iwiKiwi

A Kiwi in search of her ancestral tribes

Family History month 2023

Well, that year went fast!

Gaffaney family members in car

Michael Dominic Gaffaney with family circa 1915

Next week is the start of Family History month here in New Zealand and Australia.

Family History month Opening Ceremony (online): Tuesday 1st August 7pm NZST

The Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO) is hosting the opening and closing ceremonies for the month, with the opening event available online. Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart (University of New England) and Andrew Redfern will talk on the topic of ‘AI (Artificial Intelligence)‘.  Register and request the Zoom link via their National Family History Month website.  Limited to 99 attendees.  For the  closing ceremony on 31st August, Anita Jacoby will speak on ‘Dealing with sensitive material in family history research and publishing’.  It’s currently an in-person talk only in Sydney, but if it’s recorded, details will be posted on the website.

Wellington Family History events, National Library, cnr Molesworth & Aitken St: Tuesday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd August

A series of events aimed at those just starting their family history journey is being organised by the Wellington branches of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists. These will be held at the National Library on four Tuesdays in August from 5.30pm and are also available online. You’ll need to register for the online option, but it’s free. For details, see the library’s website.

Auckland Family History Expo, Fickling Convention Centre, Three Kings: Friday 11th – Sunday 13th August

Free entry on Saturday and Sunday, and a small charge for the opening event on Friday night, with a huge range of lectures and workshops, and helpdesks available for different interest areas, organised by Auckland Libraries.  I’m looking forward to giving two talks: All aboard for a new life (Saturday 4pm) and Schooling the Victorians (Sunday 3pm). For more details and the full programme, visit the Auckland Family History Expo page.

Christchurch Family History Expo, Tūranga, Cathedral Square: Friday 18th – Sunday 20th August

Organised by Christchurch Libraries, this event has a different format from last year, with three full days of activities.  Friday is geared towards beginners with a series of workshops and how-to sessions, and Saturday has a great line up of speakers.  The sessions on both these days are free, but booking is recommended. (I notice that one workshop on Friday is already booked out!) Sunday is billed as a family fun day.  The full programme and booking links are on the Christchurch Family History Expo page.

There are other events happening around the motu and to find those local to you, check out the NZSG Family History month page, and the event calendar.

 

Family History Month August 2022

Family History Month 2022

It’s that time of year again!  Everything takes a backseat to genealogy as Family History Month is celebrated across Aotearoa and Australia (or is that just for me?).

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Coronation Scrap Book 1953

A Coronation Scrap Book

At some point during my childhood, while we were staying with my maternal grandparents in Hāwera, I came across my mother’s 1953 Coronation scrapbook.  Maybe my Nanna dragged it out of a cupboard to give me something to do, and keep me out of mischief?  It was probably this event that prompted me to ask…

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books

Accentuate the Positive ~ 2021

Given the madness of recent times, it’s lovely to take up the invitation Jill Ball aka GeniAUS has extended to everyone – to celebrate and share all the positives of the last year with her geneameme Accentuate the Positive.

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1939 Register ~ Closing presentation for Family History Month

AFFHO (Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations)’s  closing presentation this evening (8pm NZST / 6pm AEST) is via Zoom and there’s still time to register.  It features Christchurch genealogist Fiona Brooker from Memories in Time talking about how to use the UK’s 1939 Register for your family history research.

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The party starts today ~ Family History Month Aotearoa/Australia

Family History Month starts today in Aotearoa and Australia!  What are your plans for the month?

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Family History Month 2021

Family History Month is celebrated every year during August across Aotearoa and Australia. It’s a chance to learn more about researching your whakapapa/family history, whatever stage you’re at, and explore ways to share your stories with whānau and friends. There are several major events happening around the motu for family historians, with Auckland and Christchurch…

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Thomas Gaffney ~ where’s the body buried?

One of my father’s great quests is to find the grave of his 2 x great grandfather, Thomas Gaffney. The family story is that Thomas’s son Michael travelled from New Zealand back to England to place a headstone on his father’s grave. While I was living in England, I was determined to find that headstone.

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Wellington war memorials ~ Anzac Day

The Wellington War Memorials Project researched the lives of the 96 men on five community war memorials in Wellington, who were listed as killed during the First World War.

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Palmerston North, 1912, by Muir & Moodie studio

Research Day programme ~ 17th April

The programme is now out for the NZSG Palmerston North’s Research Day this coming Saturday at Kilwinning Lodge, Church Street. If you’re in the Lower North Island, you might like to pop along.

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