How many records does the archive hold?

72,593 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.

“5 Acres”, the shelf

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

4,493 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
13 Aug 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 August 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 20 August 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 28 August 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1878
NEW ZEALAND RACERS. (Colonist, 12 September 1878) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 23 September 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 28 October 1878) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 28 October 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 30 October 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1878
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 12 November 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1879
REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 January 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1879
Untitled (West Coast Times, 21 January 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 24 January 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (North Otago Times, 25 January 1879) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1879
REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 29 January 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 31 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Southland Times, 17 February 1879) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1879
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 01 March 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1879
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 03 April 1879) Hawke's Bay Herald · 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
12 Apr 1879
news of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 April 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Apr 1879
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 17 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 May 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 July 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 12 July 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 September 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 03 October 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 24 October 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 15 November 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1879
Waste Land Board. (Otago Witness, 22 November 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Dec 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
9 Jan 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 09 January 1880) Wanganui Chronicle · 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
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
28 Jan 1880
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 January 1880) Auckland 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
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 Apr 1880
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 03 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Southland Times, 05 May 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 31 May 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 01 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 02 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 03 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 08 June 1880) Southland 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
3 Jul 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 July 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 31 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
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
11 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 September 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 September 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1880
THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 02 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · 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
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
19 Oct 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 19 October 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
26 Nov 1880
WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING. (Star, 26 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 07 December 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
13 Dec 1880
COMMERCIAL. (Star, 13 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
14 Jan 1881
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881. (Otago Daily Times, 14 January 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1881
Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. (Waikato Times, 18 January 1881) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1881
The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY. MARCH 14, 1881. (Southland Times, 14 March 1881) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 19 March 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Taranaki Herald, 21 March 1881) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 09 April 1881) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 28 April 1881) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 29 April 1881) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 18 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Colonist, 11 July 1881) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 19 July 1881) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 August 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Wanganui Herald, 05 November 1881) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1881
Local & General. (Star, 08 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 19 November 1881) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 23 November 1881) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 26 November 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1881
THS GENERAL ELECTIONS (Star, 02 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1881
DRAINAGE BOARD. (Star, 13 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 12 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1882
Untitled (Evening Post, 16 January 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1882
BOROUGH COUNCIL. (Star, 17 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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

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.

“5 Acres”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch