National Newspaper Collection
The National Newspapers collection contains newspapers from New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific, including the earliest New Zealand newspaper from 1839. Either visit us in Wellington to access copies or get in touch for more information.
What’s the National Newspaper Collection
The National Newspaper Collection contains newspapers from New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. It is the country’s most comprehensive collection of historical New Zealand newspapers.
The National Newspaper Collection forms part of the Alexander Turnbull Library collections.
The collection includes New Zealand’s earliest newspaper, the New Zealand Gazette, published in 1839. It also holds recent daily and community papers.
Newspapers are available in various formats including paper, microfilm, and digital.
Access to the National Newspaper Collection
Original, microfilm and digital copies of newspapers in this collection are available at the Library's Wellington Reading Room. The microfilm collection is self-service.
Searching the National Library website to see if the newspaper you are interested in is available in paper or microfilm format.
For more information, use our Ask a librarian service.
Ask a librarian
Newspaper search on National Library website
On this site, search for descriptions of newspapers, and include the phrase 'New Zealand newspapers' for better results.
Digital copies of selected early New Zealand newspapers and periodicals are available on Papers Past. Māori niupepa are available through the New Zealand Digital Library's website.
Get copies from items in this collection
You can get copies from most items in this collection if copying doesn't breach copyright. Printers for microfiche and microfilm readers are available for use in the Library. Copies on microfilm are also available for purchase.
Making copies
Copyright and privacy
Borrow items in this collection
You can borrow microfilm copies of newspapers by interloan through your local library. We lend to New Zealand and overseas libraries.