Published: 3 August 2026
Lower Hutt residents can explore their roots through talks, workshops and research sessions across the city during Family History Month this August.
Hutt City Council is offering a varied programme at the Heritage Centre at the Walter Nash Centre, War Memorial Library and Neighbourhood Hubs, helping people uncover ancestors, understand local stories and preserve family memories.
You can learn how DNA tests may help find lost ancestors, explore records through the databases the Hubs offer for free: ancestry.com, find my past and the britisnewspaperarchive.com, and discover how AI can support family history research.
Sessions will also help people trace family connections beyond Aotearoa, explore New Zealand genealogy databases learn how to examine historical records and check whether sources are reliable.
Council’s Neighbourhood Hubs & Library Services Family History Specialist Tricia Meehan says family history can reveal much more than names and dates.
“It helps us understand where we come from, the journeys our families have taken and how our whānau stories connect with Lower Hutt and the wider world.”
“There is something for people beginning their research through to experienced researchers trying to solve a long-standing family mystery.”
The programme also features speakers who will talk about Lower Hutt history within the NZ context – Redcoat colonial soldiers in NZ and the NZ Remembrance Army. People can hear stories connected to Taitā Cemetery, and explore local links during the History Unlocked Research and Discovery Day
Creative sessions will show people how to turn treasured photos, documents and memories into family history scrapbook pages that can be shared with future generations.
People can also bring family treasures to a preservation session for expert advice on caring for photos, documents and keepsakes.
Tricia Meehan says every family has stories worth keeping and celebrating.
“Sharing and preserving these stories keeps memories alive, strengthens connections between generations and adds to the rich history of our city.”
Full Family History Month event details are available here
Other exciting events happening across Lower Hutt this August can be found here