Te Pātaka Mātāpuna Research Library
Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Pātaka Mātāpuna o Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
Established in 1867 as part of the Auckland Institute, the Auckland War Memorial Museum Research Library provides access to nationally significant Documentary Heritage collections and supports Museum-related research enquiries.
The Research Library is open Tuesday to Thursday, 10am–3pm.
The Research Library is located on Level 2 and is best accessed via the Museum’s Southern Entrance.
Members of the public are welcome to visit the Research Library and browse the Reading Room collection of publications during opening hours.
Access to Documentary Heritage material held outside of the Reading Room collection is by appointment only. Please note we request at least one week’s notice ahead of your visit to ensure collection material can be prepared in advance.
Researchers are encouraged to search Collections Online and include relevant record links or reference numbers when submitting a booking request.
To book an appointment, please complete the Book a Research Library Visit form.
The Documentary Heritage collection documents the histories of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, including military history, natural sciences, social and cultural history, and the Museum’s institutional archive.
The collection includes books, archives, manuscripts, photographs, paintings and drawings, maps and plans, ephemera, and other original material. The collections are widely used for research relating to whakapapa, genealogy, and family history.
Areas of collecting strength include material relating to Auckland and the wider Auckland Province, te ao Māori, Pacific histories and languages, military history, photography, business and organisational archives, and rare books and serials. The collection includes documentary heritage recognised through the UNESCO Memory of the World register.
Documentary Heritage collection records are accessible through Collections Online.
The Research Library team manages enquiries relating to Auckland War Memorial Museum collections and supports access to Documentary Heritage material, the Research Library (Te Pātaka Mātāpuna), and Pou Maumahara Memorial Discovery Centre.
The team supports researchers, staff, students, and members of the public by coordinating access to collections and responding to Museum-related research enquiries.
We aim to respond to enquiries within fifteen working days.
The Research Library is an authorised entity under the Marrakesh Treaty and supports accessible access to collections and services for people who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled. Please contact us for further information.
Te Pātaka Mātāpuna Research Library
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
The Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland
Phone: +64 9 309 0443