
The collections at Research Central are for in-library use and cover an extensive range of New Zealand topics.

Family history and whakapapa
Research Central offers one of the most comprehensive collections of international genealogy, family history and whakapapa research resources in the southern hemisphere, including:
- Print and digital resources covering Australasia, Pacific Islands, Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa
- New Zealand and Māori Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM) indexes on microfiche (1840-1990) and on an internal database (1991-1997), with guides explaining how to get more information out of records
- New Zealand settler records, such as Fencible records, muster rolls, New Zealand Company records, New Zealand Shipping Company records, rolls of early settlers, Pioneer Women’s Roll of Honour, and undertaker records
- New Zealand-wide electoral rolls for both election and non-election years since 1982
- Family history books, family biographies, parish records, magazines, and guides, including for researching family history in different parts of the world
- The New Zealand Herald, Auckland Star, Auckland Weekly News, and other newspapers and magazines of national significance
- The Central Leader, Gulf News, East and Bays Courier, and other local newspapers
- Phone and business directories for most of New Zealand
- New Zealand Gazette
- Access to Ancestry Library Edition, Find My Past, MyHeritage, and The Genealogist websites and other family history online databases, including international historic newspapers
- Māori Land Court Minute Books in print and on microfilm
Specialist family history and Poukōkiri Rangahau Māori (Māori research librarians) are available to support you with your research. Contact Research Central for more details and to set up an appointment.

Te Kohinga Matua Māori collection
Research Central holds a large selection of resources for researching te ao Māori, including:
- Te reo Māori resources
- Tikanga and kaupapa guides and reports
- Karakia (prayers), waiata (songs) and mōteatea (sung laments)
- Wānanga, lore and legends
- Waka and tribal histories
- Whakapapa and family history
- Rongoā Māori (Māori medicine)
- Toi Māori (Māori arts)
- Native flora and fauna and its significance in te ao Māori
- Māori Land Court minute books
- Waitangi Tribunal and Raupatu reports
- Māori military resources, including the New Zealand Wars and World Wars
- Māori and Pacific serials, such as Journal of the Polynesian Society, Mana, and Māori Language Commission annual report
Other collection highlights:
Pacific research collection with a large selection of general and specialised resources for researching Pacific history, society and culture.
Local history collection related to the history of Auckland City and Auckland as a whole, including:
Local newspapers, magazines and newsletters
Local business directories and phone books
Auckland cadastral maps on microfiche, topographic maps and hydrological maps
Symonds Street cemetery maps and records
Journals of local historical societies, interest societies and associations, like the Botanical Society, the Auckland Rose Society and the New Zealand Healing Association
Local history non-fiction books
Digital collections
Browse the substantial collection of photographs, maps, ephemera, and other material relating to Auckland City’s history on Kura Heritage Collections Online.

Donations to the collection
Research Central may accept donations of records, photographs, ephemera, oral histories, and manuscripts with an Auckland City focus. Please contact Research Central for more details or to schedule an appointment

Mahuru Māori

Take up te wero (the challenge) to speak more te reo Māori this Mahuru Māori!
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October school holidays

Join us for an unbelievable adventure with our school holiday activities for tamariki and rangatahi.
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Service updates

Find out everything you need to know about visiting the library and our available services.
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Research Central

Opening hours

Open now

Address

Get in touch with us

Access to the library

Accessibility

Facilities

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