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The Colonial Secretary’s Office was established in 1840, at the same time that New Zealand became a British colony. The present Department of Internal Affairs is the direct descendent of this organisation. Its history can be divided into several broad phases.

1840-1876: The Centre of Government

In the period from 1840 to 1856 the Colonial Secretary was a permanent official responsible to the Governor. His office was the hub of the colonial government, with responsibility for a wide range of functions. The Colonial Secretary wrote to and received reports from almost all Government Officials, and handled most correspondence from the public. After 1848 his responsibilities expanded again.

From 1848-1852 New Zealand was divided into the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster. The Colonial Secretary's functions were confined to New Ulster, as New Munster had its own Colonial Secretary. In 1853 these provinces were abolished and the Colonial Secretary of New Ulster again became the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand. As these changes did not affect the continuity of the office records, the offices have been treated as one agency.

The 1852 constitution provided for representative cabinet government through the election of a general assembly and six provincial assemblies in Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago. Responsible government was granted in 1856. From this point Colonial Secretary became a cabinet position held by a politician and the permanent head of the Colonial Secretary’s office became the Under-Secretary to the Colonial Secretary.

With the full introduction of responsible government in 1856 there was a rapid increase in government business. During this period the Colonial Secretary’s Office became responsible for a wide range of new functions. In the 1860s the office was at the peak of its power and influence.

From the late 1860s the Provincial system began to break down. Responsibility for many provincial functions was transferred to central government. When the provinces were abolished in 1876 the office became responsible for the hundreds of counties, boroughs, town districts, road boards, harbour boards, river boards, rabbit boards, and other local authorities which succeeded them.

1876-1912: A Gradual Decline in Importance

From the 1870s on the Colonial Secretary’s office began to lose functions  to newly formed agencies such as the Marine Department, the Public Works Department, and the Department of Justice. Under the Liberal government which held office from 1891-1912 the public service expanded, and the Colonial Secretary’s Office became relatively less important. Gradually the Colonial Under-Secretary ceased to be the top bureaucrat, although for a long time the Colonial Secretary was still seen as the second most important ministerial post.

In 1907 the Colonial Secretary’s Office became the Department of Internal Affairs. This was a symbolic renaming which reflected the change in the status of New Zealand from Colony to Dominion. It did not represent a change in the function or control of the department.

1912-1935: Reform and Retrenchment

In 1912 William Massey’s Reform party became the government. One of their platforms was reform of the civil service. They quickly created a Public Service Commission, responsible to Parliament, which was responsible for appointment, classification, and efficiency within the state sector. Internal Affairs was forced to develop new systems for managing staff and keeping records. Cleaning and messenger services within government were centralised under Internal Affairs control. In 1916 the department produced its first annual report, which can be found in AJHR 1916 H-22.

World War One resulted in a substantial increase in work for the department, with new functions such as maintenance of conscription registers, film censorship, increased demand for lotteries, passports, and a need for extra issues of the New Zealand Gazette. After the war Internal Affairs supervised the production of the official war histories.

However, Internal Affairs also lost a number of important functions during this period. For instance, in 1926 responsibility for external affairs moved to the Prime Minister’s Department. The economic depression of 1929-1935 also led to widespread retrenchment in the civil service. As part of this retrenchment the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages and the Chief Electoral Office became part of the Department of Justice from 1931. The only area of Internal Affairs work which seems to have expanded in this period was deer culling, which was used as relief work.

1935-1949: The First Labour Government

The change of government in 1935 corresponded with the appointment of a new secretary of Internal Affairs, Joseph Heenan. He developed a close relationship with the new government that resulted in the acquisition of a number of new functions. These included responsibility for the New Zealand centennial celebrations in 1940. The commemorations included the completion of Parliament buildings, the erection of local memorials, the commissioning of various historical surveys, many local celebrations and a major exhibition in Wellington. A centennial branch was created to co-ordinate all this activity. Another new role was mandated by the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, 1937. The department became responsible for providing physical training to armed forces recruits. After World War Two this role expanded until community welfare officers were active over most of the country.

World War Two resulted in other changes for the department. Aliens Registration, Film Censorship, Fundraising, Citizenship, War Graves and War Memorials functions became more important. After the war the New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas (CORSO) was created to provide assistance to refugees. Internal Affairs provided accommodation and staff for this organisation. A War History Branch was also created as an outgrowth of the centennial work. A war archivist and editor-in-chief of War Histories were appointed. By 1947 this branch employed 40 people, making it one of the largest sections of the organisation.

In 1945 a separate Wildlife Branch was established within the department. This branch was responsible for acclimatisation societies and game fishing, control of noxious animals, and conservation of native animals. In 1956 control of deer and other noxious animals was transferred to the Forest Service. Until 1987, when it was transferred to the Department of Conservation, the Wildlife Branch was one of the largest and highest profile parts of Internal Affairs.

In the immediate post-war period there were several other changes to the structure of the department. The Literary and Cultural Funds were created to distribute ‘Art Union’ Lottery profits. The National Archives was established within the department. In 1946 the Local Government Commission was established to oversee reform of local government in New Zealand. In 1949, as part of the response to the Ballantynes and Seacliff fires, the Fire Services Act established central control over local fire brigades through a Fire Services Council.

1949-1984: A Home for ‘Waifs and Strays’

The Department of Internal Affairs had become the natural home for government functions which did not merit the creation of a separate department. In 1952 the department had 24 sections handling functions ranging from Messenger and Cleaning Services to Ministerial Private Secretaries, Citizenship to Censorship and Registration of Films.

The change of government in 1949 led to some reordering of the department’s priorities. The Physical Welfare Branch reduced in size and activity, eventually becoming known as the Youth Services Branch. From the late 1970s a Community Development programme developed out of this section to work with ‘at risk youth’. During this period the department also lost control of the Alexander Turnbull library and of the registration of Land Agents.

However, other functions expanded or were acquired. In 1954 the Historic Places Trust was created to preserve significant historic sites and buildings. In 1957 The National Archives became a branch of Internal Affairs. In 1962 the Ministry of Civil Defence was established, and the department acquired responsibility for the Chatham Islands from Island Territories. In the same year the Queen Elizabeth the Second Arts Council was created.

The third Labour government elected in 1972 made a number of changes to the structure and functions of Internal Affairs. In 1973 the Council for Recreation and Sport was formed. It existed for 14 years before being replaced by the Hillary Commission. The Fire Service and Local Government were reformed at the same time. The same year saw the creation of the Author’s Fund to reimburse authors for library use of their books.

1984-2002: Privatisation and Restructuring

The fourth Labour government undertook extensive reforms throughout the public service. Internal Affairs cleaning services were corporatised as Quality Services Enterprises and then sold. The department lost the Wildlife Service and Historic Places Trust to the Department of Conservation. The Council for Recreation and Sport was replaced by the Hillary Commission. A Lotteries Commission was established. Local Government was rationalised and reorganised. There was an increase in the amount of money available from Lottery profits and other sources for the Arts, Sport, and community projects.

In 1987, the Youth and Community Development Division of Internal Affairs was charged with servicing the newly created portfolio of Minister of Youth Affairs. The Youth Affairs Establishment Unit was then set up in June 1988 to investigate the creation of a stand-alone youth Ministry (which occurred in 1989). In 1989 the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) was transferred from the Department of Social Welfare to Internal Affairs. In 1991 a separate Ministry of Cultural Affairs was created, which assumed responsibility for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Film Commission, the Film Archive, and the Queen Elizabeth the Second Arts Council. Internal Affairs was also responsible for the 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. In 1992 the regional offices of the department were restructured into 15 Link Centres, sometimes shared with other departments.

In 1995 Births, Deaths, and Marriages returned to the control of Internal Affairs. The same year saw the disestablishment of the Constitutional Branch. Its functions were split between the Heritage Property unit and the Ceremonials and Visits Branch of the Department. At this time the major functions of the Department included the New Zealand Gazette, the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, the Historical Branch, Local Government and Community Services (which included the Link Centre Information Service), Executive Government Support (which included the Translation Service, V.I.P. Transport and Ministerial Services), Corporate Services, Documents of National Identity (which included Passports, Citizenship and Births, Deaths and Marriages), Gaming Regulation, Lottery Grants, and the National Archives.

In 2000 Internal Affairs underwent another restructuring. The Archives, Culture and Heritage Reform Act 2000 transferred the functions relating to the management of government archives, known as the National Archives of New Zealand, from the Department of Internal Affairs Heritage Group to Archives New Zealand. Archives New Zealand became a government department in its own right on 1 October 2000. This Act also transferred a variety of functions to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, including the Historical Branch, the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and the Heritage Operations Unit.

From November 2013 the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management changed its reporting line from the Department of Internal Affairs to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Authors Notes: (continued)

Carillon Records:

A small group of records relating to the War Memorial Carillon was transferred in 1995.  The Carillon was dedicated in 1932 and with the later War Memorial, came under the direction of the National Art Gallery and Museum Trustees Board. [ABVQ]  Internal Affairs was represented on this Board, initially by the Minister and Under - Secretary, and later by the Secretary.  In the 1980s some responsibilities passed to the Arts Branch of Internal Affairs, and later to Constitutional Branch.  Timothy Hurd was appointed National Carillonist in 1984, on contract to Internal Affairs.  In 1992 legislation separated the War Memorial and Carillon from the now independent Museum of New Zealand, and created an Advisory Council reporting to Internal Affairs.

• Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Act 1965
• Time Act 1974
• Civil Defence Act 1983
• Town and Country Planning Act 1977
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Local Legislation Acts 1926-1992
Rating Powers Act 1988
Bylaws Regulations 1968
Rates Rebate Act 1973
Official Appointments and Documents Act 1919
Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977
Electoral Act 1893
Fire Service Act 1975
New Zealand Counties Association Act 1949
Royal Titles Act 1974
Passport (Fees) Regulations 1996
New Zealand Constitution Act (UK) 1852
Casino Control (Certificates of Approval and Warrants) Regulations 1994
Fire Engineers' Qualification Notice 1983
Public Bodies Meetings Act 1962
Fire Services Act 1949
Local Government Commission Act 1946
Gaming and Lotteries (Problem Gambling Levy) Regulations 1998
Registration of Electors Act 1879
Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977
Rates Rebate Order 1982
Local Government Act 1974
Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981
Commonwealth Games Symbol Protection Act 1974
Naturalisation Regulations 1929
Municipal Insurance Empowering Order 1973
Seal of New Zealand Act 1977
Archives, Culture and Heritage Reform Act 2000
Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987
Gaming and Lotteries Prizes Notice 1993
Hydatids Eradication Act 1959
Architects Act 1963
Local Government (Rating) Act 2002
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Prescribed Information and Forms) Regulations 1995
Municipal Corporations Act 1956
Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995
Electoral Act 1993
Fire Service Levy Order 1993
Local Government (Validation of Reappointments) Act 2000
Dog Control (Perscribed Forms) Regulations 1996
Racing Act 1971
Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Order 1997
Commercial Use of Royal Photographs Rules 1962
Royal Warrant (1995) (Queen's Fire Service Medal)
Town Boards Act 1908
Commercial Use of Royal Photographs Rules 1959
Electoral Act 1902
Public Bodies Leases Act 1969
Casino Control Act 1990
Housie Regulations 1989
Local Government (Rodney District Council) Amendment Act 2000
Local Authority Reorganisation (Property Transfers) Act 1990
Local Governmant (Local Authorities Salaries and Allowances) Determination 2000
New Zealand Flag Notice 1986
Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982
Royal Instructions to Governor Hobson 1839
Libraries and Mechanics Institute Act 1908
Chatham Islands Council Act 1995
Local Governmant (Petroleum Tax Exemption) Order 1980
Local Government Act 1953
Land Drainage Act 1908
Gaming and Lotteries (Licensed Promoters) Regulations 1978
Gaming and Lotteries (Licence Fees) Regulations 1992
Litter Act 1979
Rates Rebate (Witnessing of Declarations) Notice 1977
Hydatids Act 1959
Commercial Use of Royal Photographs Rules 1955
Forest and Rural Fires Regulations 1979
Counties Act 1876
Rural Fire Districts Regulations 1980
Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908
Dog Registration Act 1996
River Boards Act 1908
Building Act 1991
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Fees) Regulations 1995
Hydatids Act 1968
New Zealand Fire Brigades Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1976) (Royal Warrant)
Public Bodies Contracts Act 1959
ANZAC Day Act 1962
Bylaws Act 1910
Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Order 1971
Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act 1968
Citizenship Regulations 1978
Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 1992
Rating Regulations 1968
Local Elections and Polls Act 1953
Lake Taupo Regulations 1976
Dog Control Act 1996
Queens Fire Service Medal Regulations 1955
Rating (Fees) Regulations 1997
Rating Act 1925
Local Government Reform (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990
Municipal Insurance Act 1960
Casino Control (Applications and Hours) Regulations 1991
Counties Insurance Empowering Order 1973
Impounding Act 1955
Local Authorities (Petroleum Tax) Regulations 1970
Civil Defence Act 1962
Rural Fire Fighting Fund Regulations 1992
Passports Act 1992
Waitangi Day Act 1976
Town and Country Planning Act 1953
Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993
Community Trusts Act 1999
Rates Rebate Order 1990
Building Regulations 1992
Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act 1956
Architects Regulations 1964
Local Governmant (Watercare Services Limited) Order 1999
Impounding Regulations 1981
Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1974
Local Elections and Polls Act 1976
Counties Insurance Empowering Act 1941
Seal of New Zealand Proclamation 1977
Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Registration of Electors Act 1858
Citizenship Act 1977
Local Authorities (Petroleum Tax Refund) Regulations 1971
Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 1992