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.

“Christchurch Town Hall”, the shelf

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

5,605 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
1 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 06 July 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 06 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1878
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 13 July 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jul 1878
TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 24 July 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 26 July 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1878
LOCAL AMD GENERAL. (Star, 17 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 September 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN RAILWAY. (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1878
Evening Post. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1878. (Evening Post, 12 September 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1878
Page 22 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 13 September 1878) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1878
Evening Post. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1878. (Evening Post, 14 September 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1878
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 09 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Nov 1878
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 12 November 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1878
The otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1878. (Otago Daily Times, 16 November 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 30 November 1878) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1878
TELEGRAMS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 12 December 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
BOXING DAY. (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1878
HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 28 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1879
Evening Post. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1879. (Evening Post, 07 February 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1879
Wanganui Chronicle, AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER, "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1879. (Wanganui Chronicle, 17 February 1879) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1879
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 19 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1879
TELEGRAMS. (Otago Daily Times, 19 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1879
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1879. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. (Evening Post, 07 March 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 March 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 31 March 1879) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1879
MR. CLARK'S DRAINAGE SCHEME AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES. (Evening Post, 02 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1879
Untitled (Nelson Evening Mail, 08 April 1879) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1879
TELEGRAMS. (Otago Daily Times, 09 April 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1879
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 17 April 1879) 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.

“Christchurch Town Hall”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch