Family History
If you’re just starting to research your family history, or you may be needing help with some pieces of your puzzle, we can help you with your genealogy research.
As well as published family histories we have Stone’s Otago & Southland directories, shipping and school records, current and historical electoral rolls and early local newspapers on microfilm from 1863 onwards.
We also offer one-on-one help with your family history search as well as research requests. These can easily be booked below though our online forms.
Physical resources
Local Collection
Our local collection contains items relating to Invercargill, Southland, Stewart Island, and other southern islands. It includes books, directories, maps, CDs, DVDs and more. Some early Otago items are also included.
Ask at the First Floor Help Desk for these items. Please note: Local Collection items can only be used within the library, and cannot be borrowed out.
Newspapers
We hold recent copies of most local and national papers. We store historic copies of the Southland Times, the Southland Daily News, and other local papers. Ask at the First Floor Help Desk to request to view a stored newspaper.
Digital resources
Ancestry Library
Access census, military and land records, passenger lists and more. It includes New Zealand electoral rolls 1853-1981 and Māori electoral rolls 1908 and 1919.
Findmypast
With a bank of billions of digitized records, and access to some of the world’s most renowned historical databases, Findmypast allows customers to connect to people, both past and present, and visualize their family story in more detail than ever before.
Newsbank
Read full-text content from local, regional, and national New Zealand newspapers, as well as international newspapers.
Invercargill Cemetery Search
Allows you to search the Eastern, Bluff, Green Point, and Saint Johns Cemeteries, and the Invercargill Crematorium databases
Births Deaths and Marriages Online
Provides historical data only.
Southland District Cemeteries
Search the Southland District cemeteries for ancestors.
Papers Past
Digitised, searchable historic newspapers including Southland Times between 1862–1945.
NZ Yesteryears
Passenger lists for historic ships that came to Southland.
Online Cenotaph
A biographical resource which contains information on people who served in the New Zealand military.
WW100
Marks the First World War centenary spanning 2014–2019
Find a Grave
The world’s largest open-source gravesite collection
