How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“The Piano”, the shelf

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

1,780 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 1870s
11 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Apr 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 April 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1879
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 22 December 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
10 Feb 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 10 February 1880) Hawke's Bay Herald · 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
6 Apr 1880
DEATH. The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1880. (Star, 06 April 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1880
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 11 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 16 August 1880) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1880
CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. (New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1881
THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1881
NEWS IN BRIEF. (Tuapeka Times, 25 May 1881) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1881
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 17 June 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 16 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1881
Local & General. (Star, 14 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1881
Local & General. (Star, 27 October 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1881
Local & General. (Star, 29 October 1881) Star · 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
12 Nov 1881
THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1881
MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES. (Otago Daily Times, 10 December 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1881
Local & General. (Star, 30 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jan 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 25 January 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL EXHI- (Otago Daily Times, 11 April 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Apr 1882
NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 15 April 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Apr 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 21 April 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 25 May 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Jun 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 12 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1882
COLLING WOOD. (Colonist, 15 June 1882) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jun 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 17 June 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Auckland Star, 17 July 1882) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 02 August 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 16 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1882
The Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 28 November 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 29 December 1882) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1883
News Of The Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1883
Evening Post. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1883. (Evening Post, 27 April 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 June 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1883
Local & General. (Star, 20 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1883
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1883. (Otago Daily Times, 08 September 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Oct 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Auckland Star, 04 October 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1883
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS ITEMS. (Auckland Star, 08 December 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Jan 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 04 January 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 23 April 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1884
ANOTHER FLAW IN THE LICENSING ACT. (Evening Post, 24 May 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 25 October 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 01 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 01 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 December 1884) 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.

“The Piano”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch