Heather Yvonne McLean (née Milne) (1937-2019) QSM was a genealogist and researcher who was born in Tauranga and lived here for most of her life. For almost 50 years her interests led her to document the headstones in the six council cemeteries in Tauranga and death notices and obituaries from the Bay of Plenty Times and the New Zealand Herald, as well as helping people research their family history. She received the Tauranga Historical Society’s Heritage Award in recognition of her exceptional contribution in the discovery and transmission of genealogical and historical information for Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region and was also awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for her services to genealogy and historical research.
Heather left a bequest to Tauranga City Libraries. This has been used to purchase a selection of family history titles for the library’s collection, 8 databases which are available for customers to use on the Research PCs in He Puna Wānanga - Heritage & Research (at He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road) and assist the library in its project to digitise 67 volumes of the Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society published between 1955 and 1982.
The following titles were purchased for the library’s collection (you will find most of these in He Puna Wānanga - Heritage & Research at He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road):
- A Beginner's Guide to Online Genealogy: Learn How to Trace Your Family History and Discover Your Roots
- Ancient Dynasties: The Families that Ruled the Classical World, circa 1000 BC to AD 750
- Engaging the Next Generation: A Guide for Genealogy Societies and Libraries
- Family History Digital Libraries
- Family Tree Factbook: Key genealogy facts and strategies for the busy researcher
- Finding Your Scottish Ancestors: Techniques for Solving Genealogy Problems
- Genealogy 101: Ten Lessons I Wish I Had Known When I Began Researching My Family History
- Genealogy Tip of the Day
- Great British Family Names and Their History: What's in a Name?
- How to Find Your Family History in U. 8. Church Records: A Genealogist’s Guide: With Specific Resources for Major Christian Denominations before 1900
- Micro-historian's Guide to Research, Evidence, & Conclusions, The: Step-by-Step Research Planning and Execution for Historians, Genealogists, Journalists, Museum Professionals, Specialty Researchers, & Local History Enthusiasts
- Practical Genealogy: 50 Simple Steps to Research Your Diverse Family History
- Professional Genealogy. a Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians
- Publish a Photo Book: A Step-By-Step Guide for Transforming Your Genealogical Research into a Stunning Family Heirloom
- Same Old Families: A Contribution to the Genealogical History of Scotland with an Appendix of Illustrative Documents
- Tartans Map of Scotland
- The Adoptee's Guide to DNA Testing: How to Use Genetic Genealogy to Discover Your Long—Lost Family
- The DNA Guide for Adoptees: How to use genealogy and genetics to uncover your roots, connect with your biological family, and better understand your medical history
- The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-True Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors
- The Family Tree Scandinavian Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Ancestors in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark
- The Family Tree Scottish Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Ancestors in Scotland
- The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy
- Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide for Family Historians
- Tracing Your Female Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians
- Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Somme
- Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians - Second Edition
- Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors
- Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians
- World War] Genealogy Research Guide: Tracing American Military and Non-Combatant Ancestors
The 8 databases which are available for customers to use on the Research PCs in He Puna Wānanga - Heritage & Research at He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road:
- Index of Death Notices New Zealand Herald (2019)
- Oamaru Cemeteries - Headstone Transcriptions (2013)
- Indexes and Extracts of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1851-1891, as Published in the Lyttelton Times (2012)
- The Naval Chronology of Great Britain 1803 - 1816 (2012)
- Passenger Lists - Victoria, Australia Outwards to New Zealand 1852-1923 (2009)
- A Return of Freeholders of NZ October 1882 (2010)
- New Zealand Cemetery Records: Waikato, King Country and Taupo (2012)
- New Zealand Land Transactions (2016)