How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“Sugar Horse”, the shelf

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

347 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
3 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1885
LATEST MARKETS. (Taranaki Herald, 14 March 1885) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 02 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1886
CORRESPONDENCE. (Nelson Evening Mail, 02 April 1886) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 15 May 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 05 June 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1886
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 27 August 1886) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 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
12 Jun 1888
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Bush Advocate, 12 June 1888) Bush Advocate · 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
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
24 Apr 1889
Telegraphic. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 24 April 1889) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jun 1889
Local & General. (Star, 28 June 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 July 1889) Auckland Star · 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
22 Oct 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 22 October 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1889
THE OTAGO A. & P. SOCIETY'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
25 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Tuapeka Times, 09 March 1892) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1894
Local & General. (Star, 05 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1894
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1894
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 October 1894) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1894. 1894. (Evening Post, 31 December 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jan 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 January 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Jan 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1897
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 27 January 1897) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 October 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1897
Financial Statement. (Nelson Evening Mail, 13 October 1897) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1897
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 December 1897) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 February 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1898
Biographical Notes of Settlers of the First Decade. THE OLD IDENTITY. (Otago Witness, 31 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
14 Mar 1900
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 14 March 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 14 September 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1900
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1900
DE WET ASKS FOR UNACCEPTABLE TERMS. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1901
Untitled (Taranaki Herald, 18 March 1901) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. (Otago Witness, 12 June 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1901
D.L F. CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED. (Otago Witness, 17 July 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1901
The Grey River Argus (Grey River Argus, 26 September 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto:—We write.for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 February 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1904
NOTES AMD QUERIES. The Otago Witness, THE WEEK. SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES. SHOOTING AT A CHINAMAN SPORTING. TALK OF THE DAY. IN A NUTSHELL CANTERBURY DOINGS. WELLINGTON NOTES. AUCKLAND TOPICS. SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jun 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1905
Untitled (Manawatu Times, 16 January 1905) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 07 June 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1906
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 21 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1906
NEWS NOTES. (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 September 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1907
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 03 January 1907) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1907
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 05 January 1907) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1907
THE SUMMIT ROAD. (Star, 02 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Nov 1908
EMMELINE'S COSY CORNER CLUB. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1909
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 October 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 24 November 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
the 1910s
21 Sept 1910
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 21 September 1910) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1911
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 20 May 1911) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1912
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 12 April 1912) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1913
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 January 1913) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1913
LOCAL $ GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 04 April 1913) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 06 May 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 07 August 1916) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1917
LOCAL km GENERAL HEWS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 May 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1917
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS (Marlborough Express, 03 October 1917) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1917
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 11 October 1917) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1917
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 28 December 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1918
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 23 March 1918) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1919
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 05 May 1919) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
11 Sept 1920
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Thames Star, 11 September 1920) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1924
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 13 October 1924) Evening Post · 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.

“Sugar Horse”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch