🔍 Archway-style Collections Search

Immigration played an important part in New Zealand history. A majority of New Zealanders have either migrated to this country or are the descendants of peoples who have migrated in the past. Since the passing of the Immigration and Public Work Act 1871 various systems of assisted immigration were operated by the Immigration Department established in the same year. Previously immigration had been the responsibility of the Provincial Governments who administered independently organised schemes.

Because of the historic relationship between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, British were the main immigrant source, especially in early stages, and they didn't need to go through application/approval procedures before coming here, this situation continued up to c.1974. The focus was therefore on promoting and encouraging immigrants from UK, and helping them to settle in NZ. The Labour Department took over the administration of the immigration functions from the Immigration Department from 1931, since then it has been involved in a number of government assisted immigration schemes.

Immigration from countries other than UK fell outside the jurisdiction of the Department of Labour. The Immigration Restriction Act 1908 and subsequent Amendment Acts were administered by the Department of Customs. Immigration application case files were systematically collected since this period. Immigrants from non British countries needed to obtain a permit as a permanent resident from the Minister of Customs up to 1951 when the responsibility for the administration of the Immigration Restriction Act and subsequent Amendment Acts passed to the Labour and Employment Department.

Immigration case files were mainly approved applications for permanent entry and permanent residence (including refugees),  and those refused applications with a compliance order issued or with an appeal filed. These files didn't contain applications for temporary entry and returning resident visas.

The permanent residence application files consisted of an application form and supporting documents, plus correspondence between the applicants or their agents. Supporting documents can include qualifications, references, letters of support, documents of identity, or evidence of a relationship, depending on the category of application.

W5585 contained applications between c.1947-c.1973, but some supporting documents may be much earlier than this period, for instance, applicants may provide their first entry documents, or their relatives' immigration status documents. The lists for immigration case files were generated from the database of Immigration Services, which had more information than that on corresponding file covers and also there were some discrepancies between the list and files.