Helping us understand what makes New Zealand the country it is today.
By examining the events of the past, capturing the mood of the times and tracing the trends in our society, history publications play an important role in defining our sense of identity and helping us understand what makes New Zealand the country it is today.
The Ministry is home to a core team of expert writers, researchers and editors who seek to enhance New Zealanders' access to and understanding of their history and cultural heritage by providing enlightening, stimulating insights into our past. We specialise in researching and writing histories of state activity, New Zealand’s involvement in war, and other stories of national significance.
While the books published are an important resource for people, the Internet provides an accessible medium which ensures our history is widely available to New Zealanders and people from around the world. Our popular NZHistory.net.nz, for example, received 45,713 unique visitors to the site in June 2005, illustrating the demand for information about New Zealand history. A number of our latest publications are featured as website exhibitions on the NZHistory.net.nz site, giving visitors a taste of the book as well as incorporating image and sound files which enhance the text.
Oral history gives a unique voice to the stories of New Zealanders, capturing people’s day-to-day experiences. The current focus of our oral history projects is on war history and the Ministry’s ‘From Memory’ website is a vital resource for anyone involved in recording the memories of our veterans.
Our work in telling stories of this country supports the Ministry’s Outcome 2, widespread access to and understanding of New Zealand culture and heritage.
The history group published seven books in the 2004-05 year, covering topics as varied as state housing, Māori and the written word, conservation, and an oral history of the North African campaign.
