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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

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

3,446 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 1880s
22 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 24 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 19 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 12 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1887
Untitled (Star, 06 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1887
Christchurch. (Star, 20 June 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1887
Christchurch. (Star, 20 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1888
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1888
EAST CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 April 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1888
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1888
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1888
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 19 July 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1888
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 11 September 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 October 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1888
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 October 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 October 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1888
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 01 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 17 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Jul 1889
DEATHS. (Star, 05 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 10 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 November 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
23 Jan 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 04 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1890
MARRIAGES. (Star, 14 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1890
COMMERCIAL. (Star, 15 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 14 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1890
NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. (Grey River Argus, 16 May 1890) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jun 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1890
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 20 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Sept 1890
Local & General, (Star, 20 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1890
Sons and Daughters of Temperance. (Star, 07 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1890
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Dec 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jan 1891
THE CHILD MURDER. (Auckland Star, 10 January 1891) Auckland 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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch