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Jurisdiction New Zealand government recordkeeping and community archives Minister responsible Peter Dunne, Minister of Internal Affairs Agency executive Marilyn Little, Chief Archivist and General Manager Parent agency Department of Internal Affairs Website | ||
Archives New Zealand (in Māori: Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga) is the National Archives of New Zealand, with responsibility for the record of government. This includes regulation of information management in the public sector, management of the national archival collection, and leadership of the archives sector. Since 1 February 2011 it has been part of the Department of Internal Affairs. Before 1 February 2011 Archives New Zealand was a separate government department.
Archives New Zealand holds more than 80 kilometers of New Zealand government records on paper, dating from the early 19th to the early 21st century. Researchers can search descriptions of the records online, via the Archway finding aid. At present Archives New Zealand cannot collect or provide access to records which were created in digital form. A Government Digital Archive Programme existed but this was closed down in 2013.
The Treaty of Waitangi is on display in the Constitution Room at the head office in Wellington. A project is underway to move the Treaty and other constitutional documents to a new exhibition location in the National Library building.
The Public Records Act 2005 greatly expanded the role of Archives New Zealand and the powers of the Chief Archivist. The organisation now has a leadership role for recordkeeping throughout central and local government.