Editor's
Comments |
I am getting more requests for Passenger Lists so that people can complete their family trees. My objective
when I set up "The History of New Zealand Shipping" was to concentrate on the anecdotal stories that really
give you a buzz when you read them. Providing detailed information on Passenger Lists is not in line with my
objective. However I appreciate this website may attract people looking for information on NZSCo
Passengers. To help those people, I am providing this page of information on locating Passenger Lists. |
UK Records |
All ships carrying passengers in or out of any British port were required by law to lodge a passenger list with the relevant
port authorities. Records for ship passengers travelling between 1890 and 1960 are available in the UK Board of
Trade's collection of original passenger lists.
These can be seen at the Public Record Office in Kew, England.
More information is available at http://www.pro.gov.uk/research/easysearch/migration.htm
In 2003 The Public Records Office (PRO) merged with the Historical Manuscripts Commission to form the The National Archives, you need to go to https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
After 1960, UK Passenger Lists do not exist, primarily because of increasing air travel. |
The Reality |
Passenger Lists exist as paper documents, hand written or typed, and stored in boxes. With the passage of time these
documents are fragile and require careful handling. Any research will therefore be time consuming. Few of these
Passenger Lists have been transcribed into accessible Databases. There are Volunteer Organisations carrying out this
work. More information can be found at https://www.immigrantships.net/index.html
The reality is locating your family and friends on NZSCo Passenger Lists will require time, effort, expertise and, maybe
even cost if you employ professional researchers. |
Beginners |
Where to start? The UK Public Records Office (www.pro.gov.uk) as of 2003 you need to go to https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
if your relation travelled before 1960. A better option
may be the National Archives in New Zealand
http://archives.govt.nz/
Archives New Zealand Head Office Wellington holds passenger lists for nearly all ships arriving in New Zealand for the
period 1883-1973.
On arrival in New Zealand, ships handed formal Passenger Lists to a customs officer. The Social
Security Department used these Passenger Lists to check people's eligibility for old age pensions. They are referred to
as the Social Security passenger lists.
Another source could be the Library in Christchurch NZ, who also maintain Passenger Lists
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/passenger-lists/ |
Passenger Lists |
There are a number of sites dedicated to researching Passenger Lists.
These are some (but by no means all) of them...
http://www.passengerlists.co.uk (not operating as of 30.08.18)
https://www.cyndislist.com/new-zealand
http://freespace.virgin.net/donald.hazeldine/ausfotos.htm (not operating as of 30.08.18)
http://www.users.on.net/~proformat/auspass2.html (not operating as of 30.08.18)
http://www.genealogylinks.net/newzealand/new-zealand-passenger-lists.htm
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~nzbound/genealogy/
http://members.optushome.com.au/lenorefrost/shipslog.html
http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/
http://www.angelfire.com/az/nzgenweb/ |
Crew Lists |
If you are trying to trace ship's crew then UK Public Records Office in Kew, London is the place to start
http://www.pro.gov.uk/as of 2003 you need to go to https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Further information is available at http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/UKLogs,CrewLists.html |
PLEASE
NOTE |
All the above information is readily available on the WWW. I do not have any expertise in Genealogy and I do
not have access to any Passenger List Records! |
