research guide 11 - archives new zealandarchives.govt.nz/sites/default/files/welfare.pdf · 2...

WELFARE Introduction Welfare was not of great concern to

governments in the nineteenth century.

However, the twentieth century saw a

considerable increase in the number and

scope of welfare measures, whereby the

state sought to help and support individuals

and families in difficulty.

Child welfare has been of greater concern

to governments than adult welfare. Some

laws have aimed to protect/assist women.

There have been measures to support the

elderly. But governments, when they have

been concerned about welfare, have

usually focused on those least able to look

after themselves, the children of society.

For many years there was no specific

government department for welfare. The

courts and Justice Department had

responsibilities from the 1840s but most

obligation for child/youth welfare lay with

Hospital Boards and religious/charitable

organisations. Other significant welfare

responsibilities lay with the Education

Department from the 1880s.

Child Welfare – defined as the care of

children suffering from the inadequacies of

their parents or environment – was a small

but significant part of the work of the

Education Department for many years.

This role was substantially formalised with

the Child Welfare Act 1925 which created a

special Child Welfare Division of the

Education Dept.

This act aimed to make better provision for

the maintenance, care and control of

children under the protection of the state,

and to provide generally for ‘indigent,

neglected or delinquent’ children. Among

other things, the act led to the appointment

of Child Welfare Officers and established

separate courts for hearing charges against

young people.

The responsibilities of the Child Welfare

Division included running the various

Special Schools. Other responsibilities

were to inquire confidentially into

illegitimate births, enforce Maintenance

Orders, handle applications for adoption,

oversee placement of children in foster

homes and inspect registered private

children’s homes (75 in 1948).

The Child Welfare Amendment Act 1948

made the Child Welfare Division of the

Education Department autonomous, with

its own Minister. The act also separated

the Children’s Courts more clearly from the

Magistrates Courts and they were to be

‘courts of adjustment’ not ‘courts of

judgement’ for all but the most serious

offences by young people under 17 years.

A separate Department of Social Welfare

was created in 1972 and it has since been

transformed and renamed a number of

times. However, control of the special

residential schools remained with the

Education Department.

The government was less concerned with

adult welfare, and for much of the 19th

century private charitable aid was the main

form of welfare for adults and, by extension,

their families.

But a number of older people suffered from

illness and destitution in the 1880s and

1890s. Fear that poverty would lead to

criminal activity and concern that people

who had worked hard all their lives should

not be left paupers in their old age, helped

lead to the first small governmental

measures concerned with adult welfare,

such as Old Age Pensions (1898).

Since then adult welfare has expanded into

universal Government Superannuation,

sickness benefit, no-fault Accident

Compensation, unemployment benefit, etc.

Access Access is restricted to many of the

records listed in this Research Guide,

because they deal with individuals and their

personal lives. Some records are not listed

on ARCHWAY for that reason.

Permission to view registers and files may

be gained from the appropriate institution.

January 2011

In this guide Introduction CHILD WELFARE

Adoption

Children’s Court

Child Welfare

Departmental Corres.

Foster Parents

Health Camps

Industrial & Special Schools Children’s Homes

Maintenance

Vaccination Registers GENERAL & ADULT WELFARE

Charitable Aid

Destitute, Aged & Infirm

Pensions & Benefits

Protection

Unemployment Note: Records are held in Wellington unless specified as Auckland (AK), Christchurch (CH) or Dunedin (DN) Archives New Zealand Head Office 10 Mulgrave Street, PO Box 12 050, Thorndon Wellington 6144 Telephone: 04 499 5595 Facsimile: 04 495 6210 [email protected] Auckland Regional Office 95 Richard Pearse Drive, Mangere PO Box 201 103, Auckland Airport, Manukau 2150 Telephone: 09 270 1100 Facsimile: 09 276 4472 [email protected] Christchurch Regional Office 90 Peterborough Street, PO Box 642, Christchurch 8140 Telephone: 03 377 0760 Facsimile: 03 365 2662 [email protected] Dunedin Regional Office 556 George Street, PO Box 6183, Dunedin North Dunedin 9059 Telephone: 03 477 0404 Facsimile: 03 477 0422 [email protected]

A540842

Research guide 11

Research Guide 11 –Welfare – January 2011 2

CHILD WELFARE

ADOPTION The adoption of children under 12 was first formalised in

the Adoption of Children Act 1881. Courts administered

this. Government departments later created other

records. Access is restricted.

Many Maori adoptions were formalised through the Maori

Land Court and recorded in MLC Minute Books.

Most adoption records are held by the Central Registry of

Births, Deaths & Marriages.

Researchers are advised to work through:

Adoption Information and Services Unit

Department of Child Youth and Family

Private Bag 6901 Marion Square

Wellington 6141 Phone: 04 917 1155

Auckland Office: Auckland

Auckland Final Adoption Orders Registers 1908-1930 &

1940-1981 R [BBID 5864/1a-2c]

Auckland Adoption Registers 1942-1944 R

[BADW 11428/1a-1b]

Otahuhu Final Adoption Orders Registers 1963-1979 R

[BBID 5864/1a-2c]

Papakura-Pukekohe Final Adoption Orders Registers

1960-1980 R [BBID 5864/4a]

Takapuna Final Adoption Orders Registers 1960-1979 R

[BBID 5864/3a-b]

Dargaville

Register of Intentions to Adopt 1932-1967 R

[BADC 10778/1a]

Hamilton

Family Guard Books (orders) Adoption 1909-1945 R

[BCDG 19833/1a-2a]

Rotorua

Adoption Files 1916-1951 R [BAZY 10961/1-7]

Thames

Applications to Adopt 1887-1900 R [BACL 13963/1a]

Register of Adoption Applications 1946-1947 R

[BACL 13844/1a]

Waihi

Applications to Adopt 1900-1913 R [BAFV 14015/1a]

Whangarei

Index to Adoption Registers 1902-1962? R

[BADF 20197 A1583/563a]

Register of Applications to Adopt 1912-1948 R

[BADF 10361/1]

Wellington Office: Child Welfare

Return of Adoptions and Annulments 1908 R

[(ACGB 8301) CW 10/6]

Card Index – Applications for Adoption 1952-1963 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/13]

Dannevirke

Adoption Register 1921-1950 R [ABPQ W4287/99]

Hastings

Case Files 1943-1967 R [AAHV 7430 W4862/1-3]

Hawera

Adoption Register 1968-1984 R [ABIB W3865/61]

Napier

Adoption Applications 1908-1943, 1958-1962 R

[AAOW W3244/276-277]

Adoption Orders 1915-1942 R

[AAOW W3244/274-275]

Adoption Case Files 1921-1943 R

[ABHP 21632 W5463/144-148]


[AAHV 7432 W4862/1-4]

Manaia

Adoption Applications 1913-1930 R [ABIB W3865/2]

New Plymouth

Applications for Adoption – Card Index 1952-1963 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/13]

Opunake

Adoption Applications 1913-1952 R [ABIB W3865/4]

Pahiatua

Maintenance Order Guard Book & Adoptions Orders

1908-1969 R [AAOY W3298/783]

Patea

Record Book 1913-1979 R [ABIB W3865/61]

Stratford & Eltham

Orders/Registers 1895-1988 (gaps) R [ABIB W4228/2]

Wairoa


[AAHV 7431 W4862/1]

Christchurch Office: Christchurch

Application Book Adoption of Children 1911 R

[CAHX 20526 CH132/442]

Culverden

Applications 1908-49 R [CAHP CH14/59]

Denniston Magistrates Court

Applications for Orders 1910-1933 [CAIS CH80/159b]

Hanmer

Register of Applications 1932 R CAHP CH14/70]

Kaiapoi

Orders 1930-1947 R [CAHP CH14/52]

Oxford

Register of Applications 1916-1917 R [CAHP CH14/85]

Temuka

Applications 1895-1926 R [CAHY CH24/160]

Waimate

Adoptions etc 1894-1909 R [CAHY CH24/192]

Adoptions etc 1897-1912 R [CAHY CH24/195]

Westport

Applications 1933 R [CAIS CH62/42 91]

Dunedin Office: Dunedin

Registers 1908-1947 R [DAAC D256/223-226]

Indexes 1908-1955 R [DAAC D256/920-922]

Case Files 1916-1945 R [DAAC D256/895-919]

Order Guard Books 1917-1942 R [DAAC D137/79-83]

Archives New Zealand 3

CHILDRENS COURT The Child Welfare Act 1925 established separate courts,

called Children’s Courts, to hear charges against people

under 16. The Children and Young Persons Act 1974

replaced the Children’s Court with the Children and

Young Persons Court.

Access restrictions apply.


Index 1954-1958 R [BADW 11440/1a]

Indexes 1972-1973 R [BADW 11441/16a, 21a-22b]

Record Books 1926-1953 R [BADW 10238/1-15]

Record Books 1954-1970 R [BADW 10466/1a-22a]

Orders 1926-1953 some R [BADW 10284/1a-13b]

Index to Orders 1926-1954 R [BADW 10285/1a]

Hamilton

Criminal Record Books 1926-1970 R

[BCDG 11410/1a-6a]

Index to Criminal record Books 1940-1970 R

[BCDG 11367/1a-1b]

Kawhia

Criminal Record Books 1932-1948 R[

BAHD 11158/3a-4a]

Papakura

Record Books 1928, 1964-1971 R

[BACJ 10600/3a & BACJ 10608/1a]

Index to Record Books 1964-1971 R [BACJ 10609/1a]

Pukekohe

Record Books 1965-1971 R [BBAE 10690/1a-3a]

Te Awamutu

Criminal record Books 1943-1962 R

[BAHD 11142/16a-25a]

Thames

Criminal Record Book 1926-1947 R [BACL 13756/1a]

Case Files 1942 R [BACL 14464/1]

Criminal Record Book 1958-1961 R [BACL 13736/38a]

Tokoroa


[BBQU 15062/1a-3]

Whangarei

Criminal Record Books 1926-1957 R [BADF 10327/1-4]

Wellington Office: Hastings


[AAMW W3155/324-328]

Index 1927-1970 R [AAMW W3155/316]

Hawera

Juvenile Record Book 1927-1938 R [ABIB W3865/42]

Record Books 1938-1971 R [ABIB W3865/43]

Criminal Records Sheets 1971-1975 R

[ABIB W3865/76-77]

Levin

Record Books 1935-1971 R [AAON W4370/1-2]

Lower Hutt


[AAOI W3793/47-49,51-52,100]

Criminal Record Sheets 1970-1977 R

[AAOI W3793/12-13]

Masterton


[AAOF 22013 W5447/599-604]

Napier


[AAOW W3244/244-247]

Indexes 1932-1971 R [AAOW W3244/248-251]

Nelson


[(ADDU 16306) JC-N 39/29-30]

New Plymouth

Record Books 1926-1970 R

[ADCA 21802 W5394/458-466]

Index to Record Books 1935-1961 R

[ADCA 21809 W5394/462]

Palmerston North

Record Books 1925-1970 R [AAOY W3298/987-991]

Index 1961-1969 R [AAOY W3298/992]

Stratford

Criminal Record Book 1927-1965 R [ABIB W4228/22]

Criminal Record Book 1966-1970 R [ABIB W4228/18]

Wellington

Record Books 1926-1947 [(ADEE 16356) JC-W 4/1-7]

Record Books 1947, 1951-1970 R

[AAAU 19985 W5558/446, 448-463]

Registers under Child Welfare Act 1935-1952 last

volume R [(ADEE 16360) JC-W 8/6-10]

Christchurch Office: Christchurch Criminal Record Books 1926-1950 R [CAHX 20322 CH132/124-128]

Criminal Record Books 1950-1971 R [CAHS 20322 CH612/79-85]

Index to Criminal Record Books 1926-1937 R [CAHX 20323 CH132/128]

Indexes to Criminal record Books 1958-1968 R [CAHS 20323 CH612/171-172]

Fairlie

Criminal Record Book 1973-1977 R [CAHY CH24/207]

