How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Head Rush”, the shelf

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

219 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 1880s
29 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Apr 1888
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 18 April 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1888
FOOTBALL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 October 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1888
Local & General. (Star, 20 November 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1889
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 04 January 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1889
NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Auckland Star, 23 March 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 May 1889
FOOTBALL. (Star, 20 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1889
FOOTBALL. (Auckland Star, 22 June 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 10 September 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1889
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (North Otago Times, 15 November 1889) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 November 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1889
A TRIP TO THE EXHIBITION (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 December 1889) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
21 Feb 1890
TABLE TALK. (Auckland Star, 21 February 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 June 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1890
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1890
Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1890. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS (Marlborough Express, 04 September 1890) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1891
CRICKET. (Auckland Star, 07 March 1891) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 12 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1892
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 May 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1892
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1893
News Items. (Colonist, 07 February 1893) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1893
THE QUEENSLAND FLOODS. (Otago Witness, 09 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1893
TALK OF THE DAY, (Otago Witness, 16 November 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1894
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1834. (Auckland Star, 19 March 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1894
CHRISTCHURCH V. SYDENHAM. (Star, 14 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1894
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 September 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 December 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1897
Christchurch Notes. (Clutha Leader, 02 July 1897) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 13 August 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
16 Oct 1897
Untitled (Tuapeka Times, 16 October 1897) Tuapeka Times · 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
31 Mar 1898
Biographical Notes of Settlers of the First Decade. THE OLD IDENTITY. (Otago Witness, 31 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 12 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1898
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
UPPER HOUSE REFORIM. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 August 1899) Poverty Bay 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
the 1900s
3 May 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 November 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 05 December 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1901
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 28 February 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. (Otago Witness, 12 June 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1901
The Grey River Argus (Grey River Argus, 26 September 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Mar 1902
Untitled (Mataura Ensign 20-3-1902) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1902
The Wanganui Herald. (Wanganui Herald, 03 April 1902) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 22 May 1902) Evening Post · 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
26 Nov 1902
THE GENERAL ELECTION. REDUCED GOVERNMENT MAJORITY. (Evening Post, 26 November 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1903
AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
25 Nov 1903
DOT'S LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 November 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1904
Untitled (Manawatu Times, 05 November 1904) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
3 Dec 1904
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 1904. (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 December 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1905
All Sorts of People (New Zealand Free Lance, 28 January 1905) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1905
UNDER AORANGI. (Grey River Argus, 06 March 1905) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1905
BYDENHAM v. MERIVALE. (Star, 29 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1905
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 12 July 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 23 August 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 16 March 1906) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1906
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 21 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 21 March 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1906
ana Blackball news. PUBLISHED PAILY. CABLE NEWS. FRENCH ELECTION M. BRIAND ELECTED.. ANGLO-TURKISH CRISIS BRITISH AND FOREIGN GOLF. REMORANDA PERSONAL TIEMS AUSTRALIAN NEWS. A BLIND BARRISTER A DRY SEASON. N.Z. TELEGRAMS. SPORTING. MARLBOROUCH RACING CLUB. CREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB. N.Z. TELEGRAMS. THE MEIKLE COMMISSION THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY CHRISTCHURCH SUPREME WELLINCTON SUPREME A SHEPHERD KILLED. MAGISTRATE'S COURT AMUSEMENTS RHEUMATIC GOUT CURED THE ARM OF CONINCIDENCE. FITS OF HEART FAILURE. AFFORESTATION. THE EXPORT SEASON NEWS. NOTES (Grey River Argus, 08 May 1906) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1906
CANTERBURY HOMES. (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 October 1906) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Feb 1907
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 20 February 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 08 May 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1907
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 July 1907) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1907
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1907
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 06 November 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
6 May 1908
Untitled (Otago Witness, 06 May 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
18 Jun 1908
WESTLAND MAORI NOMENCLATURE. (Grey River Argus, 18 June 1908) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1908
RUGBY IN OTHER PLACES. (Evening Post, 03 August 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1908
EMMELINE'S COSY CORNER CLUB. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 May 1909
Pars About People. (Observer, 22 May 1909) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1909
A STRANGE QUEST. (Otago Witness, 04 August 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1909
PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS. (Mataura Ensign 10-9-1909) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 29 December 1909) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
21 Sept 1910
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 21 September 1910) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1911
PARS ABOUT PEOPLE (Observer, 05 August 1911) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1911
NEW ZEALAND CUP. (Poverty Bay Herald, 08 November 1911) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1912
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 03 January 1912) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1913
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 January 1913) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1914
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 01 April 1914) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1918
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 January 1918) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1918
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 19 January 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
8 Sept 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 08 September 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1925
GOVERNMENT HOUSE DANCE (Evening Post, 25 August 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1927
NEWS OF THE DAY (Evening Post, 11 February 1927) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1928
AT NEW BRIGHTON (Evening Post, 19 March 1928) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1930s
17 May 1930
RUGBY (Evening Post, 17 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
24 May 1930
Ships and the Sea (Evening Post, 24 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1930
PUNTS, PASSES, PUSHES AND PRODS (NZ Truth, 17 July 1930) 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.

“Head Rush”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch