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General archive records and collections

Our archives provide access to local authority records dating from 1852, when permanent local government services first began.

What you can access in our archives

Our archives include around 420,000 records that have been transferred from former local authorities within the Auckland region to Auckland Council Archives.

Our earliest records date back to 1852.

How to search the archives

You can search the archives database online.

Once you have identified the records you want from the database, visit us to access the records. We will need the archive reference IDs of the items you wish to access.

Contact us if you cannot find the information you need. We will identify records that may help with your enquiry.

Historic district schemes and plans

Historic district schemes and plans are still used to determine the rules and permitted activities that were in place when a property or other asset was built or developed.

Our archives include a list of the historic district schemes and plans for the Auckland region.

Reserve Management Plans

The eight legacy (former) councils that now make up Auckland Council have reserve management plans for reserves in their area.

Our archives include all known legacy council reserve management plans for parks and reserves that are now owned or administered by Auckland Council.

OurAuckland magazine archive

OurAuckland is a magazine produced by Auckland Council.

It contains council news, details of improvements happening in local areas, as well as event information.

We published the first edition in March 2011.

You can access previous editions of OurAuckland magazine from our archives.

Other records in our archives

Our archives also include, but are not limited to, records of:

  • bridges
  • burgess rolls
  • cemeteries and burials
  • council staff
  • family records
  • maps
  • property and rate books
  • registers
  • valuation rolls and lists
  • war memorials.

Visit our Family history, cemetery and burial records page for more records to help you with your research.

Watch Flushed out - The secrets of the public toilet

This exhibition looks at some historic and contemporary toilets managed by Auckland Council.

Read the full transcript of this video.

How to access our archives

Our online archive database is no longer available.

For research advice and to access our archives you can:

Visit Archival services to find out what else we can help you with.

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