Sample Files 1968, 1970-1974 R [CAHY CH24/303]

Temuka

Criminal Record Books 1926-71 R [CAHY CH24/164]

Sample Files 1965-1974 R [CAHY CH24/304]

Timaru

Index to Criminal Record Book 1926-1934 R

[CAHY CH924/109a]


[CAHY CH924/109b-110b]

Register Index 1943-1976 R [CAHY CH24/85]

Sample Files 1968-1972 R [CAHY CH24/302]

Criminal Record Sheets 1970-1979 (not just Children’s

Court) R [CAHY CH924/117]

Westport

Record of Proceedings 1926-61 R [CAIS CH62/14 32]


Dunedin Office: Balclutha

Criminal Record Books 1925-1956 (include Children’s

Court) R [DACM 20570 D443/4-11]

Dunedin


[DAAC 19589 D437/441-448]

Index to Criminal Record Books 1926-1953 R

[DAAC 19590 D437/440]


[DAAC 19589 D256/687-692, 742, 744-745]]

Criminal Record Books 1973-1976 R [DAAC D256/748,753,758,764,768]

Criminal Record Sheets (CYPC) 1979-1985 R [DAAC D256/826] Oamaru


[DABP 20806 D74/38-40]

CHILD WELFARE

Auckland Office: Dargaville

Orders placing child under supervision of a Child Welfare

Officer 1939-1960 R [BADC 10806/1a]

Wellington Office: National records

● Orders Committing Children under Child Welfare Act

1935-1952 R [(ADEE 16360) JC-W 8/6-10]

● Welfare Case Files (alphabetical)

Files of the Department of Education, Special &

Industrial Schools and Child Welfare, etc, for the

whole of New Zealand 1880-1999. R indefinitely

[AADK 7512 W3447/1-756]

Some files include many family members; others focus

on one child. Some cover adoption. Files may have

been created for any of the following reasons:

Needy family Parental Inadequacy

Supervision Maintenance

Housing Neglect and ill-treatment of child/ren

For Access Contact:

Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

PO Box 1556

WELLINGTON 6140

Napier Child Youth & Family

Assorted records 1956-1979 R

[ABNT 16185 W5326/7-13]

New Plymouth

Child Welfare (assorted) Indexes c1945-1989 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/11-17]

Wanganui

Child Welfare (assorted) Files 1946-1971 R

[ABNT 16183 W5326/2-5]

DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE. The Inwards Correspondence of the Department of

Internal Affairs and later the Education Department

include occasional 19th century requests for assistance.

FOSTER PARENTS Background

Mortality and poverty led to fostering of children from

early in Pakeha settlement. Churches, and later the

state, tried to care for neglected or delinquent children.

The government became formally involved in fostering in

the 1880s through industrial schools. From the

beginning of these institutions, children could be boarded

out and fostered children might be adopted at any time.

There was also significant ‘baby farming’ where women

were paid to care for unwanted babies.

The case of Minnie Dean of Winton, hanged on 12

August 1895 for the murder of two babies in her care, led

to public agitation and government action. The Infant

Life Protection Act 1896, administered by the Police,

sought to regularise fostering and protect children,

whether they were fostered privately or boarded out by

the industrial schools. The act:

● defined a ‘foster parent’ as anyone paid for caring for

a child in their home for more than 3 days

● provided for foster parent registration/licensing

● decreed what records were to be kept and what

procedures were to be applied concerning foster

parents and the movement of children.

In 1907 the Education Department took responsibility for

fostering. The Infants Act 1908 extended that to the

supervision and protection of children under six who

were boarded out by their parents.

Auckland Office: Department of Education, Northern Regional Office

Infant Life – Correspondence Register 1897-1904

[BAAA 1961/1a]

Registers of Particulars of Infants and Foster Homes

(indexed) 1905-1916 [BAAA 1958/1a-2b]

Nominal Rolls of children and foster parents 1908-1915

[BAAA 1957/1a-3b]

Report Book – Children not formally under control (Infant

Life protection) 1908-1916 [BAAA 1962/1a]

Wellington Office: Registers and nominal rolls are held, giving information

on foster parents and children.

Registers record foster parents’ registration number,

with date, address and occupation. They may include

the names of referees, the maximum number of children

permitted for fostering, and details of children fostered.

Register of Persons having Infants under the Act 1897-

1901 [(ACGB 8301) CW 10/1]

Register of Persons having Infants under the Act 1901-

1907 R [(ACGB 8301) CW 10/2]

Register overflow 1897-1907 R

[(ACGB 8301) CW 10/3]

Register of Deaths 1908 [(ACGB 8301) CW 10/7]


Nominal Rolls list foster parents alphabetically by

provincial district, giving names and addresses, the date

the licence expired, the number of children permitted for

fostering, and details of children in care.

Nominal Roll of Licensed Foster Parents 1908 R

[(ACGB 8301) CW 10/4]

Nominal Roll of Licensed Foster Parents 1909 R

[(ACGB 8301) CW 10/5]

Child Welfare

Warrants Issued under the Industrial Schools Act (1882)

1880-1885 [CW 13/1-7]

Duplicate copies of warrants bound into volumes. These

warrants were issued to permit children at industrial

schools to board with foster parents, and they give

details of child and foster parent.

Napier Child Youth & Family

Foster Homes 1972-1978 R [ABNT 16185 W5326/6]

New Plymouth Card Indexes

Applications for Foster Child 1950-1976 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/11-12]

Infants in Foster Homes 1950-1964 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/13]

History while under care 1950-1970 R

[AADK 7919 W4883/13]

HEALTH CAMPS There was an increasing welfare component in the

Children’s Health Camps, first run in 1919. However, all

Health Camp files held by Archives New Zealand are

administrative, concerned with buildings, finance,

organisation, etc. No children are named and staff only

very occasionally.

INDUSTRIAL & SPECIAL SCHOOLS Background

The Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act 1867

empowered provincial governments to establish

Industrial and Reform Schools for children under 15.

● A distinction was made between neglected and

delinquent children. They were to be kept separate.

● Provided a child spent at least half the period of

committal in an industrial school, s/he could otherwise

be boarded out with foster parents, friends, or be

placed in employment.

The provincial governments of Otago and Canterbury

opened, respectively, the Caversham Industrial School in

1869 and the Burnham Industrial School in 1874. Others

followed. The Justice Department took over the

administration of industrial schools when provincial

government ended in 1876,, but in 1880 responsibility

was moved to the Education Department.

The Industrial Schools Act 1882 was significant:

� It provided for government schools, local schools and

private institutions approved by government.

� Under this act, courts could commit to the care of the

industrial schools neglected children under 15 years

who were brought to them by the police.

� Parents could also bring uncontrollable children to the

courts to be institutionalised.

Special Schools, such as the School for the Deaf at

Sumner, Christchurch, were set up from 1881. Some

were little different from Industrial Schools. Receiving

Homes were temporary places for children to stay while

their future was sorted out. A Special and Industrial

Schools Branch of the Education Department was

developed to administer all these institutions.

After 1900 the emphasis changed from punishment to

reform. Industrial Schools became Special Schools after

1910. From 1917 children could be placed on probation

and a number of schools were closed and ‘homes’

opened. All institutions encouraged boarding out in

foster homes. The main institutions 1925-1948 were:

� Boys Training Farm, Wereroa, near Levin (for boys of

all ages requiring a period of reformative detention).

� Special School at Richmond, near Nelson, for girls

� Sumner School for the Deaf

Provision was also made for blind children and adults at

the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, Auckland.

From 1948 the Child Welfare Division ran four national

‘training institutions’ for children considered too

emotionally disturbed or delinquent to stay in the

community: Kingslea, Kohitere, Hokio Beach School and

Fareham House. The Division also administered (a) 13

short term facilities for the remand, observation and

classification of children, (b) family homes (51 in 1970)

and (c) several special schools:

� Campbell Park School, Otekaike, for mentally

retarded boys

� Salisbury Girls School, Richmond, for mentally

retarded girls

� Sumner School for the Deaf, Christchurch

� Auckland School for the Deaf (Titirangi, then Kelston)

Burnham Industrial School c1874 The girls (above) learnt to deal with laundry; the

boys (below) grew vegetables. [CW 15/5]


CHILDREN’S HOMES Many files are held relating to Children’s Homes, often

orphanages, but most are administrative. They can be

found through ARCHWAY searches.

The exact nature of many institutions changed over time,

from church run to state run, and from orphanage to

special school, etc.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL RECORDS HELD Some records are incorporated in Maintenance and

Destitute Persons records (see below).

Access restrictions may apply:

Auckland Office: From 1870 to 1882 some children were sent to the Naval

Training School and to the Kohimarama Industrial

School. Howe Street Industrial School took mainly girls

to 14 years. Other industrial school type institutions

included the ‘Door of Hope’ in Cook St.

The Nominal Rolls held in Wellington [CW 14/1-27] (see

below) include Auckland institutions.

● Destitute Children’s Home Record Books 1870-1882

[BAAA 1954/1-2]

● Admission Registers Industrial Schools 1879-1919

[BAAA 1955/1-9]

● Nominal Roll, Auckland Industrial School 1902-1913

[BAAA 1956/1a-1e]

● Waihi Industrial School Report Book 1916-1925

[BADB 11354/1a]

Department of Education, Northern Regional Office

Visits to Children’s Homes – Journal (indexed) 1901-

1910 [BAAA 1959/1a-1b]

Wellington Office: Record Books, Registers & Nominal Rolls

● Nominal Rolls, Industrial Schools 1882-1910

[CW 14/1-27]

The rolls give a child’s name, age, admission date and

arrangements. Each industrial school has its own record

with alphabetical listings of names. In early years these

Rolls include various institutions:

Kohimarama

Howe Street (Auckland)

St Marys (Auckland)

St Stephens (Auckland)

Auckland Girls

Thames

St Josephs (Wellington)

St Marys (Nelson)

Motueka

Canterbury

Lyttelton

Burnham

Caversham

By the late 19th century only Industrial Schools appear:

Auckland

St Marys (Auckland)

St Josephs (Wellington)

St Marys (Nelson)

Burnham

Caversham

Other records

● Miscellaneous Records, Industrial Schools c1874-

1918 [CW 15/1-9]

A variety of records, including Burnham Photograph

Album c1874.

● Warrants Issued under the Industrial Schools Act

(1882) 1880-1885 [CW 13/1-7]

Duplicate copies of warrants bound into volumes. These

warrants were issued to permit children at industrial

schools to board with foster parents, and they give

details of child and foster parent.

● Registers Under Industrial Schools Act 1908

(Wellington) 1893-1935 [JC-W 7/1-18]

● Stoke Industrial School 1900 [P 10/1]

● Nominal Roll, Wellington Receiving Home 1901-1915

[CW 16/1-9]

The rolls give a child’s name, date of committal, age,

status, place, section of act used, religion and

arrangements for the child.

● Record Books of Proposed Admissions to Industrial

and Special Schools, 1919-1961 [CW 11/1-8]

The record books (indexed 1949-1961) give date, child’s

name and address, and remarks.

● Registers of Committals to Industrial and Special

Schools 1932-1952 [CW 12/1-8]

Details include child’s name, date of birth, place and date

of committal.

Palmerston North Magistrates Court ● Industrial School Orders 1908-1926

[AAOY W3298/783]

● Industrial School Orders Index 1908-1925

[AAOY W3298/783]

140 entries in Index, not quite all those in Orders.

Staff Register 1878-1954 This records teachers, mostly for Native, Industrial and

Special Schools, for the period 1878 to 1954. There are

few entries after 1910. Held in the Register Room, this

register, records name, date of birth, dates of

appointment, leaves of absence and remarks about

service. It may include other information. [E 16/1]

Special Schools

● Burwood Admission Register 1933-1949 [CW 17/4]

● Fareham House Admission Register 1944-1949

[CW 17/5]

● Jubilee Institute for the Blind Nominal Rolls 1908-

1940 [CW 18/1~5-7]

● Otekaieke (Campbell Park School)

Admission Register 1925-1949 [CW 17/1]

Nominal Rolls 1908-1920 [CW 18/1 8-9]

● Richmond

Admission Register 1925-1949 [CW 17/2]

Nominal Roll 1917-1921 [CW 18/1 10]

Special & Adult Classes 1923-1929

[CW 18/1 11-12]

Hostels 1938-1944 [CW 18/1 13-14]

● Sumner (deaf mute children, some adults) Nominal

Rolls 1908-1922, 1938-1944 [CW 18/1 1-4]

● Weraroa (Levin) Admission Register 1928-1949

[CW 17/3]


Christchurch Office: Burnham Industrial School Photograph Album of Boys 1914 (indexed) and a few

other photographs of the school [AADK CH438/1a-1i]

Most existing records for this school are to be found in

Record Books, Registers & Nominal Rolls held in the

Wellington office.

Hogben House

Various records 1976-1989 [CANB CH232]

Kingslea Girls’ Home ● Roll Books – Admission List 1933-1985

[CAUR CH378/47]

● Various records – Files, Diaries, Dutybooks 1935-1987 [CAUR CH378/1-49]

McKenzie Residential School ● F Series (various files, mostly correspondence) 1971-

1975 [CATB CH256/1]

● Miscellaneous files 1974-1980 [CATB CH256/1]

● Various records, mainly administrative 1979-1989

[CANB CH232/156 & 158]

Stanmore Boys Home (Christchurch Boys Home) ● Daily Diaries 28 March 1946-4 December 1974

[AADK CH438/2a-7a]

● ‘Duplicate’ Daily Diaries 5 September 1947-15

October 1952 [AADK CH438/7b-d]

● Menu Register 14 October1936-3 July 1941

[AADK CH438/7e]

Sumner School for the Deaf - Van Asch College ● Pupil Status, Admissions & Discharges 1944-1969

(including Titirangi 1943-1944 and Fendalton Road

1943) [CAHK CH8/3]

● Kelston School for the Deaf 1946-1968

[CAHK CH8/12]

● 75th Jubilee Records (1955) [CAHK CH8/15-26]

● Centennial history 1980 [CAHK CH8/27]

● Nominal Roll 1908-1913 (includes admission dates

from 1900) [CAHK CH8/28]

● Nominal Rolls 1914-1924, 1925-1942

[CAHK CH8/29-30]

● Notes (names of pupils with notes) 1880-1916

[CAHK CH8/31-32]

● Register of Pupils in Special Classes at Wellington,

Auckland & Dunedin 1920-1961 [CAHK CH8/34]

● Registers of Children’s Heights & Weights 1949-

1966, 1962 & 1968 [CAHK CH8/35a-b]

● Diaries 1948-1955, 1967-1973 [CAHK CH8/36-43]

Dunedin Office: Campbell Park School, Otekaieke, Waitaki Valley (formerly Otekaieke Special School for Boys, established 1908)

● Pupils (various records) 1923-1970

[CAJG D16/22y-25c, 47a-52g, 54-125, 130-131]

● Past inmates 1956-1961 [CAJG D16/4i-k]

● Registers (various) 1908-1978 [CAJG D16/27, 36a-46i]

● Staff (various) 1912-1978 [CAJG D16/15f-22x]

● Staff files (search by surname on ARCHWAY) [CAJG D16/291-35ao]

● Master Index Pupils 1969-1987 [CANB D227/4a]

● Pupil records (various) 1924-1987

[CANB D227/5a-10z]

● Past Pupil records 1984-1987 [CANB D227/9b-10b]

Caversham Industrial School ● Industrial School Books, Children Committed to the

School 1886-1897 [COPY D REPRO 2]

(Copies of two volumes listing children committed to the

Caversham Industrial School from the Police

Commissioner’s District Office, Dunedin)

● ‘Register of Indigent Children Committed 1885-c1942’

[DAHI 20434 D284/55]

The Hocken Library in Dunedin has a ‘Roll of Indigent

Children Admitted 1884-1920’ for the Dunedin Industrial

School.

Brass band at Burnham Industrial School c1874 [CW 15/5]


MAINTENANCE, etc A Maintenance Order is a court order requiring a person

to make regular payments towards the upkeep of a

family member, most often requiring a father to make

provision for his child/ren.

Archives New Zealand holds two main types of

maintenance records:

● Guard Books or Maintenance Orders (usually

indexed) include copies of all orders made under the

Destitute Persons Act, Child Welfare Act and

Domestic Proceedings Act. Sometimes Industrial

School orders are included.

● Maintenance Record Books, also known as

Maintenance Books or ledgers, which record all

maintenance payments made through the courts.

Access restrictions often apply.


Maintenance Record Books 1957-1970 R

[BADW 10459/1a-37a]

Maintenance Orders Guard Book 1894

[BADW 10265/1a]

Maintenance Orders Guard Books 1900-1933

[BADW 10331/123a-160b]

Maintenance Ledgers (alphabetical) 1906-1924

[BADW 10268/1a-8a]

Maintenance Ledgers (alphabetical) 1912-1928

[BADW 10460/1-4]

Maintenance Record Book 1925-1953 some R

[BADW 10266/1-68]

Dargaville

Payment on Maintenance Order Record Books 1916-

1947 [BADC 10805/1a-1b]

Maintenance Orders Guard Books 1925-1969 R

[BADC 10809/1a-2a]

Hamilton

Record of Payment Orders 1895-1917 one R

[BCDG 11260/1a-1b]

Family Guard Books (orders) Maintenance 1908-1969

2nd R [BCDG 19834/1a-2a]

Family Guard Books (orders) 1920-1969 most R

[BCDG 15339/1-21]

Huntly

Guard Book of Maintenance Orders 1914-1958 R

[BAHB 11181/1a]

Kaikohe

Record of Maintenance Order Payments 1914-1948

[BADE 10723/1a]

Kaitaia

Record of Maintenance Order Payments 1910-1948

[BADD 10828/1a-2a]

