Start with yourself and the whakapapa you already know, then speak with as many whānau as you can and write down dates of births, marriages, deaths, baptisms and places.
Often whānau can provide:
- whakapapa charts
- personal records
- family reunion books
- christening records
- military records
- family letters
- family bibles
- Māori land schedules
- photographs of tūpuna ancestors
- interesting stories.
Record your research
Download and print the Ko tōku whānau workbook to start recording your whakapapa research.
Keep note of references and sources, and include dates: that way you can always go back and make further enquiries.