New Zealand Family History Month August 2012
Family History is cool…pass it on.
August is Family History Month, when members of the NZSG Wellington Region
Genealogy Branches & Interest Groups come together to celebrate how cool family history really is!
From 1st August the Local Branches and Interest Groups invite people to join in and help them
celebrate Family History Month 2012 at Various times and Locations.
FREE FRIDAY TOURS
3 Aug:
10 Aug:
17 Aug:
24 Aug:
31 Aug:
Archives New Zealand; 10 Mulgrave Street, Wellington. Max 20
Wellington city Library; Family History area, 2nd floor 65 Victoria Street, Wellington. Max 24
BNZ Archives; BNZ, Level 1, Harbour Quays, 60 Waterloo Quay.(opp Railway Station) Max 20
WCC Archives; 2 Barker Street, Wellington(off Cambridge Tce, first street south of Basin Reserve) Max 20
Petone Library Heritage Centre, Petone Library, 7 Britannia Street, Petone Max 20
Register for tours at the NZSG Family Search desk at the National Library's Reading Room, cnr Molesworth &
Aitken Streets, Wellington All Tours are from 11am – 12noon
Ph: 474 3048 e: nzsg@dia.govt.nz
GREATER LONDON INTEREST GROUP…Research Day
4 Aug: You are invited to bring along your research for expert help with locating your ancestors from London.
Venue: St Luke’s Lower Church Hall, 34 Pitt Street, Wadestown Wellington.
Junction of Wadestown Road and Pitt Street (summit of the hill).
Time: 10am – 4pm Entry: $5.00
SATURDAY SPEAKERS: 11 August 2012
Speakers will explore different aspects of family history research
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Don Hansen (winner of the NZSG’s Lucy Marshall Award) will talk about New Zealand’s census records in
Forgotten but not gone
Brad Patterson of Victoria University on Knowing your English ancestors in NZ
Gavin McLean, Senior Historian with the Ministry for Culture & Heritage and author of many books, on The
Local Context - the local history your ancestors helped make....
Venue: Connolly Hall –cnr Hill St & Guildford Tce (beside the Catholic Basilica), Wellington
1pm – 5pm
Entry; $10.00 (includes afternoon tea)
PATHWAYS TO FAMILY HISTORY. Research help day
At, Porirua on Saturday 25 August 2012. Come and get help with your family history research.
The New Zealand Society of Genealogists is hosting a research day for anyone with an interest in family history.
You will be able to consult experienced genealogists about resources you can use to find people from various parts
of the world.
 Ireland
 Scotland
 Greater London
 England counties
 Australia
 New Zealand and Māori
Experienced staff from Wellington City Libraries, Archives New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library will also
be there to help.
Venue: Helen Smith Community Meeting Room, Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures, cnr Norrie and Parumoana
Streets, Porirua
10am – 4pm
Entry: $5.00
YURU 2012 Live Show
Kapiti Genealogy presents its 2012 production of WHY YOU ARE YOU.
Virtues from the past with Dame Kate Harcourt, actor and broadcaster, who shares a journey through time with
stories of her ancestors, her family and her life.
Tuesday 21 August. 4pm and 7.30pm. Venue: Southwards, Otaihanga, Paraparaumu (cafeteria open)
Monday 27 August. 7.30pm. Venue: Circa Theatre, Taranaki Street, Wellington (cash bar open)
Details of advance ticket purchase ($15) at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlsgkb or kapiti@genealogy.org.nz
Limited seats available so book early to avoid disappointment…
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SPECIAL – AUGUST EXTENDED!
On Saturday 1 September 2012 volunteers from the New Zealand Society of Genealogists will join staff of the
Alexander Turnbull Library to introduce genealogists to the Library’s newly re-opened research services.
Additional help and tours will be available between 1pm and 4pm.
For further information contact
Joan McCracken T: 474 3056
The local branches believe Family History Month plays a vital role in celebrating family history and
encouraging others to share in this interesting hobby.
The New Zealand Society of Genealogists, and local NZSG Branches has been celebrating an annual
family history month for some time. This year’s theme is Family History is cool…pass it on. It plays on
the idea of passing along your family history. Many genealogists have spent years gathering information,
but may not have done anything about sharing it. Family History Month is the ideal time to pass that
information on – to family and anyone else who wants to know about it.
Family History Month is a nationwide campaign to increase the awareness of family history.
President of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, Michelle Patient said: “I hope the Wellington
Regional community will join with others around New Zealand in celebrating Family History Month during
August. It’s about sharing stories and treasures with your families, embracing the journey of learning
about your ancestors, becoming that family detective, helping to fill your baskets of knowledge with
understanding of your heritage and your whānau.”
Visit the New Zealand Society of Genealogists website at www.genealogy.org.nz for local contacts listed
under Branches/Interest Groups for more information.
Some 'Pass it on' activity suggestions 
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Interview a relative
Record an oral history
Write a one-paragraph biography/story of an ancestor to include in your next Christmas card
Start a family newsletter
Buy an NZSG Research Notebook and fill it in - you could give it to a family member!
Tell a stranger about the joys of family history
Tell a friend (or a stranger!) about your favourite ancestor
Tell a story of an ancestor to a child in your family
Write a letter to your current, or future, grandchildren and tell them what life was like at school
for you
Create a family heirloom (cross-stitch, quilting, etc.)
Create a special family tree (decoupage, cross-stitch, etc.)
Photograph your family
Photograph your heirlooms