Record Book: order varying a Maintenance order 1966-

1970 R [BADD 18816/1a]

Kawa Kawa

Maintenance Orders Guard Book 1936-1972 R

[BADF 10370 A1583/481]

Guard Book of Maintenance Orders 1965-1969 R

[BADF 10370/1]

Mangonui

Record of Maintenance Payments 1888-1939

[BADD 10853/1a]

Morrinsville

Guard Book 1929-1971 R [BBAV 11564/1a]

Onehunga

Onehunga Maintenance etc Guard Book 1924-1951 R

[BADW 10581/1a]

Onehunga Record of Maintenance Payments 1917-1951

2nd vol R [BADW 10582/1a-b]

Opotiki

Payments on Maintenance Orders 1948-1960

[BAHG 11202/1a]

Pukekohe

Maintenance Order Guard Books 1922-1964 2nd R

[BACM 10680/1a-2a]

Taumarunui

Maintenance Ledgers – Records of Payment 1907-1957

last R [BAHH 11106/1a-2a]

Thames

Records of Maintenance Payments 1885-1945 (gaps)

[BACL 13825/1a-c]

Te Aroha

Guard Book 1924-1970 R [BBAV 11566/1a]

Te Kuiti

Maintenance Order Books 1913-1954 2nd R

[BAHI 11074/1a-1b]

Waiuku

Maintenance Payments & Orders 1917-1948

[BACM 10700/1a]

Whangaroa

Record Book of Maintenance Payments 1891-1936

[BADE 10758/1a]

Wellington Office: Dannevirke

Maintenance Orders 1912-1969 some R

[ABPQ W4287/73-76]

Record of Payment 1925-1941? [ABPQ W4287/173]

Hastings


[AAMW W3155/76-77,96-97,103-106]

Manaia

Record of Payment on Orders, etc 1894-1921

[ABIB W3865/2]

Napier

Orders – Destitute Persons, Married Women’s Property

protection, Industrial Schools 1890-1928

[AAOW W3244/267-271]

Index – Orders - Destitute Persons, Industrial Schools

1916 [AAOW W3244/272]

Maintenance Books c1912-34 [AAOW W3244/282-284]

Otaki

Maintenance Ledgers 1888-1962 some R

[AAON W4370/49]

Pahiatua

Maintenance Order Guard Book & Adoptions Orders

1908-1969 R [AAOY W3298/783]

Index to Maintenance Order Guard Books 1945-? R

[AAOY W3298/783]


Palmerston North

Maintenance Guard Books 1945-1969 most R

[AAOY W3298/779-782]

Maintenance & Destitute Persons Orders 1908-1945,

1947-1951 some R [AAOY W3298/777- 779]

Patea

Payments on Maintenance Orders 1891-1951 R

[ABIB W3865/36]

Stratford

Adoption & Maintenance Orders 1895-1935 R

[ABIB W4228/2]

Maintenance Orders 1928-1952, 1963-1972 R

[ABIB W4228/2]

Waipawa

Maintenance Orders 1910-1949 [ABJJ W4074/171]

Maintenance Ledger Book 1916-1951 R

[ABJJ W4074/165]

Waipukurau

Old Maintenance Orders 1913-1951 [ABIJ W4074/87]

Maintenance Ledger Book 1913-1949 [ABIJ W4074/88]

Guard Books 1964-1969 [ABIJ W4074/89-90]

Wellington

Maintenance Payments 1895-1929

[AAAU W3682/30-34]

Maintenance Record Books 1934-1949

[(ADEE 16537) JC-W 5/1-25]

Guard Books: Maintenance Applications & Attachment

Orders 1891-1949 [JC-W 6/1-43]



[CAHS 12478 CH978/9-35 & CH937/7]

Indexes to Maintenance Order Guard Books 1914-1969

(gaps) some R [CAHS 18283 CH978/89-92, 152]

Greymouth

Maintenance Order Books 1923-1953 R

[CAIF 3405 CH860/298-299]

Guard Book 1950-1969 R [CAIF 3405 CH860/297]

Maintenance Order Guard Books 1953-1969 R

[CAIF 20275 CH993/100b-c]

Index (to above) -1969 R [CAIF 20284 CH993/100a]

Kaiapoi

Miscellaneous - Orders - Adoption, Maintenance &

Committal 1930-1947 R [CAHP CH14/52]

Kumara

Miscellaneous – Maintenance Book 1893-1929

[CAIF CH446/551]

Rangiora

Orders for Maintenance etc 1924-1969 R

[CAHP CH14/31]

Reefton

Court Orders 1908-1952 R [CAIF CH302/10]

Temuka

Maintenance Order Guard Book 1944-1961 R

[CAHY 18037 CH969/86]

Timaru

Maintenance Order Guard Books 1924-1969 some R

[CAHY 18035 CH969/83-86]

Indexes (to above) 1924-1958 some R

[CAHY 18036 CH969/86]

Waimate

Miscellaneous – Order Book 1907-1940

[CAHY CH24/194]

Maintenance Order Guard Book 1937-1969 R

[CAHY 18038 CH969/86]

Dunedin Office: Arrowtown

Order for Maintenance 1904 [DAAC D256/1066r]

Dunedin

Maintenance Orders Books 1881-1927

[DAAC 19579 D437/420-438]

Record of Payment on Maintenance Orders 1890-1938

[DAAC 19588 D437/412-419]

Foreign Order Guard Books c1920-c1961 R

[DAAC D137/76-78]

Indexes to Maintenance Order Guard Books c1922-1969

R (for 1948-1966 use Transcript [DAAC 183/1] )

[DAAC D137/48c, 85a-b]

Maintenance Order Guard Books 1926-1969 R

[DAAC D137/49-75]

Index to Foreign Order Guard Books 1931-1954 R

[DAAC D137/78b]

Maintenance Order Case Files c1940-c1967 (organised

alphabetically) R [DAAC D256/876-884]

Police Station – Maintenance Orders Record Book 1946-

1988 R [DAJO 9241 D366/18b]

Lawrence

Orders for Maintenance (records of payment) 1882-1947

R [DACM 20777 D443/69a]

Otago Hospital

Maintenance Cash Books 1911-1928 R

[DAHI 20476 D284/235-240]

Maintenance Journals 1931-1946 R

[DAHI 20461 D284/212-213]

Seacliff Hospital

Maintenance Outward Letterbooks 1903-1914 some R

[DAHI 20233 D264/21a-23b]

Seacliff Hospital, near Dunedin c1890 [DAHI 20271 D266/520d]


VACCINATION REGISTERS Under the Vaccination Act 1863 every child born in New

Zealand was to be vaccinated within 6 months of birth.

Local Births, Deaths & Marriages registrars acted as

Vaccination Inspectors, recording vaccination details or

exemptions for all children born in their districts.

Some vaccination details were entered in the Register of

Births rather than in a separate Vaccination Register.

Vaccination Registers are arranged by Register of Births

number. Entries give the names of child and parents, the

child’s dates of birth and vaccination, and the medical

practitioner. Many registers are indexed.

Auckland Office: Coromandel

Register 1874-1888 [BACL 14408/1a]

Hikurangi

Register 1911-1915 [ABQU 15417/1a]

Huntly

Register 1894-1913 [BAHB 11180/1a]

Owhango

Register 1912-1917 [BAHH 11124/1a]

Waihi

Registers 1895-1915 [BAFV 13779/1]

Waipu

Register 1874-1915 [ABQU 15416/1a]

Wellington Office: Ashhurst Registers 1896-1921 [AAXX 21517 W5462/111-112]

Dannevirke area

Norsewood Registers 1876-1913

[ABPQ W4287/100-101]

Wainui Registers 1887-1914 [ABPQ W4287/102]

Weber Registers 1897-1903 [ABPQ W4287/103]

Masterton

Registers 1873-1920 (gaps)

[AAOF 22010 W5447/472 & 612]

Mauriceville

Register 1895-1916 [AAOF 22324 W5447/472]

Napier

Registers 1877-1921 [AAOW W3244/252-255]

Christchurch Office: Charleston

Register 1874-1910 [CAIF CH446/142]

Mt Cook/Fairlie

Record Books 1874-1917 [CAHY CH648/11]

Timaru

Registers 1890-1918 [CAHY CH24/147]

Waimangaroa Magistrates Court (near Westport)

Register 1894-1916 [CAIS CH620/6]

Dunedin office: Balclutha

Register 1892-1921 [DACM 20723 D443/316]

GENERAL & ADULT WELFARE Background

The government was much less concerned with adult

welfare than with child welfare, and for much of the 19th

century private charitable aid was the main form of

welfare for adults and families. Churches were a main

source of aid, but Hospital Boards, through Charitable

Aid Boards, also helped the destitute.

A number of concerns helped lead to the first small

governmental measures concerned with adult welfare,

such as Maintenance Orders and Old Age Pensions.

There were fears that poverty would lead to criminal

activity and a concern that children would not be brought

up properly if their parent, often an abandoned wife, was

destitute. Some older people also suffered from illness

and destitution in the later 19th century.

CHARITABLE AID Before there was any government aid for the poor and

destitute Charitable Aid might be available. In the 19th

and 20th centuries it was administered by both Charitable

Aid Boards and by Hospital Boards.

The records of Charitable Aid are usually to be found in

Hospital records, and ARCHWAY searches should be

made under specific Hospital Boards or Charitable Aid.

A few Benevolent Society records are listed.

The principal Charitable Aid records which might mention

individuals are Minute Books, but they are not indexed.

Some 19th century cases are listed individually on

ARCHWAY, mainly in the form of letters about the cases.

Records held in the Christchurch office are most

comprehensively listed on ARCHWAY, but listings from

all offices can be found.

DESTITUTE, AGED & INFIRM Archives New Zealand holds a few record books and

files relating to Destitution and the Aged and Infirm.

A few cases are individually listed on ARCHWAY and

can be found through surname searches – first names

are not usually included.

Auckland Office: Education Dept – Northern Regional Office

Destitute Childrens Home Record Books 1870-1882

[BAAA 1954/1-2]

Rotorua

Destitute Persons Registers 1912-1969 most R

[BAZY 10992/1a-16a]

Tokoroa

Destitute Persons Registers (Guard Books) 1963-1969

R [BBQU 15065/1a-1b]


Wellington Office: Napier

Orders (including some Maintenance & Industrial

Schools) 1890-1928 [AAOW W3244/267-271]

Index – Destitute Persons & Industrial School Orders

1916 [AAOW W3244/272]

Palmerston North

Orders 1908-1945 [AAOY W3298/777-779]

Pahiatua

Orders 1945-1969 R [AAOY W3298/783]

Wellington

Registers – Destitute Persons Act (Maintenance Guard

Books) 1891-1949 some may be R [JC-W 6/1-43]


Inwards Correspondence to Provincial Secretary 1861-

1876 [CAAR 19936 CH287]

Destitute Persons Criminal Record Books 1937-1949 R

[CAHX 20320 CH132/223-249]

Destitute Persons Criminal Record Books 1950-1953 R

[CAHX 20320 CH612/77-78]

Indexes to Destitute Persons Criminal Record Books

1937-1950, 1953 R [CAHX 20321 CH132/250-251]

Christchurch Supreme Court

Aged & Infirm Persons Protection Act files 1921-1968 (6

cases only) R [CAHX 20492 CH243/1]

Kaiapoi

Orders 1892-1926 [CAHP CH14/51]

North Canterbury Hospital Board

Outdoor Relief Register Destitute Children 1885

[CATV CH384/400]

Timaru

Orders (includes some Industrial School) 1918-1926

[CAHY 18039 CH969/86]

Waimate

Orders 1902-1930 [CAHY CH24/196]

PENSIONS & BENEFITS Archives New Zealand holds very few pension and

benefit records. Those held are far from complete and

Access may be restricted.

Old Age Pension Registers & Minute/Letter Books 1898-

c1920 may give some information about early

beneficiaries. There are also some records of War &

Widows Pensions and of various benefits, such as:

Invalids, Unemployment & Sickness, Orphans, War

Veterans, Family Benefit/Allowance.

Published Lists: Pensions − Civil Service

Nominal Rolls, giving details of Civil Service pensions

paid, appeared in some 19th century AJHR (Appendices

to the Journal of the House of Representatives). Details

may include: name, date pension was granted, annual

amount, position held and length of service.

1866 D-3 (p74) 1882 B-23

1873 I-1 1888 B-18

1878 H-16 1896 H-26


Judge’s Notebook Old Age Pension Court 1899

[BADW 10496/1a]

Old Age Pensions Book 1901-1903 [BADW 10511/1]

Coromandel

Claims 1897 [BACL 14481/1a]

Claims Applications 1897 [BACL 14482/1a]

Claims Register 1899-1903 [ZAAN 14137/1a]

Letterbook, Deputy Registrar of Old Age Pensions 1899-

1907 [ZAAN 14138/1a]

Dargaville

Old Age Pensions Minute Book 1898-1903

[BADC 10789/1a]

Registers of Old Age Pension Claims 1898-1917

[BADC 10792/1a-1b]

Old Age Pension Claims sent to the Registrar 1902-1910

[BADC 10793/1a-1b]

Helensville

Old Age Pensions 1903-1904 [BADW 10511/1a]

Paeroa

Old Age Pensions Minute Book 1899-1906

[ZAAP 13788/1a]

Te Aroha Wardens Court

Old Age Pension Claim Register 1899-1909

[BBAV 11503/1a]

Thames

Old Age Pensions Instalment Books 1910-1939

[YCAH A431/44 & 56]

Warkworth

Old Age Pension Claim Register 1896

[BACN 10646/1a]

Wellington Office: Imperial Pensions

Treasury Department Registers 1865-1891

[(ADRK 17399) T 9/1-7]

These large volumes held in the Register Room record

the pensions paid to British soldiers who took their

retirement in New Zealand (including Fencibles and also

some retired police & civil servants). There may be

details of physical description and service. The original

book is missing, so those who died before 1865 are not

recorded. Personal details for men whose pensions

started before 1865 and continued after that date were

not usually transferred to later books.

Personal data for Thomas Boyle Imperial or Chelsea pensioner [T 9/1 p1022]


New Plymouth

Old Age Pensions Outward Letterbooks 1901-1908

(Taranaki district) R [AADK 7892 W4883/5]

Old Age Applications Register 1902-1909 R

[AADK 7917 W4883/23]

Widows Pension Registers 1912-1926 R

[AADK 7917 W4883/1]

Old Age Pension Registers 1899-1926 (Taranaki district)

R [AADK 7917 W4883/24-27]

New Plymouth Pension Claims Register 1912-1926 R

[AADK 7917 W4883/22]

Stratford Pension Claims Register 1898-1926 R

[AADK 7917 W4883/22]

Hawera Pension Claims Registers 1898-1907 R

[AADK 7917 W4883/22]

Names of Old Age Pensioners in New Plymouth District

1920 R [AADK 7917 W4883/7]

Social Security Department – War Pensions

Card Index 1912-1985 [ABNU 6825/1-94]

Card Index (Maori) [ABNU 6826/1-4]

These cards may include: address, next of kin, birth date,

type of benefit.

Stratford & Eltham

Widows Pensions 1912-1921 [ABIB W4228/1]

Minute Book Stratford Old Age Pension District 1899-

1904 [ABIB W4228/9]

Wanganui

Old Age Pension Registers 1899-1902

[AADK 7916 W4883/6-7]

Widows Pensions 1912-1981 (gap) R

[AADK 7916 W4883/1]

Family Benefit & other records 1928-1982 R

[AADK 7916 W4883/2-4]

Weekly Benefits – Applications Registers 1945-1985 R

[AADK 7916 W4883/19-21, W4309/1]

War Veterans (various records) 1951-1985 R

[AADK 7916 W4883/2 & 18]

Christchurch Office: Department of Social Welfare, Christchurch

War Pensions Miscellaneous Registers (10 vols) 1946-

1988- [CAVP CH485/1]

Timaru

Old Age Pensioners Outwards Letterbooks 1914-1916

[CAHY CH24/81]

Waimate

Miscellaneous – Registrar of Old Age Pensions Outward

Letterbook 1899-1904 [CAHY CH24/194]

Dunedin Office: Balclutha, Owaka, Kaitangata, Tapanui

Old Age Pensions Court Book 1910-1916

[DACM 20736 D443/31c]

Clyde

Old Age Pensions (various records) 1899-1913

[DAEQ D574/16c, 19b-20c]

Naseby

Old Age Pensions Letterbooks1902-1916

[AAJH 21283 D560/35a-b]

Otago Hospital Board

Old Age Pensioner Refund Accounts Ledgers 1912-1937

(gap) [DAHI D284/216a-b]

Outram

Record of Awards of Old Age Pensions 1909-1916 R

[DAAC 21190 D437/808]

Palmerston

Old Age Pensions Certificate Register 1897

[DAAC D256/1040]

Queenstown

Old Age Pension Outward Letterbooks 1898-1917

[AEPG 20958 D554/31a-32b]

PROTECTION Wellington Office: Wellington

Registers of Protection Orders 1879-1891

[JC-W 8/1-5]

Dunedin Office: Dunedin

Protection Orders 1877-1883 [DAAC 20897 D437/439]

UNEMPLOYMENT Archives New Zealand holds many files about

unemployment, but most relate to policy, administration

and statistics. Few are about people on relief or the

unemployment benefit.

Christchurch

Unemployment Benefit Registers (some Sickness also)

1939-1985 R [CAVP CH454/1-37, 39, 41-42, 53]

Department of Social Welfare

Unemployment Benefit Registers (various) 1979-1983,

1988-1992 R [AADK W4752/1-6]

Masterton

Applications Register (including unemployment) 1940-

1962 R [AAZX W3575/1]

New Plymouth

Unemployment (& sickness) Application Registers 1939-

1963 R [AADK 7916 W4883/4]

Palmerston North

Applications Register 1939-1947 R [AAYB W4522/16]

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