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.

“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.

3,583 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
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1873
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 03 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1873
Wellington Independent TUESDAY, 10th JUNE. (Wellington Independent, 10 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jul 1873
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Timaru Herald, 02 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1873
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 08 July 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 August 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Sept 1873
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 September 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1873
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1873) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · 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
19 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 20 December 1873) Otago Witness · 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
29 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 29 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
31 Dec 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1874
The Evening Post. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1874. (Evening Post, 09 January 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 13 January 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 14 January 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1874
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 20 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1874
YESTERDAY. (Star, 26 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
28 Jan 1874
NEW BRIGHTON. (Star, 28 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 February 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1874
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 February 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
30 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1874
NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL. (Colonist, 21 April 1874) Colonist · 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
2 May 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 02 May 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (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
6 Jun 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 06 June 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 June 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1874
West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874. (West Coast Times, 11 July 1874) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Jul 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 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
3 Aug 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 August 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 August 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 August 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · 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
1 Sept 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 25 September 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 07 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1874
CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. (Star, 13 November 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 18 December 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 19 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 09 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1875
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 January 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 April 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Apr 1875
THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1875. (Grey River Argus, 07 April 1875) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1875
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1875. (Evening Post, 22 April 1875) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1875
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 29 April 1875) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1875
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1875. (Evening Post, 22 May 1875) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1875
West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1875. (West Coast Times, 03 June 1875) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Jun 1875
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 June 1875) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1875
West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1875. (West Coast Times, 09 July 1875) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Aug 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 August 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Aug 1875
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Nelson Evening Mail, 24 August 1875) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1875
Untitled (Evening Post, 09 September 1875) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 September 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 06 October 1875) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1875
SUMMARY FOR EUROPE. (Otago Witness, 20 November 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Dec 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Dec 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 25 December 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1876
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 09 February 1876) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 February 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1876
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1876) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1876
LATEST TELEGRAMS. (Timaru Herald, 05 April 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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