How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“Beat Street”, the shelf

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

980 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 1870s
19 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1878
Evening Post. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1878. (Evening Post, 12 September 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1878
TELEGRAMS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 November 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 17 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1879
Land and Water. (Otago Witness, 01 March 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1879. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. (Evening Post, 07 March 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1879
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1878. (Otago Daily Times, 01 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (West Coast Times, 02 December 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
23 Jan 1880
Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 23 January 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1880
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 24 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1880
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE. (Otago Witness, 15 May 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1880
CITY COUNCIL. (Auckland Star, 10 June 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1880
The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1880. (Southland Times, 23 July 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1880
THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1880
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY. (Timaru Herald, 17 December 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1881
TELEGRAMS. (Otago Daily Times, 07 February 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Feb 1881
THE MOUNT VIEW ASYLUM. (Evening Post, 16 February 1881) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 26 April 1881) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 31 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1881
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 17 June 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Aug 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (West Coast Times, 27 August 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 19 November 1881) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1881
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 11 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 28 January 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Feb 1882
Local & General. (Star, 13 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 23 March 1882) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 21 April 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 17 June 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Auckland Star, 14 July 1882) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1882
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1882. (Timaru Herald, 01 August 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 14 October 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1882
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1882. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 November 1882) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1882
EXHIBITIONS. Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Exhibition. (Otago Witness, 25 November 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1882
EXHIBITIONS. (Otago Witness, 02 December 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 13 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 05 February 1883) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 21 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1883
News Of The Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1883
Evening Post. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1883. (Evening Post, 27 April 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1883
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1888. (Otago Daily Times, 11 May 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 28 July 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 September 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1883
Untitled (Auckland Star, 19 October 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1883
The Timaru Herald MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1883. (Timaru Herald, 05 November 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1883
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS ITEMS. (Auckland Star, 08 December 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Jan 1884
SPORTING (Otago Daily Times, 12 January 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 May 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 30 May 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 July 1884) 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.

“Beat Street”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch