The Oral History Centre is part of the Alexander Turnbull Library.
There are more than 10,000 recordings in the Oral history Centre collection. Recordings include interviews with people from throughout New Zealand and the Pacific, of various ethnicities, iwi (tribe) and hapū (sub-tribe), occupations, political affiliations and interests. Talks, readings and events are also covered.
Most of the collection has been recorded since the 1960s. The collection covers New Zealand society, culture, community, and political history from the late 19th century to the present.
Interviews usually have accompanying documentation, including an abstract – a detailed time-coded index providing quick access to the contents of the recording. A few interviews are fully or partially transcribed. Photographs and other relevant material are sometimes included.
There are Māori oral history projects and recordings of talks, lectures and other events in te reo Māori. Descriptions of selected interviews with Māori held in the Library’s oral history collection are included in the Register of oral history records on the social and economic history of Māori from 1945 to 1995. The register was compiled by Dr Monty Soutar for the Crown Forestry Rental Trust in 2003.
If you'd like to donate any material to the collection, contact the Curator of the Oral History Centre.
The Library’s building redevelopment
The Library building in Wellington is closed for redevelopment, and due to reopen in early 2012. During the relocation period, some collections will be available in two temporary locations: Archives New Zealand and a reading room at 77 Thorndon Quay, Wellington.
More about collection access through the Wellington building redevelopment period
Access to the Oral History Centre
- he original recordings in this collection are now unavailable until early 2012.
- Existing listening copies and viewing copies of recordings, as well as abstracts and interview documentation, will be available at Archives New Zealand from 25 February 2010.
Borrow items in this collection
From 25 February 2010, you can borrow copies of some oral history interviews and other recordings by interloan through your local library. Contact the Oral History Centre to discuss your request before putting it in to your local library.
Get copies of items in this collection
From 25 February 2010, you can order extracts from some interviews and other audio and video recordings for use in exhibitions, websites, broadcasts and lectures. Contact us to discuss your requirements, and permission procedures.
Interviews and other recordings may not be copied in full for private research. Notes may be taken while listening or viewing. If you wish to transcribe material from an interview, discuss this with staff first.
Get help
We can answer your enquiries in person or by email, letter or phone.
The Oral Historian Māori is available to assist with material in te reo Māori, to provide services in te reo Māori, and to work with groups and individuals interested in recording Māori oral history.
The Curator, Oral History Centre is available on weekdays to help with research enquiries. An appointment is required.
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