Defence personnel files handed over to Archives

The New Zealand Defence Force will hand over to Archives New Zealand the files of all personnel who served in the New Zealand forces prior to 1920 in a formal ceremony at Trentham Military Camp, at 2:30pm Thursday 14 April.

In recognition of their importance in the historical record of New Zealand, the Chief of Defence Force Air Vice Marshal Bruce Ferguson, and Chief Archivist Dianne Macaskill have agreed to transfer the 170,000 files of former service personnel to Archives New Zealand.

“Archives New Zealand, as the keeper of public records, will provide a temperature and humidity controlled environment for these important records”, said Dianne Macaskill, “They will be kept in perpetuity at Archives New Zealand where they will be available to this and future generations of families, researchers and the public”.

It is anticipated that it will take over 12 months to transfer the files, which includes those who served in the South African War (1899-1902) and First World War (1914-1918).

Researchers will be able to access these records, either in writing or in person, through the Wellington office of Archives New Zealand.

Further details can be found at http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/archives.html or http://www.archives.govt.nz/whatsnew.html

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