Family History Month
Family History Month is observed annually during the month of August across New Zealand and Australia. It's a time to reflect on our roots and celebrate our unique histories and identities. It's an opportunity to showcase the significant resources that are available to researchers of family history.
Community Corner with Family Search Centre
Wednesday, 6 & 20 August, 10.30 - 11:30 am
Saturday, 30 August
10.30 – 11.30 am
This is a drop-in session with Family Search Centre. The session is designed to provide you with guidance on how to utilize various genealogical resources effectively. Volunteers from the Family Search Centre will be available to answer your questions and offer practical tips to help you on your journey to bring your family's story to life.
From paper to digital legacies: Session 1
Saturday, 9 August, 1 - 2 pm
Experienced family researcher Matthias Otto will present an introduction and brief demonstration of the Family Search environment, and the work involved for a family researcher. He will talk about the act of organising and archiving the source material like records, documents, stories and photographs in the context of the family tree.
The Family Search database is completely free to use and assistance with signing up will be provided. Family Search will be used to demonstrate how it can be used to organise and present this information and what pages of richly documented family members could look like. Registrations not required.
RootsTech E-Learning: How AI is Accelerating Discoveries at Ancestry® with Hunter Cannon
Thursday, 14 & 28 August, 12.30 - 1.30 pm
Ancestry® is using AI to open new doors into the past—helping you uncover family stories, trace connections, and make discoveries faster than ever.
Join us for a screening and hands-on session where technology meets whakapapa, and your history comes to life.
Turn your research into a gift for future generations: Session 2
Saturday, 16 August, 1 - 2 pm
After a brief recap of what was covered in Session 1, experienced family researcher Matthias Otto will present a hands-on archiving workshop on Family Search, with one-to-one help.
Attendance at the first session on 9 August is preferred, as is previous registration for Family Search, with a few immediate family members already added. The Family Search database is completely free to use and assistance with signing up will be provided.
Please bring your own laptop and with photos and other documents at the ready. Registrations not required.
Share Your Story on The Prow: Learn how to add your story to the Prow
Tuesday, 19 August, 12.30 - 1.30 pm
Learn how to contribute your personal or local story to The Prow, a digital archive celebrating the people, places, and history of Te Tauihu.
This hands-on session will guide you through the process of writing, editing, and submitting your story to be part of our region’s collective memory.
Documentary Screening: Carmen
Friday, 22 August, 4 - 5.30 pm
The Life Story of Carmen Rupe, from material preserved and made available by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Celebrate found family with a documentary screening in partnership with Nelson Pride.
Overview from NZ On Screen Iwi Whitiāhua –
“In more repressed times, Carmen was one of Aotearoa's most colourful and controversial figures. Geoff Steven's documentary traces the life story of the transgender icon, who was born in Taumarunui in 1936. She went on to become a dancer, sex worker, cafe owner, activist, local celebrity — and one of the few non-MPs to appear before the Privileges Committee. Through telling Carmen's story, Steven shines a light on a bygone era of queer culture in New Zealand, especially that of trans women. The documentary also finds time for several ethereal fantasy sequences, featuring Georgina Beyer and Neil Gudsell (aka Mika).
I wanted to make her accessible to the general public. People may not like what she stands for. But I hope they will see her as a person and not as the personification of evil. – Director Geoff Steven in The NZ Herald, 20 September 1989, Section 2, Page 3”
