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.

“"PAPANUI"”, the shelf

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

5,893 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 1890s
8 Sept 1893
St Mary's, Merivale. (Star, 08 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1893
FOOTBALL. (Star, 18 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1893
Christchurch Notes. (Clutha Leader, 29 September 1893) Clutha Leader · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1893
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 06 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1893
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 16 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 16 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1893
ROAD BOARDS. (Star, 14 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1893
Marriages. (Auckland Star, 17 November 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1893
Christchurch. (Star, 28 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 07 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1893
DRAINAGE BOARD. (Star, 13 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1893
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1894
Local & General. (Star, 05 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1894
Friendly Societies' Association. (Star, 06 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1894
Local & General. (Star, 03 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 12 March 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Mar 1894
Local & General. (Star, 13 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1894
ODDFELOWSHIP. (Star, 16 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 21 March 1894) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1894
Local & General. (Star, 05 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1894
TRAM ACCIDENT AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 09 April 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
Local & General, (Star, 12 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1894
MARRIGE. (Star, 13 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1894
Local & General. (Star, 27 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 03 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 08 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1894
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1894
DEATHS. (Colonist, 26 May 1894) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Jun 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1894
CANTERBURY COLLEGE v. CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1894
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 14 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1894
OVERLAND FROM NELSON TO SOUTHLAND IN 1856. [By W. H. S. Roberts.] may 1856 (Continued.) (North Otago Times, 10 July 1894) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 July 1894) 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.

“"PAPANUI"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch