The new Guide to the Western Pacific Archives addresses many of the issues researchers have encountered in using this large and complex collection (it has 87 separate finding aids). It is published by Special Collections at the University of Auckland Library.
The Western Pacific Archives (WPA) contains the records of the British colonial administration in the Western Pacific from 1877-1978. Spanning more than 760 linear metres (about 2,800 archive boxes), the WPA was transferred to Special Collections at The University of Auckland Library in 2002. (Library reference: Great Britain. High Commission for Western Pacific islands. Western Pacific archives. MSS & Archives 2003/1. Special Collections, The University of Auckland Library.)
The WPA offers great research opportunities for historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and researchers in many other fields. Recent research and publications which have drawn on the WPA include:
- The history of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony
- The interface between native medical practitioners and the colonial administration
- German migrants in Tonga
- Coastwatching
- The legal status of indigenous peoples
- Numerous family history projects
Access the Guide from the new WPA webpage: http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/about-us/collections/special-collections/general-library/western-pacific-archives.
The Guide is a work in progress, and will be updated in the future with additional background on the administration of the WPHC, and the progress of finding aids and indexing activities. Feedback and suggestions for additional Guide content are welcome.
For further information contact: specialcollections@auckland.ac.nz (Stephen Innes, Special Collections Manager, General Library, Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand, Telephone (649) 373-7599 ext. 88062, Fax (649) 373-7565.
