How many records does the archive hold?

76,172 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.

“"Norwich Quay"”, the shelf

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

1,500 records matching 99 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
16 Nov 1876
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 16 November 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1876
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 28 November 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1879
LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 04 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1879
IMPROVEMENTS IN LYTTELTON. (Star, 25 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
20 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1880
LOCAL AND GENEEAL. (Star, 21 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1881
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 September 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 26 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 May 1885
THE BATTLE OF LYTTELTON. (Star, 26 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1887
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. (Otago Daily Times, 22 June 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1888
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. (Auckland Star, 10 December 1888) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1888
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
1 Jan 1890
Lyttelton1481. Lyttelton New Zealand views · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
25 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1890
FREEMASONRY. (Star, 28 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1891
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 January 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1891
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 July 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 September 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1893
Local & General. (Star, 11 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Sept 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 May 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1896
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1896
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1897
OBITUARY (Star, 09 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1897
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
31 Jul 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 July 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 February 1903) Star · 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
27 Apr 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 27 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1905
AN OLD LYTTELTON MEMORY. (Star, 15 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1908
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1908
ASSESSMENT COURT. (Star, 28 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1908
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 09 September 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1909
TELEGRAMS. (Feilding Star, 07 January 1909) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1910s
13 Dec 1910
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 December 1910) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1911
AN UNWIELDY BURDEN. (Marlborough Express, 09 February 1911) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 07 June 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 05 July 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 12 July 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 19 July 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (NZ Truth, 26 July 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 02 August 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Aug 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 09 August 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 16 August 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Aug 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 23 August 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (NZ Truth, 30 August 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 06 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 13 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 20 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 27 September 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (NZ Truth, 06 December 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (NZ Truth, 13 December 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 20 December 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1919
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 27 December 1919) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
10 Jan 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 10 January 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 17 January 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 24 January 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 07 February 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 14 February 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 21 February 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 28 February 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 06 March 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 27 March 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 03 April 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 10 April 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 17 April 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 24 April 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (NZ Truth, 01 May 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 08 May 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 15 May 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 May 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 22 May 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (NZ Truth, 05 June 1920) NZ Truth · 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.

“"Norwich Quay"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch