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Local History

Kōrero mo te rohe

Local History Collection

Historical Photographs

Local History Files                     History of the Libraries

Kapiti History Timeline                Library Resources

Coming Home

Visit the Local History area upstairs in the Paraparaumu Public Library, to find information about the history of the Kapiti Coast District. The District extends from Paekākāriki in the south to Ōtaki in the north.

Library Resources

Here are resources held at our libraries that give information about the history of the local area.

The guide includes resources on:

  • Pre history
  • Māori history
  • Māori/European contact
  • Early settlers
  • Later histories
  • Schools, churches and club histories

HP 355 Douglas motorcycle ridden by Mr Heffer with Mrs Heffer in the wicker side-chair. Motorcycle with more conventional sidecar, possibly Mr Vaughan with three children in the sidecar. Child on iron tricycle in Hinemoa Street. ca. 1915. G H Howell Collection


Local History Newsletter

A bi-monthly newsletter highlighting activities, resources and interesting news from the Local History Librarian, Kay Duncan.


Mystery photograph

Can you help us identify people in this photograph held in our Historical Photograph Collection?

 Our Local History Librarian would be pleased to receive further information.

Can you help us with previous mystery photographs?

HP 1701 Paraparaumu School reunion 1964

HP 1701 Paraparaumu School Reunion in 1964.  Photographed here are the classes of 1889-1899.
Top row, 2nd from left, is Amy Williams, her father was William E Weggery.  Arthur David Whooton is standing in the back row.  At the top left is Winifred Meek.  In the back row, 5th from the left,  is Harold Fitton, and fourth from the left is one of his brothers (also a Fitton).

Does anyone have anymore information?

Horace Williams Collection
Alexander Turnbull  Library Collection


 

The Local History Collection

Local History area at Paraparaumu Library

The Libraries’ main Local History Collection is housed upstairs in the Paraparaumu Public Library. Ōtaki and Waikanae libraries hold a small selection of resources in their non-fiction collections.

The collection brings together resources such as books, high school magazines, reports, newspapers, photographs of local people and places, and files containing newspapers clippings, pamphlets and articles.

Materials can be read in the Library and we offer photocopying and printing from microfilm and microfiche.

You can access items in the collection through the Local History Librarian or the librarian at the Information Desk. Please ask for help, our staff are happy to assist you.

The Local History Librarian's details are:

   Kay Duncan

Paraparaumu Public Library

Private Bag 601                                  

Paraparaumu

Phone: 04 2964885.

HP 8 Paraparaumu Boating Pool 1961

Turnbull Library Collection

 

Historical Photographs

The Historical Photograph Collection holds a range of interesting images of local people, places and events. File prints are available for you to view at Paraparaumu Library.

 

How to find the photographs you want

HP 10 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu Beach 1945

Kapiti Observer Collection

          

 

Prints are filed in running number order HP 1- 2000 onwards, in the blue cabinets in the Local History area. The card index will help you find the images you are interested in. The index is divided into five sections: Historical Photograph (HP) number; Subject; People; Date and Area. A guide to using the subject index is provided.

Laser copies, photographic prints and scans to disc can be ordered at the Information Desk. Payment and acceptance of copyright conditions are required when you place your order.

Costs are: $8.00 per scanned image, $2.00 service charge per order and $2.00 disc supply.

The Library also holds the Bruce MacMillan collection, an archive of 250,000 images dating from the 1950’s to 1970’s.To view these negatives please contact the Local History Librarian.

 

Newspapers

The newspaper collection holds a number of publications:

 

July 1950 –

Apr 1988 – Jun 2000

Apr 1997 – Dec 1999

July 1999 –

Apr 1991 –

Kapiti Observer

Kapiti Mail

Horowhenua & Kapiti News

Kapiti News

Ōtaki Mail

 

The Kapiti Observer from 2001 to this month’s editions, and the Ōtaki Mail from April 2003 onwards are indexed. We have also begun indexing the Kapiti Observer from 1950 – 2001.

To find the information you need click on the Newspaper Article Search link on the Library Catalogue Home page. The quickest and best results will be obtained by typing in keywords such as the name of the person, the event or place you are looking for, into the Keyword search box, and then click on Search.

If you can’t locate the article you need please ask for assistance at the Information Desk.

We also hold microfilm of the Dominion Post from 1st January 2002 until the present day. You can view these at Paraparaumu Library.

Local History Files 

These files consist of: clippings from newspapers (other than the Kapiti Observer or Ōtaki Mail) that are not indexed onto the online Library catalogue; pamphlets; newsletters; articles and written information donated by interested persons. Material is filed under subject headings. Files may be requested at the desk or by contacting the Local History Librarian.

Kapiti Coast District Libraries history pamphlets

For information on the history of the libraries ask for the Paraparaumu Library, Waikanae Library and Ōtaki Library history pamplets at any of the libraries or visit our library history page.

Online Resources

Local History

New Zealand History


Coming Home Te Hokinga Mai

National Digital Forum's Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the end of World War I. Search for images and other digital resources on the theme of Coming Home, which focuses on the return of troops and the impact of war on this country.