How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“"PAPANUI"”, the shelf

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

4,698 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
31 Jan 1871
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 31 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Feb 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 March 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 March 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NOTES OF NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL. (West Coast Times, 16 May 1871) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 27 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 June 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Oct 1871
CANTERBURY MUSEUM. (Star, 04 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 December 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1872
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 20 April 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CANTERBURY MUSEUM. (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1872
OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. (Star, 30 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1872
PARISH MEETING AT MERIVALE. (Star, 19 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 August 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1872
CHAMPION PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 09 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1872
Local and General. (Star, 19 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1872
STREET TRAMWAY. (Star, 02 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1872
Local and General. (Star, 02 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1873
Varieties. (Star, 04 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 14 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 09 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1873
ANNIVERSARY DAY. (Star, 17 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 24 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jan 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1874
YESTERDAY. (Star, 27 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1874
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 12 February 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 19 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1874
MR WYNN WILLIAMS AT PAPANUI (Star, 01 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1874
ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING. (Star, 28 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 June 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 August 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1874
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 22 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 October 1874) Star · 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.

“"PAPANUI"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch