Family History Expo

Christchurch Family History Expo - Friday 18 to Sunday 20 August 2023

The Christchurch Family History Expo took place on Friday 18 to Sunday 20 August 2023. Christchurch City Libraries hosted three days of family history fun at Tūranga.

The Christchurch Family History Expo will return in 2025.

Family Group, 1910s. Entry by Glyn Williams in the 2014 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt. No known copyright. CCL-PH14-095

Pauline Cotter Family History Interview

Pauline Cotter, Deputy Mayor speaks on Adventures and Adversities: The Cotter Family Story, Christchurch Family History Expo 2023.

2023 Programme

Printable programme schedule [316KB PDF]

Friday 18 August (all workshops free but bookings required)

Drop-in session for researchers with Tuakiri Family History Librarians, ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Finding Your Family: first steps on your Family History journey, 9.30am to 10.20am (Fiona Lees)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

First steps or refresher on using computer tools for your Family History journey

Bookings required - Book online


DNA Explorer, 10.30am to 11.20am  (Fiona Brooker) FULLY BOOKED

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

You’ve got your DNA results; now it’s time to explore and find out how to make the most of your test results

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


Trove: An Australian and Beyond Genealogical Resource, 11.30am to 12.15pm (Helen Smith)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

The Trove site is not just newspapers. Learn how to search and explore Trove to direct and organise your research.

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED

 


LUNCH BREAK - Time to check out the Exhibition Hall in Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1


New Initiatives from the NZ Society of Genealogists, 1pm to 1.50pm (Natasha Wells)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

Get the latest update on what’s happening with the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.

Bookings required - Book online


Picture This? Ideas and Advice on what to do with old slides and photos, 2pm to 2.50pm (Bill Parks) FULLY BOOKED

Taiwhanga Rorohiko / Computer Labs, Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4

Find better ways to manage your family slides and photos.

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


TEA BREAK


Introduction to caring for your family records, 3.15pm to 4.15pm (Tuakiri Archivists) FULLY BOOKED

Facilitation Space, Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4

A beginner’s workshop looking at caring for family records and documents at home.

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


How FamilySearch.org can help with your genealogical research, 4.15pm to 4.50pm (Valerie Anderson)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

Like to start researching your family tree? Have you started, but now are stuck? Try FamilySearch.org

Bookings required - Book online

Friday 18 August (all workshops free but bookings required)

Drop-in session for researchers with Tuakiri Family History Librarians, ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Finding Your Family: first steps on your Family History journey, 9.30am to 10.20am (Fiona Lees)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

First steps or refresher on using computer tools for your Family History journey

Bookings required - Book online


DNA Explorer, 10.30am to 11.20am  (Fiona Brooker) FULLY BOOKED

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

You’ve got your DNA results; now it’s time to explore and find out how to make the most of your test results

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


Trove: An Australian and Beyond Genealogical Resource, 11.30am to 12.15pm (Helen Smith)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

The Trove site is not just newspapers. Learn how to search and explore Trove to direct and organise your research.

Bookings required - Book online

 


LUNCH BREAK - Time to check out the Exhibition Hall in Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1


New Initiatives from the NZ Society of Genealogists, 1pm to 1.50pm (Natasha Wells)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

Get the latest update on what’s happening with the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.

Bookings required - Book online


Picture This? Ideas and Advice on what to do with old slides and photos, 2pm to 2.50pm (Bill Parks) FULLY BOOKED

Taiwhanga Rorohiko / Computer Labs, Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4

Find better ways to manage your family slides and photos.

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


TEA BREAK


Introduction to caring for your family records, 3.15pm to 4.15pm (Tuakiri Archivists) FULLY BOOKED

Facilitation Space, Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4

A beginner’s workshop looking at caring for family records and documents at home.

Bookings required - FULLY BOOKED


How FamilySearch.org can help with your genealogical research, 4.15pm to 4.50pm (Valerie Anderson)

Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1

Like to start researching your family tree? Have you started, but now are stuck? Try FamilySearch.org

Bookings required - Book online

Saturday 19 August (Speaker sessions free but bookings required)

Drop-in session for researchers with Tuakiri Family History Librarians, ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Adventures and Adversities: the Cotter Family Story, 10.15am to 11.30am (Liz Grant with Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter)

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

A conversation with special guest, Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter looking at the early adventures of the Cotter Family in New Zealand.

Bookings required - Book online


Using Ancestry.com and an Introduction to AncestryDNA, 11.30am to 12.20pm (Jason Reeve)

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

Join Jason Reeve (Ancestry.com’s Content Acquisition Manager for Australia and New Zealand), as he explains Ancestry and AncestryDNA tests.

Bookings required - Book online


LUNCH BREAK - Time to check out the Exhibition Hall in Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1


Family Tree Maker Overview, 1pm to 2pm (Duff Wilson)

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

This comprehensive presentation will go over 1) How to get started with Family Tree Maker, 2) What’s new, especially TreeVault cloud services and 3) What’s coming, including some new innovative multimedia capabilities.

Bookings required - Book online


Nobblers, Cracksmen, Coiners and More: Researching Criminals in England, 2pm to 2.50pm (Helen Smith)

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

Learn more about the crimes, the courts and the convicts, and how your ancestor may have been punished for their criminal activities.

Bookings required - Book online


TEA BREAK


How to start your Family History Research or “Is Richard Nixon really my 9th Cousin?”, 3pm to 3.50pm (Katherine Moody) 

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

Finding your way around family trees and exposing their roots.

Bookings required - Book online


Researching your Scottish Family, 4pm to 4.50pm (Fiona Brooker)

Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground floor

Have you traced your family back to Scotland? Explore the use of the ScotlandsPeople website to help us trace those Scottish ancestors.

Bookings required - Book online

Sunday 20 August (Family Fun Day)

Bring along the whole family for a day exploring the Tuakiri | Identity Floor Level Two and taking those first steps in uncovering your Family History.

Take a Look! Displays showing period costumes and activities. ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Have your photo taken with the “boys” and “girls” on the photo boards.


Try your luck! Pick up a scavenger hunt and have a go! ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Surviving Colonial Christchurch – Tuna & Ladders boardgame ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

What could our Ancestors take on board ship? – see our display ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Dress up as one of your ancestors (win a spot prize) ALL DAY

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Drop-in session for kids to get started on family history research, 10am to 12noon

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Badge-making using maps and photos, 10.30am to 11.30am

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Badge-making using maps and photos, 2pm to 3pm

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

Drop-in session for kids to get started on family history research, 2pm to 4pm

Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2

 

Sponsors

The Expo was supported by Christchurch City Libraries, Ancestry, Family Tree Maker and The New Zealand Society of Genealogists.

         

Thank you to those who have donated raffle prizes:

Speakers

Jason Reeve. As Head of Content & Community for Ancestry.com in Australia and New Zealand, Jason is a passionate advocate for all things to do with history. Joining back in 2016, he continues to work closely with archives, registry offices, genealogical societies and community organisations to uncover new record collections, assist archival digitisation efforts and support family history organisations. When he's not trawling through archives, Jason speaks at events and conferences as well as presenting on radio, television and social media platforms.


Helen Smith is a speaker, DNA specialist, researcher, and author with a strong interest in Australian, English, medical and social history.  has been researching since 1986: England, Ireland, Wales & Australia with various immigration trails to the USA, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. She has registered the surname Quested with the Guild of One Name Studies and collects them anywhere, anytime. She is a regular speaker at genealogy events in Australia, internationally in New Zealand, England, Canada, the USA, on many Unlock the Past Cruises and has regularly presented for Legacy Family Webinars. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.


Duff Wilson, Executive Director of Family Tree Maker, is considered by many as the father of modern Family Tree Maker having been involved in the design of every edition since 2004. He has two decades of software design and development experience and has earned national awards for his work. Duff is an avid genealogist and works closely with countless genealogists, ranging from novice to expert.


Valerie Anderson is director of Christchurch Family Search Centre, a branch of the largest Family History Library network in existence, based in Utah, USA. She has been researching her own tree for 35 years and is also professionally library trained, so brings experience, passion and skills to help others grow their family trees.


Fiona Brooker has served as both President and Treasurer of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) and convened the 2008 and 2018 national conferences. She holds a Higher Certificate in Genealogy from the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and began Memories in Time to help others trace their family history. She is a co-founder of Talking Family History and a member of the Christchurch Family History organising group.


Liz Grant is a freelance writer with a background in broadcasting. The author of four books of non-fiction, including Migrant Journeys: New Zealand taxi drivers tell their stories, co-written with friend and fellow writer Adrienne Jansen. Liz headed the writing team at Te Papa before returning to Lyttelton in 2011. She is a regular host at WORD events.


Fiona Lees, a first-generation Kiwi, has been researching her Scottish family history and their movements for many years. She is passionate about genealogy education and the need to document information for the next generations who may become interested. Fiona is currently Convenor of the Canterbury Genealogy Society.


Natasha Wells has been researching her family history for over30 years and it very much is an obsession.  She constantly gets ideas for a new research line of enquiry. Her more recent research focus has been 18th century England and Scotland as well as adding further context to her family history narrative.


Katherine Moody graduated from University College London with an MA in Museum Studies and worked for the Department of Research and Information Services at the RAF Museum, and the respective Department of Printed Books at the National Army Museum and Imperial War Museum. After working briefly at the Macmillan Brown Library and Canterbury Museum she now works at Christchurch City Libraries.


Rosemary O'Neil and Amy Ryan are the Archivists at Christchurch City Libraries and have extensive experience in applying conservation practices to family papers held in the Christchurch City Libraries Archive.


Bill Parks is the Media Studio Specialist at Christchurch City Libraries and has previously delivered workshops on working with images to library customers.

Venue Information and Exhibition Space

The Christchurch Family History Expo Exhibition took place in Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1. Information stands and displays included booths for:

  • Ancestry
  • Canterbury Genealogy
  • Christchurch City Libraries
  • CCC Archives
  • FamilySearch
  • Family Search Centre
  • Family History Society of New Zealand
  • Family Tree Maker
  • Kippenberger Research Library
  • Memories in Time
  • NZ Society of Genealogists

Talks were held in:

Workshops were held in:

Back to Top