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.

“One Good Horse”, the shelf

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

2,014 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
15 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 02 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 27 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · 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 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 11 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 02 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (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
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1862
SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND. (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
12 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1863
PUBLIC WORKS.-CANTERBURY. (FROM THE "LYTTELTON TIMES.") (Daily Southern Cross, 05 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1863
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 18 February 1863) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1863
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 04 November 1863) Otago Daily Times · 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
12 Dec 1863
THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND. (Wellington Independent, 12 December 1863) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
9 Mar 1864
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 09 March 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
24 Sept 1864
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 24 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1864
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 01 October 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
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
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
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 05 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 10 May 1866) Wellington Independent · 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
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1866
LONDON. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Oct 1866
LONDON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 25th, 1866. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1866) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · 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
22 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 22 May 1867) Timaru Herald · 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.

“One Good Horse”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch