How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“Discover Christchurch”, the shelf

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

226 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 1890s
19 Nov 1891
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1891) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1891
NOUVELLE ZELANDE." (Hawke's Bay Herald, 04 December 1891) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Tuapeka Times, 09 March 1892) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1892
BY MAZEPPA. (Otago Witness, 23 June 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1893
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 12 January 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1893
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Auckland Star, 11 July 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1894
OUR LONDON LETTER. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1895
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 11 April 1895) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1895
NOTES OF THE WEEK. (Otago Daily Times, 16 November 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1896
PROHIBITION CONVENTION. (Otago Witness, 09 April 1896) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Feb 1897
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 February 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1897
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1897
Financial Statement. (Nelson Evening Mail, 13 October 1897) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1898
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY (Auckland Star, 09 February 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1898
Local and General. (Clutha Leader, 29 April 1898) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1898
THE VOYAGE OF THE FRAM. (Wanganui Herald, 28 June 1898) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1898
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 05 December 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1898
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. (Otago Witness, 29 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1899
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Bruce Herald, 26 September 1899) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1899
THE TOLL OF THE SEA, (Otago Witness, 30 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
28 Dec 1899
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. (Otago Witness, 28 December 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1900s
24 Feb 1900
By Crackshot.] RACING FIXTURES. THE TURF. (Evening Post, 24 February 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
5 Apr 1900
PASSING NOTES. (Otago Witness, 05 April 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1900
The Ensign GOEE: TUESDAY, APEIL 17. (Mataura Ensign, 17 April 1900) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1900
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 31 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1900
THE NEW BRIGHTON MYSTERY. (Star, 10 December 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1901
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 06 March 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 August 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 August 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 September 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1901
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 November 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1901
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 25 December 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 May 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1902
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 04 June 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1902
COSY CORNER CLUB. FOURTH SESSION, SECOND MEETING (Otago Witness, 09 July 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1902
MR R. J. S. HARMAN. (Star, 27 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1903
GREATER CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. LICENSING ELECTIONS. PERSONAL MATTERS. ACCIDENTS AND NATALITIES MINING NEWS. CHARGE OF THREATENED. INCENDIARISM. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] "LARRIKINISM" IN MELBOURNE KANAKAS IN QUEENSLAND. THE LATE SIR F. SARGOOD. SYD. GREGORY'S BANKRUPTCY AUSTRALIAN NEWS. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES. BISHOP NELGAN. A NEW RUSSIAN LOAN. UNIVERSITY BOAT RACES VARIOUS CABLED ITEMS. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] SOUTH AFRICA. LORD ELGIN'S WAR COMMIS-SION. THE KING'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND LONDON BANK OF AUSTRALIA. THEFTS ON STEAMERS. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] CRICKET. GENERAL TELEGRAMS. ENTERTAINMENTS. ETC. THE ELINGAMITE WRECK. EXTRA EDITION. LATE SHIPPING. (Evening Post, 28 March 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK (Otago Witness, 01 July 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1903
CITY ELECTORAL INQUIRY. (Auckland Star, 21 July 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1903
Local and General. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 December 1903) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1904
THE CASE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. (Star, 15 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1904
THE GREAT MOA CONTROVERSY. (Otago Witness, 06 April 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1904
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 30 November 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1905
THE TAPANUI MURDER. (Otago Daily Times 4-12-1905) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1905
Untitled (Manawatu Standard, 13 April 1905) Manawatu Standard · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1905
AUTUMN MEETING. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1905
EMMELINE'S " COSY CORNER CLUB." (Otago Witness, 10 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1905
THE VOUCHER INCIDENT. (Bush Advocate, 31 August 1905) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1905
VOUCHER MYSTERY. (Poverty Bay Herald, 31 August 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
6 Sept 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 06 September 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1905
TALES OF COLONIAL SPORT. (Otago Witness, 25 October 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1905
LAST HOT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 06 November 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1905
THE TAPANUI MURDER. (Otago Witness, 22 November 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 05 March 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1906
THE POULTRY YARD. (Star, 15 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1906
NEWS NOTES. (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 September 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Dec 1906
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 18 December 1906) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1907
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 24 July 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1907
THE M'CULLOUGH CASE. (Bush Advocate, 18 October 1907) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1908
Untitled (Otago Witness, 15 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 29 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1908
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 02 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 09 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 06 May 1909) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 06 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1909
THE CRITIC. (NZ Truth, 21 August 1909) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
5 Jan 1910
PHORMIUM TENAX. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 05 January 1910) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1910
NOTES AND COMMENTS. (Evening Post, 24 March 1910) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1910
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 17 December 1910) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1911
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES (Taranaki Daily News 21-4-1911) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1911
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 20 May 1911) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1914
A DECEITFUL GIRL. (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 July 1914) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1914
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Tuapeka Times 29-7-1914) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1915
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 November 1915) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1915
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 13 December 1915) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1917
LOCAL km GENERAL HEWS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 May 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1917
ACCIDENT. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 24 July 1917) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1918
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 30 January 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1918
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 27 February 1918) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1918
PARS ABOUT PEOPLE (Observer, 15 June 1918) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1919
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 January 1919) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
28 Aug 1920
TRIP OF THE MOKOIA (Grey River Argus, 28 August 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1921
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 02 September 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Mar 1922
TO CORRESPONDENTS. (Evening Post, 02 March 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1925
IS IT GRANNIE OR GIRLIE? (NZ Truth, 12 September 1925) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1926
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 02 June 1926) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1927
THROUGH SHEER LUCK MURDERER MAY ESCAPE DETECTION (NZ Truth, 23 June 1927) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1927
INTENDED ELOPING WITH LOVER (NZ Truth, 30 June 1927) NZ Truth · 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.

“Discover Christchurch”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch