How many records does the archive hold?

71,563 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.

“Mr Rice”, the shelf

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

393 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 1860s
24 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1862
PORT OF NAPIER (Hawke's Bay Herald, 09 August 1862) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1864
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 25 June 1864) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · 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
25 Jun 1866
POST OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 June 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1866
PORT OF HOKITIKA. (West Coast Times, 01 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1866
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 December 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1867
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 April 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1868
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 02 January 1868) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
8 May 1871
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. (Otago Daily Times, 08 May 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1871
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 November 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Sept 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Nelson Evening Mail, 02 December 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Nelson Evening Mail, 30 April 1874) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Nelson Evening Mail, 22 April 1875) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1877
West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1877. (West Coast Times, 12 March 1877) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 January 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1878
LATEST CABLE TELEGRAMS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 18 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Aug 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 05 August 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
13 Feb 1880
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 13 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1880
Untitled (West Coast Times, 24 February 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 26 April 1881) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1881
Dunedin Industrial Exhibition. (Otago Witness, 25 June 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 01 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 15 October 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1881
Local & General. (Star, 09 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 28 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1883
The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1883. (Timaru Herald, 11 July 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Nov 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 21 November 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 18 September 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 26 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1885
Local & General. (Star, 10 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1885
LATEST MARKETS. (Taranaki Herald, 14 March 1885) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 26 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
NOTES BY BEACON (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 11 February 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jun 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 June 1887) Star · 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.

“Mr Rice”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch