How many records does the archive hold?

80,797 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.

“New City Hotel”, the shelf

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

4,119 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
18 Aug 1888
Local & General. (Star, 18 August 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1888
The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1888. (Inangahua Times, 29 August 1888) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1888
Local & General. (Star, 30 August 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1888
Local & General. (Star, 12 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1888
INTERPROVINCIAL (West Coast Times, 23 October 1888) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1888
TELEGRAMS (Inangahua Times, 24 October 1888) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1888
THE SUTHERLAND WATERFALL THE SUTHERLAND WATER (Otago Witness, 02 November 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1888
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 30 November 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1888
Latest Locals. (Star, 10 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1888
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 14 December 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 26 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1888
Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1888. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." GOOD ADVICE. Local and General Intelligence. (Tuapeka Times, 26 December 1888) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1888
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 December 1888) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 07 January 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1889
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 09 January 1889) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1889
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 31 January 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 11 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1889
HOME AND FOREIGN. (Bush Advocate, 21 February 1889) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1889
Canterbury Tramway Company. (Star, 21 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 08 March 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1889
Local & General. (Star, 20 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1889
Local & General. (Star, 21 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1889
NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Auckland Star, 23 March 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 29 March 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 08 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1889
THE GOVERNOR'S ARRIVAL. (Evening Post, 12 April 1889) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
15 Apr 1889
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1889. (Otago Daily Times, 15 April 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 19 April 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1889
West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1889. (West Coast Times, 27 April 1889) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1889
MISCELLANEOUS. (Inangahua Times, 03 June 1889) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 June 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
13 Jun 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 13 June 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 14 June 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1889
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 27 June 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1889
THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. + (Evening Post, 29 June 1889) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 24 July 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1889
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 30 July 1889) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 August 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 August 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1889
AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 04 September 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1889. (West Coast Times, 10 September 1889) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Sept 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 10 September 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1889
OUT DOOR SPORTS (Observer, 14 September 1889) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1889
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1889. (Otago Daily Times, 16 September 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1889
Local &.General. (Star, 20 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1889
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 23 September 1889) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1889
MISCELLANEOUS. (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
27 Sept 1889
A RAILWAY TIMBER GEIEVANCE. (Evening Post, 27 September 1889) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 22 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1889
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1889
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 09 November 1889) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 November 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
Local & General. (Star, 27 November 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1889
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 03 December 1889) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1889
A TRIP TO THE EXHIBITION (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 December 1889) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1889
Telegraphic. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 10 December 1889) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
the 1890s
20 Jan 1890
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1890. (Auckland Star, 20 January 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1890
Local News. (Star, 28 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 18 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 19 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1890
TABLE TALK. (Auckland Star, 21 February 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Feb 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 February 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Mar 1890
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. (West Coast Times, 06 March 1890) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 07 March 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1890
Telegraphic. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 15 March 1890) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 22 March 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 12 May 1890) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
21 Jul 1890
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (West Coast Times, 21 July 1890) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1890
District and General. (Bush Advocate, 26 July 1890) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1890
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (West Coast Times, 26 July 1890) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1890
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 03 September 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1890
Latest locals. (Star, 16 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1890
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 September 1890) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Sept 1890
THE WAIRARAPA SEAT. (Evening Post, 27 September 1890) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1890
TELEGRAMS (Southland Times, 07 October 1890) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1890
BARRETT'S HOTEL. (Star, 01 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1890
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1890
The Akaroa Mail TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1890. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 November 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1890
Local & General. (Star, 25 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1890
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Auckland Star, 25 November 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
30 Dec 1890
Local & General. (Star, 30 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 January 1891) 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.

“New City Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch