The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), had received requests from New Zealanders attending their functions to form a society in New Zealand to cater for their local interests. An email was sent to known contacts of the society living in New Zealand in 2019 asking if there was any interest in forming a branch society in New Zealand? There were numerous respondents from around the country who expressed an interest and they agreed to meet to discuss the possibility of opening a branch in New Zealand. Initial meetings were held, one in Wellington, at the home of one of the interested participants and later at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand. The other one was in Auckland at the Raye Freedman library. The early meetings were combined sessions held via Skype which enabled other interested members living in other parts of the country to also participate. Membership meetings were initially held quarterly and this was later changed to bimonthly in late 2020. An Interim working committee was formed and met in September 2019 to begin the process of forming the society. Interim officers were appointed for the positions of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson Wellington, and Deputy Chairperson Auckland as well as Secretary and Treasurer. The society was officially voted into existence at a general meeting of the members in February 2020 and in March 2020 the Interim members of the Executive Committee were officially appointed to hold their various officeholder positions. An application was made to the IAJGS in early 2020 for the New Zealand society to be officially adopted as a member of the International Association and this was formally accepted.