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.

“"Tuam Street"”, the shelf

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

1,802 records matching 100 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 1850s
2 Apr 1859
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 11 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
7 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 25 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1860
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 15 places
21 Apr 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 9 places
25 Apr 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
25 Apr 1860
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
19 May 1860
JURY LIST FOR 1860. (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 20 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 18 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 11 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1860
SUPREME COURT.-Criminal Sittings. (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Nov 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Jan 1862
BIRTHS. (Lyttelton Times, 04 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.-CLAIMS TO VOTE-1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
3 Feb 1863
CHRISTCHURCH. (Daily Southern Cross, 03 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 16 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1869
Magisterial. (Star, 04 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read

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.

“"Tuam Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch