How many records does the archive hold?

79,613 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.

“A Sumner …”, the shelf

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

3,754 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 1900s
20 Dec 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Dec 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 27 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 04 January 1906) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1906
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. (Wanganui Herald, 10 January 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1906
A Tram Fatality. (Thames Star, 15 January 1906) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1906
Fatal Tram Accident. (Wanganui Herald, 15 January 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Feb 1906
THE TRAMWAY LOAN. (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1906
CRICKET. (Star, 17 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
10 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1906
MOTOR RACE AT NEW BRIGHTON. (Otago Witness, 14 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Mar 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Mar 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1906
NEWS NOTES (Grey River Argus, 30 March 1906) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1906
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 April 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Apr 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 April 1906) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1906
THE CENSUS. (Star, 21 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1906
CENSUS, 1906. (Wanganui Herald, 23 May 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1906
THE TRAMWAY BOARD. (Star, 24 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 May 1906
SANATORIUM SATURDAY. (Star, 26 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1906
FIG- 2. RESIDENCE OF MR G F NEWMAN, SUMNER CHRISTCHURCH [A. H Hart, Architect. (Progress, 01 June 1906) Progress · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1906
CANTERBURY. (Progress, 01 June 1906) Progress · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1906
TRAMWAY BOARD ELECTIONS (Star, 18 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1906
THE FINAL SCENE. FUNERAL OF THE LATE PREMIER. (Evening Post, 21 June 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1906
THE COMING ELECTIONS. (Star, 22 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Jun 1906
To Sumner beach, Christchurch, by steam tramway. twenty trams dragged by a single motor by New Zealand Graphic; Wheeler · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
26 Jun 1906
TRAMWAY BOARD ELECTIONS. (Star, 26 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jun 1906
THE TRAMWAY BOARD. (Star, 28 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Jul 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1906
Found Drowned. (Wanganui Herald, 09 July 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1906
CHRISTCHURCH NEWS NOTES. (Otago Daily Times 18-7-1906) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1906
NEW ZEALAND CENSUS RETURNS. (Nelson Evening Mail, 19 July 1906) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1906
CENSUS FIGURES. (Wanganui Herald, 19 July 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1906
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 25 July 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1906
CHRISTCHURCH NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. (Evening Post, 31 July 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1906
CANTERBURY ITEMS. (Nelson Evening Mail, 31 July 1906) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 22 September 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 September 1906) 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.

“A Sumner …”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch