How many records does the archive hold?

81,477 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

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

15,139 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 1900s
6 Jul 1903
CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL. (Auckland Star, 06 July 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 July 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1903
A panoramic view of Christchurch, looking towards Lyttelton Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
18 Jul 1903
LAUNCH AT LYTTELTON. (Star, 18 July 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1903
PERSONAL. (Auckland Star, 22 July 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1903
LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 23 July 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 July 1903) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 July 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Aug 1903
BILLIARDS. (Star, 06 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Aug 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Herald, 19 August 1903) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Aug 1903
DEATHS. (Star, 28 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1903
ITER-COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT. (Colonist, 29 August 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 September 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1903
LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 September 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 09 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1903
A view of Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z. by Auckland Weekly News; Sundstrum · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
12 Sept 1903
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Ashburton Guardian, 14 September 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1903
PERSONAL. (Star, 19 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 29-9-1903) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1903
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1903
BANDSMEN'S COLUMN. (Star, 03 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Ashburton Guardian, 05 October 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1903
LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 08 October 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1903
PERSONAL MATTERS. (Evening Post, 09 October 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1903
A SENSATIONAL REPORT (Auckland Star, 12 October 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1903
Narrow Escape of a Steamer. (Colonist, 13 October 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1903
PERSONAL. (Star, 26 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1903
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISEORNE. TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 1903. (Poverty Bay Herald, 27 October 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1903
Untitled (Manawatu Standard, 27 October 1903) Manawatu Standard · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1903
THE SUMNER-CHRISTCHURCH CANAL (Star, 30 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1903
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 11-11-1903) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 14 November 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 19 November 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1903
GRATEFUL. (Star, 21 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 27 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1903
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 02 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 03 December 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 05 December 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1903
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (West Coast Times, 07 December 1903) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 08 December 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 09 December 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1903
Local and General. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 December 1903) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 14 December 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1903
THROUGH THE COLONY ON A MOTOR CAR. (Otago Witness, 16 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1903
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 17 December 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1903
Page 54 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 23 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1904
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 07 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1904
PUPIL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION. (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1904
PUPIL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION. (Star, 12 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1904
THE BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL (Star, 13 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Feilding Star, 16 January 1904) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1904
Smallpox in Christchurch (Southland Times, 18 January 1904) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX IN CHRISTCHURCH (Clutha Leader 19-1-1904) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 21 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX. (Ashburton Guardian, 21 January 1904) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1904
A view of Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z. by Auckland Weekly News; Kinnear, J. H. · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries

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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch