How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 records about Christchurch, every one linked at the provider that keeps the original.

How far back does the archive reach?

1800, the oldest record on file.

Where do the records come from?

30 collections: council archives, Papers Past, DigitalNZ’s partners, cemetery registers, the heritage list itself. The shelf says what exists and where it lives.

Are these documents verified?

They are leads and citations, not evidence, a record says a document exists and where to read it. What a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it; those readings live on the place pages.

“"Port Levy"”, the shelf

Every record the archive holds about Christchurch, the oldest first. The originals live at the provider each row links to.

235 records matching 97 of these 100 with their text read Papers Past · Canterbury Stories · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Te Papa Collections Online · National Publicity Studios black and white file prints · TAPUHI · Canterbury Museum · Auckland Museum Collections · New Zealand Gazette · Digital Public Library of America · V.C. Browne & Son NZ Aerial Photograph Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Flickr · Hocken Digital Collections · Museums Victoria · Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photograph Collection · Wellington City Council Archives · The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · New Zealand Electronic Text Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Images Collection · Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho · Flickr · Radio New Zealand · Alexander Turnbull Library Flickr · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki · Te Hikoi Museum · iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao · Manawatū Heritage · Canterbury Photography Museum · Akaroa Museum · Hawke's Bay Museum

the 1880s
8 Sept 1887
Forthcoming Meetings. (Star, 08 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1887
Local & Genera (Star, 03 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
29 May 1888
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 May 1888) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1888
ROBERTS NOT CAUGHT YET. [Per Press Association.] (Taranaki Herald, 11 June 1888) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1889
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 October 1889) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
4 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 04 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1890
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 April 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1890
THE NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 November 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1891
A Latest Locals. (Star, 23 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1891
Justices of the Peace. (Star, 28 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1891
CHRISTMASTIDE. (Star, 26 December 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1892
HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 31 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Apr 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 April 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 April 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 03 June 1892) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 April 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 26 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 November 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 16 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1894
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Sept 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1895
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 29 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1895
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 December 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1896
Port Levy, a favourite picnic bay The imperial album of New Zealand scenery · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Jan 1896
CHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 23 January 1896) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1896
FATAL FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH (Wanganui Herald, 24 January 1896) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1896
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 January 1896) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1896
Death from Burning. (Colonist, 25 January 1896) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1896
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 September 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1898
SWIMMING. (Star, 28 February 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1898
Methodism in Otago and Southland (Otago Witness, 17 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1899
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 March 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1899
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Aug 1899
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1899
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1899. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 October 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1899
The balloon fatality at Christchurch last week by New Zealand Graphic · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
6 Dec 1899
TO-DAY'S ELECTION. (Star, 06 December 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
16 Jan 1900
AN INTERESTING CAREER. (Star, 16 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1900
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 30 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1900
Local and General (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 November 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1901
The Akaroa Mail FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 January 1901) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1901
PERSONAL. (Star, 17 June 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1901
DEATH. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 December 1901) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1902
LATEST SHIPPING. (Star, 10 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1902
PERSONAL. (Star, 09 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1903
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1904
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 23 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1904
ENTERTAINMENTS. (Star, 27 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1904
FIRST CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 November 1904) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 March 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Sept 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 30 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 November 1905) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 02 December 1905) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1905
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 December 1905) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1905
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 December 1905) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Aug 1906
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1907
ROWING. (Wanganui Herald, 08 February 1907) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1907
CHRISTCHURCH CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA. (Nelson Evening Mail, 08 February 1907) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 June 1907) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1907
FATAL FALL FROM A HORSE. (Nelson Evening Mail, 04 July 1907) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1907
Sad Accident. (Wanganui Herald, 05 July 1907) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1907
MT. HERBERT COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 August 1907) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1908
BIRTH. (Star, 29 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1908
MARRIAGES (Otago Witness, 01 July 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1908
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS, Etc. (Otago Daily Times 20-7-1908) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1908
EDUCATION HOARD. (Star, 09 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1908
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS. YESTERDAY'S POLLING. (Star, 18 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
26 Mar 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 March 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 April 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 April 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 April 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1909
TME CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. (NZ Truth, 11 September 1909) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
10 Jun 1910
PORT LEVY. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 10 June 1910) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1910
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 December 1910) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Mar 1911
FOUND DROWNED. (Northern Advocate, 02 March 1911) Northern Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1912
CRICKET. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 January 1912) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1913
CHRISTCHURCH DAY BY DAY. (Ashburton Guardian, 05 June 1913) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1913
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 December 1913) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1913
MR McCOMBS RETURNED. (Ashburton Guardian, 17 December 1913) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1914
CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 January 1914) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1914
PORT LEVY NEWS. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 June 1914) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1915
CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA (Evening Post, 15 February 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1916
Lyttelton ferry wharf Demicheli photos and glass plates · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries

Most of these originals are not republishable here, the link goes to the provider that keeps them. A search result is a lead, not evidence: what a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it, and those readings live on the place pages.

“"Port Levy"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch