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.

“Canterbury House”, the shelf

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

6,398 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
25 Jun 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 12 July 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1880
Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1880
Evening Post. THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1880. THE EDUCATION REPORT. (Evening Post, 22 July 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1880
The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1880. (Southland Times, 23 July 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 16 August 1880) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 25 August 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1880
INERPROVINCIAL. (Marlborough Express, 01 September 1880) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1880
OAMARU. (Timaru Herald, 09 September 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1880
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 13 September 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1880
Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1880. PROTECTION. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 15 September 1880) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Taranaki Herald, 16 September 1880) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
21 Sept 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 September 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1880
THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 02 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Oct 1880
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880. (West Coast Times, 12 October 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1880
THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. (Star, 22 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1880
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 23 October 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 26 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1880
The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880. (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1880
Untitled (Observer, 11 December 1880) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1880
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 11, 1880. (Auckland Star, 11 December 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1880
TELEGRAMS. (Tuapeka Times, 22 December 1880) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1880
Scintillations. (Auckland Star, 28 December 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1880
CANTERBURY NEWS. (West Coast Times, 29 December 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1881
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881. (Otago Daily Times, 14 January 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1881
Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. (Waikato Times, 18 January 1881) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 29 January 1881) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (North Otago Times, 04 February 1881) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1881
THE MOUNT VIEW ASYLUM. (Evening Post, 16 February 1881) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1881
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 25 February 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1881
LOCAL AND GKN^IAL. (Star, 25 February 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1881
Christchurch, February 23rd. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1881
THE PROPERTY TAX RETURNS. (Evening Post, 28 March 1881) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 01 April 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1881
CONSERVATIVE LEADERS. (Wanganui Herald, 22 April 1881) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 12 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1881
NEWS IN BRIEF. (Tuapeka Times, 25 May 1881) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1881
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 06 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 16 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 28 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 01 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 04 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1881
Local & General. (Star, 14 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1881
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 September 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1881
AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 04 October 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 14 October 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 15 October 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 17 October 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1881
Looal & General. (Star, 02 November 1881) 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.

“Canterbury House”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch