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.

“The Yard”, the shelf

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

2,797 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 1910s
16 May 1916
AKAROA AND WAINUI. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 May 1916) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1916
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Ashburton Guardian, 28 July 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 10 August 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1916
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 24 August 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1916
THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, OCTOBER. 3, 1916. NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 03 October 1916) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 October 1916) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Taranaki Daily News 27-11-1916) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1916
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1916, (Grey River Argus, 04 December 1916) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1916
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 15 December 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1917
AIM FIEND (NZ Truth, 24 February 1917) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1917
POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 April 1917) 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
23 May 1917
Sudden Death. (Ellesmere Guardian, 23 May 1917) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1917
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 24 May 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1917
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 04 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1917
MILITARY SERVICE. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 06 June 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 22 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Jun 1917
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 June 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1917
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 22 August 1917) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1917
FIRST DIVISION (Evening Post, 02 October 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Dec 1917
MURDER OF A BOY. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 December 1917) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1917
NZ TELEGRAMS (Grey River Argus, 10 December 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1917
A HORRID CRIME. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 10 December 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1918
Meter room of Municipal Electricity Department by Municipal Electricity Department · MED Historical Photographs · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
5 Feb 1918
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 05 February 1918) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1918
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 08 February 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Mar 1918
THE COLONIST. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1918. NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 01 March 1918) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1918
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 26 April 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1918
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 07 May 1918) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1918
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 10 July 1918) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1918
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 22 August 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1918
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 05 December 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1918
LABOURER'S MONEY (Ashburton Guardian, 07 December 1918) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1918
PERSONAL PARS (Grey River Argus, 13 December 1918) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1919
WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 17 January 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1919
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Clutha Leader 28-2-1919) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1919
SWIMMING. (Wanganui Chronicle, 05 March 1919) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1919
SWIMMING. (Ashburton Guardian, 06 March 1919) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1919
SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 06 March 1919) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1919
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS (Marlborough Express, 06 March 1919) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1919
SWIMMING (Evening Post, 06 March 1919) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1919
WOMEN IN PRINT (Evening Post, 10 March 1919) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1919
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES (Wanganui Chronicle, 10 April 1919) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1919
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 17 April 1919) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1919
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 30 April 1919) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1919
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 24 June 1919) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1919
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 18 July 1919) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1919
WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 July 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1919
OUR FINANCES. (Grey River Argus, 25 July 1919) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1919
WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 August 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1919
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 30 August 1919) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1919
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 September 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1919
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 01 October 1919) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1919
FATAL MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENT. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 October 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1919
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 October 1919) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1919
HUKERENUI. (Northern Advocate, 06 November 1919) Northern Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
8 Apr 1920
ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES (Feilding Star, 08 April 1920) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1920
ESTABLISHED 1866. THE Marlborough Express. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1920. MARLBOROUGH AND CANTERBURY. (Marlborough Express, 16 April 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1920
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 April 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1920
Page 13 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 29 May 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1920
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 16 June 1920) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 03 July 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jul 1920
LE BON'S BAY ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 July 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1920
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 07 August 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1920
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 August 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1920
WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 17 September 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1920
W.E.A. MOVEMENT, (Grey River Argus, 20 September 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1920
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 29 October 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 05 November 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1920
MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY AT TIMARU (NZ Truth, 06 November 1920) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1920
NEWS IN BRIEF. (Otago Daily Times 12-1-1920) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1920
COMMERCIAL. (Clutha Leader 12-3-1920) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1920
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 28 December 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1920
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 December 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Hawera & Normanby Star, 06 January 1921) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1921
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 08 January 1921) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1921
THE TIMARU MURDER (Ashburton Guardian, 09 February 1921) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1921
THE TIMARU TRAGEDY (NZ Truth, 12 February 1921) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Hawera & Normanby Star, 14 February 1921) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1921
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 23 February 1921) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 04 June 1921) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1921
Page 8 Advertisements Column 9 (Evening Post, 24 September 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1921
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Hawera & Normanby Star, 09 November 1921) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1922
Page 8 Advertisements Column 9 (Evening Post, 21 January 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1922
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 08 February 1922) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1922
MEETING AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 20 March 1922) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1922
GATHERING AT CHRISTCHURCH (Evening Post, 20 March 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1922
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 10 June 1922) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1922
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 12 June 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1922
CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITIONS. (NZ Truth, 24 June 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 26 August 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1923
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 22 January 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1923
CRICKET. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 27 January 1923) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1923
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 24 February 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1923
ATHLETIC SPORTS (Evening Post, 01 March 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1923
Page 12 Advertisements Column 7 (Evening Post, 30 April 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1923
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 16 May 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1923
Page 16 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 30 May 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1923
Page 12 Advertisements Column 7 (Evening Post, 25 June 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1923
Page 12 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 09 July 1923) 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.

“The Yard”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch