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.

“Here”, the shelf

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

3,572 records matching 99 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 1860s
12 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 06 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1861
SUMMARY FOR Europe & Australia PER S. S. "LORD WORSLEY." (Wellington Independent, 07 May 1861) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1861
CATHOLIC CHURCH. (Daily Southern Cross, 04 June 1861) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1861
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1861) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1861
SOMETHING LIKE A SCHEME. (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1861
LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1861
THE BRANCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jan 1862
Photograph, Ambrotype, Fisher family NZmuseums · Te Hikoi Museum · Te Hikoi Museum
31 Jan 1862
GEOLOGY OF OTAGO. (Otago Daily Times, 31 January 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
9 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1862
The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1862
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (Wellington Independent, 30 August 1862) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1862
The Daily Southern Cross. UNKNOWN. (Daily Southern Cross, 12 September 1862) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1863
CANTERBURY. (Otago Daily Times, 19 June 1863) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1863
CANTERBURY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (Daily Southern Cross, 02 December 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
11 Jun 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 June 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Jul 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 30 July 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 08 September 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 13 September 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 17 December 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. (Otago Daily Times, 23 February 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGY, AND MINERAL PRODUCTS. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [from the daily times.] (Otago Witness, 24 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 15 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1865
NEW ZEALAND. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 27 May 1865) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 22 July 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 12 August 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 26 August 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 02 September 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 16 September 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 30 September 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 07 October 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 14 October 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 21 October 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 November 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Mar 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 16 March 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 23 March 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · no. 2.23 · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 23 March 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · no. 2.5 · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 May 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 May 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 28th May, 1866. (North Otago Times, 31 May 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 4th June, 1866. (North Otago Times, 07 June 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 June 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH (Timaru Herald, 16 June 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · 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.

“Here”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch