Archives Act 1957

The Archives Act 1957 of New Zealand consolidated the law relating to public recordkeeping.

Overview

The Archives Act 1957 was a piece of legislation in New Zealand that established the framework for the custody and preservation of public archives including:

Establishment of National Archives: The Act created the National Archives within the Department of Internal Affairs and appointed a Chief Archivist to oversee the archives.
Custody and Preservation: It mandated the deposit of public archives in the National Archives and required that public records not be destroyed or disposed of without the Chief Archivist's authoritsation.
Public Access: The Act affirmed public access to the National Archives, ensuring that the public could view historical records.
Disposal of Records: The Chief Archivist had the power to approve the disposal of official records and could require the transfer of records to the National Archives after 25 years.

The Archives Act 1957 was eventually replaced by the Public Records Act 2005, which expanded the role of Archives New Zealand and addressed the management of digital records.