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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

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

6,413 records matching 97 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
28 Nov 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Dec 1879
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1878. (Otago Daily Times, 01 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · 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
23 Dec 1879
CRICKET. (Star, 23 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Photograph, David Doull's Watchmaker & Jeweller NZmuseums · Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum · Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum
3 Jan 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 January 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 14 January 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 January 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 January 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
30 Jan 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 January 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 02 February 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1880
Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 18S0. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1880
POST OFFICE NOTICE. (Otago Daily Times, 06 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Feb 1880
HEATHCOTE. (Star, 09 February 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
16 Feb 1880
Untitled (Evening Post, 16 February 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1880
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 18 February 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Feb 1880
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1880. DEATH. (Otago Daily Times, 23 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1880
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 24 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1880
TELEGRAMS. (Tuapeka Times, 25 February 1880) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
31 Mar 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 31 March 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1880
TELEGRAPHIC. (Colonist, 03 April 1880) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1880
DEATH. The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1880. (Star, 06 April 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1880
Untitled (West Coast Times, 06 April 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1880
Untitled (Southland Times, 21 April 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1880
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 30 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 21 May 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 26 May 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1880
CITY COUNCIL. (Auckland Star, 10 June 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1880
PIGEON BAY ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 June 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
25 Jun 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 25 June 1880) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 July 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1880
Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1880
CANTERBURY COURSING CLUB. (Otago Witness, 17 July 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. 31st July. (Evening Post, 02 August 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
SOCIETIES. (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1880
OAMARU. (Timaru Herald, 09 September 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1880
THE GOVERNOR'S DEPARTURE FROM WELLINGTON. (Wanganui Herald, 10 September 1880) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1880
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 13 September 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1880
West Coast Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1880. (West Coast Times, 24 September 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Oct 1880
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880. (West Coast Times, 12 October 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1880
AKAROA RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 October 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 October 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1880
THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 October 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
26 Oct 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 26 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1880
LATEST TELEGRAMS. (Evening Post, 02 November 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1880
WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING. (Star, 26 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1880
The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880. (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1880
Untitled (Observer, 11 December 1880) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1880
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY. (Timaru Herald, 17 December 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Dec 1880
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES'FERE. (Star, 28 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1880
CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. (New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1881
Book: The Colonist, a Work on the Past and Present Position of the Colony of New Zealand Canterbury Museum · no. 1118505 · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1881
Book: The Colonist, a Work on the Past and Present Position of the Colony of New Zealand Canterbury Museum · no. 1118507 · Canterbury Museum
4 Jan 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 04 January 1881) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1881
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 January 1881) 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch