Economics and politics
Find information on the government, economy, law, crime, and politics.
Featured Resource
BWB Critical Issues Collection
A deep analysis of New Zealand's big issues, social, environmental and political.
Politics
Politics
Politics blog posts
Writing Power: Pip Adam & Jared Davidson: WORD Chch 2024
Troy looks forward to some great discussion about two different writers discuss how their political beliefs and actions inform their writing
Experts to deliver the ‘real deal’ before the election
If you are looking for the “real oil” ahead of the general election come to our Election Special sessions in August and September.
Unite under one cathedral, says former Attorney-General
Chris Finlayson has some unorthodox reckons about Christchurch's cathedrals in conversation with Kim Hill at WORD Christchurch 2022.
Elections and census
Elections
Local body elections
Every three years, the people of Christchurch get to vote for a Mayor, councillors and community board members. The next election is in 2025
New Zealand General Election
Find out about the New Zealand General Election, where to view electoral rolls, and more.
New Zealand Census
Find census information for New Zealand and around the world
Elections
Government and legal resources
More government and legal resources
Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi
An agreement made between Māori and the British Crown in 1840, it is New Zealand’s founding document. Read our backgrounder to the Treaty.
New Zealand Gazette Archive
Copies of issues of the New Zealand Gazette and related publications from 1841 to the present.
Māori Land Court Minute Books Index (MLCMBI)
The MLCMBI is an index to the volumes of Māori Land Court Minute Books produced by The Māori Land Court — Te Kooti Whenua Māori.
The Treaty of Waitangi Collection
A collection of searchable electronic reference books on the Treaty of Waitangi from leading thinkers on this foundational document.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi
An agreement made between Māori and the British Crown in 1840, it is New Zealand’s founding document. Read our backgrounder to the Treaty.
New Zealand Gazette Archive
Copies of issues of the New Zealand Gazette and related publications from 1841 to the present.
Māori Land Court Minute Books Index (MLCMBI)
The MLCMBI is an index to the volumes of Māori Land Court Minute Books produced by The Māori Land Court — Te Kooti Whenua Māori.
The Treaty of Waitangi Collection
A collection of searchable electronic reference books on the Treaty of Waitangi from leading thinkers on this foundational document.
Local government
- Find out about our local government Christchurch City Council
- Digital Heritage Collection - Government and Public Service
- Christchurch City Council Publications
- Ordinances of the Canterbury Province 1853-1875
- Women in the Council Chamber
Public and Military Services
- Digital Heritage Collection - Wars and Conflict
- HMNZS Canterbury
- King Edward Barracks
- Military Personnel
New Zealand Legal Information
Crime
Crime
Canterbury Police Gazette
The Canterbury Police Gazette, 1863-1877, lists stolen items, crimes, arrest warrants, apprehensions, gaol discharges & court trial results.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
Oliver Stone’s 1992 movie JFK used as part of its evidence the front page of The Star of 23 November 1963. Find out more.
Parker-Hulme murder case
Newspaper coverage of the murder trial of Pauline Parker, 16, and Juliet Hulme, 15 in 1954.
New For You - True Crime - January 2025
What's new? Our selectors have hand-picked the top new additions to the collection for espionage, crime, murder, and everything in between.
Crime
Law
Law
Economics
Economics
News
News and other information
Papers Past
Digitised NZ newspapers, periodicals, letters, diaries & parliamentary papers from 1839 to 1945. Coverage incl The Press from 1861 to 1989.
The Economist Historical Archive, 1843-2020
The Economist archive presents the worlds political and business news, every weekly issue between 1843 and 2020 — from cover to cover.
NewsBank - Access New Zealand
The largest online collection of national, regional, rural, and local news sources from across the North and South Islands.
The Financial Times Historical Archive 1888-2016
Access the searchable digital archive of the world’s most authoritative daily business newspaper, from 1888 to 2016.
