Library

The Society has a growing library of books, magazines and audio tapes, that are available to members. A large number of the books and tapes are available for postal borrowing within New Zealand. A reference library is available for research at some meetings and by members at other times by arrangement.
 

Meetings

Meetings are held periodically at which the Society's library and other resources will be available. Some of these meetings will also have a guest speaker. The meetings are held in Auckland.

OPEN DAY for our Facebook members.

June 24th Saturday 10.00am Panmure Library Pilkington Rd. 

10am till 11am – Research. 

11.15am Annual General Meeting Noon Pot Luck Lunch. Please bring a plate. Tea and coffee provided.

1pm Guest Speaker (To be arranged)

2.00 to 3.00pm Research Please contact Garth if you are attending.

The Fencible Bugle.

Six bi-monthly magazines are issued to members, which contain Fencible related articles, details of meetings and new members interests.

January - February 2023

• Membership Information & Editor p 50 
• Arrival of the Panmure Fencibles p 51 
• Elizabeth O’Neill / Hynes / Cullen p 53 
• Military Records p 54 
• Monsignor Walter McDonald p 59 
• Meetings p 60

March - April 2023

• Membership Information & Editor p 62 
• Siamese Cottages p 63 Barnard/Bernard (Barny) TYMOND p 65 
• The Maori Militia Settlement, Mangere p 67 
• John HOOP - Part 1 p 70 
• Notice of The NZ Fencible Society Inc AGM p 72 
• Fencible Meeting Dates for 2023 p 72 

Distribution is by PDF attached to an email

Members joining during the year will receive back copies of the current Volume 

Back copies of the Fencible Bugle - $5 per volume (year) plus $2 postage

Name and subject indexes to the Fencible Bugle - $1 per volume plus $2 postage 

The Royal New Zealand Fencibles 1847-1852.

Due to limited supply the book is now only available to paid up members of the Society.  Please email the Society at the address below for the application form to be sent to you to complete.

Published in 1997 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Fencibles to New Zealand.

The book is comprised of two sections. Part one records the events that gave rise to their formation, the terms and establishment of the corps and the history and development of the Fencible villages: Part two contains brief biographies in essay form of the Fencible men and their families. Included is a large number of photographs, documents, maps and pictures.

It is A4 in size, 256 pages, soft cover at a cost of $30 including packaging and courier within NZ. Overseas prices on application.  There are only 2 copies of the book avaiable.  Both are slightly damaged.  One has a small amount of damage where 2 pages of the index were joined together.  The other has a small amount of damage to the cover.

The book can be obtained by emailing us for bank account details for funds transfer.   admin@nzfenciblesociety.org.nz 

The Royal New Zealand Fencibles were a troop of retired soldiers who enlisted from England and Ireland, embarking upon their journey to New Zealand at Governor Grey’s request.  Civil unrest in this fledgling country provoked Governor Grey and Governor Fitzroy to call for “men in receipt of pensions... of good character... under 48 years of age, with a minimum of 15 years service”, during the years 1847-1852.  The candidates approved were enrolled to serve in our country for seven years, and travelled with their families on one of the ten Fencible ships.

This book records their arrival in New Zealand and the establishment of the four Auckland based villages designed for the Royal N.Z. Fencibles – Onehunga, Howick, Panmure and Otahuhu.  A number of interesting photographs, documents, maps and pictures are included.  The final section of the book compiles a collection of dossiers researched and donated by members of the NZ Fencible Society.  Included are biographies of the Fencibles, their wives and families.

This book has been written to record and preserve the history of the ‘Royal N.Z. Fencible Corps’ for future researchers, historians and genealogists.