Naturalisation is the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen. Our Wellington office holds registers of persons naturalised from 1840 and application files from 1866. The files include memorials containing name, age, occupation, place of birth, and New Zealand residence of the applicant. They often contain letters from the applicant and character testimonials.

For detailed information on Naturalisation Records, refer to our Citizenship reference guide.

An alien in New Zealand before 1914 was merely someone who did not have British citizenship. However from World War One onwards attitudes changed with so-called “enemy aliens” being regarded with suspicion. We hold many alien registration files and other related records. They can include personal letters from aliens, photographs, official correspondence on their movements and/or imprisonment, as well as records on their repatriation.

For detailed information on Aliens, refer to our Citizenship reference guide.

In the 19th Century Chinese immigrants were subject to a poll (head) tax of £10. Our holdings include the poll tax books (the butts from Certificates of Entry). More detail, including everything from photographs to finger prints can be found in registration certificates (held in our Auckland office) and re-entry certificates (held in Wellington). The latter were issued to immigrants who wanted to return home for a visit to China.

For detailed information on records relating to Chinese immigrants, refer to our Citizenship reference guide.

A national census has been collected in New Zealand from 1851, however the returns were routinely destroyed until the 1960s. Some censuses for years after 1961 have been retained but there is currently no access to them.