Archives Research Guides & Resources

The Methodist Church of New Zealand Archives Websites

▪ MCNZ Archives Home

▪ Kei Muri Māpara Recollect Website

The Methodist Church of New Zealand Websites

▪ The Methodist Church of New Zealand Home  

▪ Te Taha Māori (holds many historical records of significance in their own archival storage in Auckland). 

▪ Methodist Subsites (links to all MCNZ-affiliated websites, including those of individual parishes, regional missions, academic, and other organisational bodies of the Church).

The Wesley Historical Society

▪ The Wesley Historical Society since 1941 has published proceedings and journals containing histories of parishes, missions, and church organisations, giving a wide overview of the New Zealand Methodist story. 

▪ Alexander Turnbull Library

▪ Archives New Zealand

▪ Auckland City Library

▪ Christchurch City Libraries

▪ Hocken Archives (most Otago and Southland Methodist parish and church archives are held in the Hocken Archives in Dunedin).

▪ John Kinder Theological Library Website and Pūmotomoto Recollect Website

▪ Presbyterian Research Centre (NZ) Recollect Website

▪ Puke Ariki

Available online via our Recollect Site

We've digitised and made available historical editions of New Zealand Methodist newspapers, and many other New Zealand Methodist serials, on our Recollect website, here.

Due to the high volume of material, this digitisation process is ongoing, and new editions are added to Recollect weekly - so do please be sure to check the site regularly to keep up to date with what is available online.

Available in our Reading Room

Hard copies of New Zealand Methodist newspapers and serials that we haven't yet made available online may also be consulted in our Reading Room (by appointment only), or we can digitise specific editions and articles, or conduct research into them on your behalf, via our prepaid remote reference service.

Methodist Newspaper and Magazine Indexes

These indexes to New Zealand Methodist content in Methodist Newspapers and Magazines may also be of interest and assistance to you.

▪ Index to Wesleyan Methodist Magazine (UK) 1814-1869 by Rev. Major Albert Rugby Pratt

▪ NZ Methodist Newspaper Index 1948 to 1986

General NZ Newspapers and Magazines

General newspapers and serials can also include information about the New Zealand Methodist Church and its people. Historical editions of many titles can be searched on the National Library's Papers Past website.

Historical information about people who worked for, or were closely associated with MCNZ

▪ A Register of Ministers, Home Missionaries, Stationed Māori Ministers, Deaconesses, & Missionary Sisters of the Methodist Church of New Zealand compiled by Donald Phillipps, containing the names of all who have served from the beginning of the Wesleyan Mission to Aotearoa in 1822, to those who entered Ministry at the 1940 Conference.

▪ In Memoriam: Deacons, Deaconesses, and Overseas Workers of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (Revised 2022)

▪ In Memoriam: Home Missionaries of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (Revised 2022)

▪ In Memoriam: Ministers and Probationers who have exercised Ministry in New Zealand and were still in the Methodist Ministry at the Date of their Death (Revised 2022)

▪ Methodist Ministers' Family Members who signed the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition compiled by MCNZ Archives (Published 2017)

▪ Presidents, Vice-Presidents & Secretaries of Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (1913-2018) 

▪ The Order of St. Stephen: Information and List of Members compiled by MCNZ Archives (Published 2020)

Historical information about places and organisations associated with MCNZ

▪ Canterbury Methodist Churches by Jo Smith, MCNZ Archives (Revised 2014)

▪ Methodist Cemeteries in New Zealand compiled by MCNZ Archives (Published 2012)

▪ The History of Methodist Social Services in Aotearoa New Zealand by Carol Barron (Published 2022)

Historical information relating to Methodism in Aotearoa New Zealand

▪ Layman's Handbook by Rev. G. I. Laurenson (Published 1970)

▪ Methodist Marriage Ceremony Information from 1883, 1947, and 1977

▪ Methodist Church (in Aotearoa) by Tim Shoebridge, Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand (Revised 2018)

▪ Methodism in Aotearoa NZ (MCNZ Information Pack)

▪ The History of Methodism in New Zealand by Rev. William Morley (Published 1900)

A list of known Methodist World War One Rolls of Honour and Memorials in New Zealand Methodist Churches (as at 2015), compiled by MCNZ Archives volunteers during the WW100 commemorations is available online here.

Other material compiled by the volunteers at that time includes:

▪ Newspaper Cuttings Methodist Ministers' Sermons (1917)

▪ Newspaper Cutting 'Ministers' Sons at War' (1916)

▪ Newspaper Cutting 'Our Soldier Boys' - Trentham (1915)

▪ The Methodist Church of New Zealand - Centennial Conference Address (1922)

▪ The Methodist Church of New Zealand - Our First Century (1822-1922): Scheme of Celebrations