Online Resources A-Z

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry unlocks the story of you with sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps and more, with new content added daily. Ancestry Library Edition contains the UK and Ireland Census Collection, England and Wales Civil Registration Index, Immigration Collections and US Federal Census Collection data. 

Access within the library.

Archives New Zealand

Archives New Zealand preserves and protects more than seven million official records, from 19th century treaties to 21st century documents and data. Their goal is for all New Zealanders to easily access and use this taonga, connecting you to your rights and entitlements and stories - now and for the future.

BookLink

BookLink is an online lending and reading service that offers access to the Blind & Low Vision to New Zealand library's digital collections including New Zealand and international audio books, audio magazines, and community, regional and national text newspapers. There is also a special BookLink Youth portal for younger readers.

Note: you need to be a Blind & Low Vision NZ Library member or have a print disability to use this service.

Download the BookLink app:

BorrowBox

BorrowBox eBooks and eAudio Books are particularly high quality with a great range of Australasian and international authors including Liane Moriarty, Kate Morton, Di Morrissey, Lee Child, James Patterson and David Baldacci. With BorrowBox, content is king and the selection of local and international bestselling titles expands constantly. 

Note: loan period 14 days (with optional 2 renewals).  Limit of 4 eBooks and 4 eAudio Books at one time.

Check out this helpful tutorial.

Download the BorrowBox app:

BWB Texts Collection

An acclaimed and fast-growing series of 'short books on big subjects', published by Bridget Williams Books (BWB). 

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'BWB Texts Collection'. 

Access within the library.

British Newspaper Archive

The British Newspaper Archive is a partnership between the British Library and FindMyPast to digitise up to 40 million newspaper pages from the British Library's vast collection and making them available online. You can search hundreds of millions of articles by keyword, name, location, date or title.

Note: British Newspaper Archive is only available for use within the library.

Community Info Database

Community Info Database contains a comprehensive list of all the community groups and clubs from Age Concern Napier to Zonta Hawke's Bay. Select the group or club you are interested in to view a full description and contact details.

Critical Issues Collection (Bridget Williams Books)

Housing, inequality, climate change, child poverty, the environment, migration, financial crises—deep analysis of the big issues.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'Critical Issues Collection'. 

ePukapuka

ePukapuka is a group of lower North Island libraries who joined together provide access to thousands of eBooks and eAudio Books on the OverDrive platform. With so many authors to chose from, you'll love exploring this library! The best way to view titles is by using the Libby app, however you can use Adobe Digital Editions on your PC or laptop, or use your Kindle Fire/Tablet.

Check out this helpful tutorial

Note: loan period 21 days.  Limit of 10 items at one time.

Download the Libby App (by Overdrive) for ePukapuka:

FamilySearch

FamilySearch is home to records from across the world including church, vital, census, land, probate, military, and immigration records, as well as many other types of records and histories that can help you uncover your family tree. You will need to sign up to the FamilySearch site the first time you use it and log in each time you use the site.

FindMyPast

FindMyPast makes original historical documents available to search online so that you can explore a collection of over two billion records, find your ancestors, and trace your family tree from the comfort of your local library.

Note: FindMyPast is only available for use within the library.

Index New Zealand

Index New Zealand is a searchable database that contains abstracts and descriptions of articles from more than 1,000 New Zealand periodicals and newspapers published from the 1950s to the present day.  Around 3,000 new records are added monthly from 460 titles.

Kanopy

Access free films, amazing courses and keep the kids entertained with the Kanopy app.  With more than 30,000 of the world's best films to choose from, including Oscar winning movies, award-winning documentaries, and the best of New Zealand cinema, your viewing choices are endless. You will need to sign up to the Kanopy site the first time you use it and log in each time you use the site.

Note: Kanopy is for adult card holders only.  Each card holder is allocated a set number of tickets per month to watch their content choices each month.

Download the app:

Kanopy Kids

Enjoy unlimited viewing in Kanopy's collection for younger viewers (under 13 years). Bring books to life with a range of story time programming, along with short films and thought provoking movies. For curious minds there's a range of interesting education topics to discover such as space, the natural world and how things work.

Note: Kanopy Kids can only be accessed by adult library members to ensure viewing can be managed appropriately.

Kanopy - The Great Courses

Fuel lifelong learning with over 6,000 videos including history, hobbies, sciences, and lifestyle skills to study in your own time from the comfort of your own home. There is something for everyone! From architecture to ancient Egypt, mindfulness to making gourmet meals, you're spoilt for choice by having unlimited access to these great courses.

Māori Maps

Find your way to the tribal marae of Aotearoa New Zealand - through maps, information and photographs - through the digital gateway of Māori Maps. Te Potiki National Trust gathers the information for Māori Maps from public sources, and holds it in trust for our beneficiaries, the marae of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Matapihi

Matapihi DigitalNZ is a search site for all things New Zealand, connecting you to reliable digital collections from libraries, museums, galleries, and more. You can discover more than 30 million digital items from more than 200 organisations on any topic.

Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora

The Ministry of Health works across the health sector to deliver better health outcomes for New Zealanders. Find information on health services, statistics, publications, and hot topics.

N

Napier  Community Profile

The Napier City Council Community Profile provides city-wide and neighbourhood profiling to inform community groups, investors, business, students and the general public. It is formatted to present data in simple, clear tables and charts with concise factual commentary.

The “People and Places” Profile includes population statistics in clear graphs and tables from the 2006, 2013 and 2018 Census of Population and Dwellings. The profile is updated with population estimates when Statistics New Zealand releases new figures.

National Library of New Zealand

The National Library of New Zealand collects, connects, and co-creates knowledge to power New Zealand. The National Library has a wide range of collections including books, magazines, audio, websites, Turnbull archival collections, and more.

New Zealand History

The site features information and resources from within the Research and Publishing Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. You can browse content by People, Places, Events and Topics. Also, three broad categories showcase themes in New Zealand history: Culture and society, Politics and government and New Zealand at war. A Calendar of New Zealand history events provides short essays and links to further sources on over 500 events in New Zealand history, at least one for each day of the year. A Classroom and Hands-on history section includes links to guides, external websites and other material for those who are 'doing' and teaching history.

New Zealand History Collection (Bridget Williams Books)

Over 30 years of award-winning history publishing combines into an authoritative resource of life on these islands, from earliest beginnings to present day.  Includes the ability to keyword search across all titles.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'New Zealand History Collection'. 

Access within the library.

New Zealand Sign Language Collection (Bridget Williams Books)

BWB's reference publishing and accounts of Deaf experience are freshly rendered using rich multimedia and visuals. Includes the ability to keyword search across all titles.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'New Zealand Sign Language Collection'. 

Access within the library.

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is a mandated iwi organisation with the authority to represent the people of Ngāti Kahungunu, and is the Governing body for all aspects of Iwi development. This site includes information on governance, operations, our people, and events.

Papers Past

Papers Past includes a wide range of digitised material, including New Zealand and Pacific newspapers from the 19th and 20th centuries, magazines and journals, letters and diaries, and Parliamentary Papers.

PressReader

PressReader delivers an endless stream of top news stories to read, discuss and share.  Get full issues of thousands of newspaper and magazines from around the world just as they appear in print.

Check out this helpful tutorial.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'Pressreader'. 

Access within the library.

Download the app:

Retrolens Historical Image Resource

Retrolens is made up of a treasure trove of aerial photographs that have been taken since 1936 through to 2005.  It is a Crown archive and contains 500,000 images.  The photos were taken for a range of reasons such as land management and mapping.  The value of these images is in showing change across New Zealand. 

Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa

Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa is New Zealand's official data agency.  They collect information from people and organisations through censuses and surveys, and use this information to publish insights and data about New Zealand.  The site includes The New Zealand Official Yearbook 1893-2012 which provide a comprehensive statistical picture of life in New Zealand. 

Te Ara New Zealand Encyclopedia

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand is the complete guide to our peoples, environment, history, culture and society.  Te Ara also includes the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, containing the life stories of over 3,000 people.

Treaty of Waitangi Collection (Bridget Williams Books)

The Treaty of Waitangi Collection brings together leading thinking on this fundamental document, including works by acclaimed scholars, award-winning histories and diverse commentary.  Includes the ability to keyword search across all titles.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'Treaty of Waitangi Collection'. 

Access within the library.

Women's Studies Collection (Bridget Williams Books) 

This Collection combines decades of groundbreaking publishing of life through a female lens.

To access outside the library: Log in through the library catalogue, click 'Home', then click on the database page link and select 'Women's Studies Collection'. 

Access within the library.