Where to hunt for information

Heritage NZ run ‘Research you own home’ workshops to help you investigate things like and have a great list of online resources to get you started on your home investigation journey. Here is a great list and a few sites that we like to use:

  • Papers Past paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers (Search using search terms such as: the name of the home, the architect or builder, the date it was built, the street address (note that this may have changed), or the names of the past owners, in particular the original owner for whom it was built)
  • SC Museum museum.timaru.govt.nz (or other local museums: Geraldine, Waimate, Temuka) (also on Facebook)
  • South Canterbury GenWeb  sites.rootsweb.com/nzlscant
  • South Canterbury Historical Society: historicplacesaotearoa.org.nz/south-canterbury-historical-society
  • South Canterbury, NZ Society of Genealogists genealogy.org.nz/South_Canterbury_176 (also on Facebook)
  • Local library records: library.timaru.govt.nz
  • Find 90% of all deaths. If a death has been published in a leading newspaper you can locate accurate, up-to-date information about the person here: amemorytree
  • Accessing land records and survey plans there is a Council Maps Property search timaru.govt.nz/maps
  • Archives New Zealand archives.govt.nz
  • LINZ linz.govt.nz/land/land-records/search-for-land-records has Crown land records and information on government buildings including State Housing
  • A Certificate of Title will have this information. Once you have the names of former owners, you can find out more about them by going to records such as birth notices and obituaries
  • Old maps (SC Museum) Historic aerial photos (the Council’s ‘Property Maps’ page gives access to historical aerial photos timaru.govt.nz/maps
  • 19th Century Black Maps: During the mid to late 19th century, the Canterbury region was systemically surveyed. The maps produced through this effort are often referred to as the ‘red’ and ‘black’ maps and they record a pre-European, largely natural landscape: apps.canterburymaps.govt.nz/BlackMaps
  • Property Seach Canterbury: propertysearch.canterburymaps.govt.nz
  • Heritage NZ heritage.org.nz has information on Listed buildings throughout the country
  • Google: go to maps, and then satellite. By looking at satellite view you can see other large properties nearby, of which your section may be one part of a sub-division. You can identify natural features such as where streams may have been; many are now culverted in Timaru.
  • Google Street View is good if you are on a street, but tricky if the house is down a driveway hidden from view. In Street View your property number shows in a black box. At the bottom of the box is a clock symbol with an arrow, click on that and you can see the street images at earlier dates. However, Timaru District Council Property Search is much clearer for satellite and aerial views, with a step back through time along the bottom. 
  • Speak to older neighbours and family. Ask them what they know and remember. Record your findings and don’t forget to add the name and date of your informant.
  • QV Look up your address in to see details about when the house was last bought or sold and for how much: qv.co.nz

 

Other, more general historical research resources:

 

 

LIM A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) has information about a property and is held by the local Council. The availability of this information is intended to help owners and prospective purchasers with the investigation of material matters affecting the property they own or may be considering purchasing. A LIM can be ordered by anyone via the Council, but the cost is $305 (as of 2020) for a residential LIM. It may be better/more cost effective for people to get a copy of the property file, which has the building information the Council has. This is free for the owner and $25 if you are not the owner of the property. Download the application forms (for both the property file and the LIM) here: timaru.govt.nz/services/rates-and-property/lims

Get a historical search copy of a property. This is basically a copy of the legal title of a property, but it shows all the registered proprietors beforehand. Note if a property has been subdivided then it will only go through to the time of the subdivision, but you can work backwards as the prior title reference is noted on the document too. Anyone can get a copy of a title (historical or otherwise) via the LINZ website and the cost is $15.00. The website is below and the titles can be ordered online: linz.govt.nz/land/land-records/order-title. A legal description/title reference will be needed but this will be on a person’s rate demand, or it can also be found using the ‘property search’ function in the Council website, see link below. https://www.timaru.govt.nz/services/rates-and-property/property-search

 

For teachers and adults read more at superflux.in/cartographies-of-imagination

The Team at the South Canterbury Museum as awesome!

If you need help you can give them a call to arrange a time to chat to get advice. They have been wonderful teaching us the basics so we could make our own discoveries on the back of the hard work of professional researchers.

 

Need some help?

Did you know the Timaru Distrcit Libraries have tutorials on their website?

Press Reader is an app that connects you to digital newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. You can access thousands of global newspapers and magazines. With no limits on the number of issues you can download, PressReader puts a world’s worth of information at your fingertips. The Timaru District Libraries has an academy section on their website with lessons: my.nicheacademy.com/timaru/course/2373

AncestryLibrary is a genealogy database that covers billions of records from census data to directories, and photos to family trees. AncestryLibrary is only available when inside the library and cannot be accessed from home. Access to more than 9,000 databases and 200 billion images from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Once the records you need are located, you can email them to yourself in two easy steps!my.nicheacademy.com/timaru/course/695

Family Search FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Containing more than four billion genealogical records, plus family trees and other resources, you’re bound to learn something amazing about your family’s past! With FamilySearch, you can add your relatives to your tree with the click of a button, access vast genealogical collections to trace your lineage, and preserve your family memories for generations to come. my.nicheacademy.com/timaru/course/8747

 

List your references

Try to keep a list of refrences as you go so you or someone else can go back to check something, or if you need to arrange copyright permission you can find the primary source:

  1. author 
  2. year produced
  3. title of image or a description
  4. Format and any details
  5. Name and place of the sponsor of the source
  6. When a file or photo was accessed day month year and the date you viewed / downloaded the image

 

Need tips for respecting copyright? Visit copyright.co.nz on how published material is protected.