Tracing NZ family history

My maternal grandmother, Florence Dorothy Wickes (nee Mills), was always known as Dolly or Nana to her grandchildren. As a war bride after World War One, she left Nottingham to make a new life in New Zealand, but England would always be 'home'. For many years she lived near to our family so I knew her well, though I regret not asking her more about her life in Nottingham. She often referred to 'home' and 'the old country' and when I was planning a trip to England, though she loved the place, she said, "the March winds will rip right through you." Dolly was born in 1896, the youngest of five daughters of James and Susannah Mills.  She also had two older and two younger brothers. Along with other family members, she worked in the lace industry. Nottingham was the centre of the lace industry for 100 years and at its height in the 1890s, the industry employed almost 25,000, mostly female workers. At the age of 15 Dolly was a joiner and finisher working...

I only knew one of my grandfathers, my maternal grandfather, Edmund Arthur Laurie Wickes. My paternal grandfather, James Alexander Hemera has been my brick wall for over 30 years and the source of my DNA dilemma. He’s another story. Edmund Arthur Laurie Wickes or Grandad Grandad was the first dead person I ever saw. I remember his death on 23 September 1970 well. He had suffered for many years with breathing difficulties as a result of being gassed in the First World War. In later years he hardly ever left the house as he was almost permanently attached to an oxygen bottle beside his bed. I never heard him complain even though he often gasped for breath. He was set up in his bedroom with a large radio, or wireless as it was called then, that he could twiddle the dials to hear, even if through crackle, every radio station in New Zealand. His passion was horse racing. He had a regular flutter, with my mother the go between him and the TAB. As children we all had to be quiet if Granda...