The collection of more than 20,000 images, dating from the late 19th century to the present day, is held in the Drawings and Prints section and available through Turnbull Library Pictures or Timeframes . The voices of ordinary New Zealanders are captured in a unique way through the work of the Oral History Centre. With more than 12,000 hours of spoken recording on discs, reels and cassette tape, the Alexander Turnbull Library has the most extensive collection of oral history recordings in the country. The recordings cover most aspects of life in New Zealand, ranging from politics to nursing, postal workers to pop musicians, teachers to technicians, and homemakers to foreign policy makers. The Oral History Centre also holds collections of M ori oral history recordings.
Access is subject to any conditions specified by people who have been interviewed or by donors.
Original recordings cannot be used, but listening copies can be made within 24 hours, if required.