Petone Settlers Museum

Welcome to the Petone Settlers Museum Passenger Database

This database allows the user to access primary and secondary source data relating to arrivals from the United Kingdom, parts of Europe and Australia to Wellington (Wellington only and Wellington as first port of call) between 1839-1897.

There are over one thousand vessel/voyages held within the database. The system not only includes information about each voyage, including shipping lists.

The database also includes over 600 supplied family history files, containing photographs of individuals or families that were physically on board the vessel at the time of arrival in Wellington.
NOTE : Photographs are not included in this version.

The original form of this database was developed in 1990 and has been available for use by the public at the Petone Settlers Museum since 1994. The system was updated to allow improved access in 2006 thanks to the support of the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and Hutt City Council.

Currently there are four major emigration periods for which data may be accessed. These are
(i) The New Zealand Company Period (1839-1850)
(ii) The Provincial Government [Wellington] Period (1853-1870)
(iii) Vogel Government Period (1871-1888)
(iv) Social Security Period (1886-1910 - records currently finish at 1897).