New Zealand and Pacific Collection

The New Zealand and Pacific Collection includes New Zealand reference materials and New Zealand and Pacific books covering all subjects.

Reference resources in the New Zealand and Pacific Collection include:

  • business, telephone and specialist directories

  • encyclopedias

  • government publications

  • indexes and bibliographies

  • New Zealand electoral rolls

  • current maps.

Some of the subjects covered include:

  • national, local and Pacific histories

  • art and architecture

  • biographies

  • sport and recreation

  • social sciences and statistics.

The collection has been developed from the original bequest of Alexander Turnbull in 1918. The Library adds about 10,000 items to the collection each year through legal deposit, purchase and donation.

More about donations and bequests

More about the Alexander Turnbull Library collections

Access to the New Zealand and Pacific collection

Most original items in this collection are available from the Wellington Reading Room.

You may be able to source copies of materials in this collection through other libraries. Our staff can assist you with this.

Search this site for descriptions of items published after 1984. For items published before 1984 you may need to use the Alexander Turnbull Library microfiche card catalogue, which may also be available through your local library.

Requests can be made in person, by phone, letter, or email. If an original item is too fragile a microform copy may be issued.

Get copies from items in this collection

Copies can be made from items in this collection if copying doesn’t breach copyright. Photocopiers, and printers for microfiche and microfilm readers are available for use in the Library's Reading Room.

More about making copies

More about copyright and privacy

Borrow items in this collection

You can borrow microfilm copies of some items from this collection by interloan through your local library. We lend to New Zealand and overseas libraries.

More about interloans