How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“Canterbury House”, the shelf

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

4,487 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
23 Apr 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 09 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 10 places
9 Jul 1853
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH, July 5th, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
23 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. July 11, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
23 Jul 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 20 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 27 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 31 August 1853) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1853
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTIONS. (Lyttelton Times, 03 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
22 Oct 1853
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1854
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1854
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 March 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Apr 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1854
REPORT (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1854
Page 11 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1854
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1854
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1854
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 July 1854) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 13 places
22 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 12 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 16 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
19 Aug 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 Aug 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
15 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
18 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
22 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
25 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
29 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
3 Jan 1855
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
24 Jan 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“Canterbury House”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch