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.

“The Yard”, the shelf

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

2,078 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 1870s
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1872
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 30 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1872
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Nelson Evening Mail, 08 June 1872) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1872
Untitled (Southland Times, 26 November 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 29 November 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1873
Wellington Independent TUESDAY, 10th JUNE. (Wellington Independent, 10 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jun 1873
FIRE AT TEMPLETON. (Star, 19 June 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 August 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Sept 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 18 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1873
ANNIVERSARY DAY. (Star, 17 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1874
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 20 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Taranaki Herald, 21 February 1874) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 21 February 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1874
NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL. (Colonist, 21 April 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1874
Untitled (Auckland Star, 30 July 1874) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 06 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 07 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 10 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 11 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 12 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 14 November 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1874
THE Grey River Argus. PUBLUSHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1874. (Grey River Argus, 02 December 1874) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1874
WELLINGTON JOCKEY CLUB RACES. Thursday, 3rd DECEMBER. (Evening Post, 04 December 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 January 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1875
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 06 March 1875) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Mar 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 March 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1875
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Star, 12 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jun 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 June 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 June 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 September 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Jan 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 January 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 January 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 February 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 29 February 1876) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 August 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 August 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 02 September 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 04 September 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 05 September 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1876
A SINGULAR CASE. (Marlborough Express, 20 September 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Sept 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 September 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 October 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1876
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 November 1876) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1876
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 November 1876) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1877
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 17 January 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 January 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1877
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 January 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 February 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1877
West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1877. (West Coast Times, 12 March 1877) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1877
Evening Post. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1877. (Evening Post, 19 March 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1877
NORTH OTAGO RACES. (Timaru Herald, 06 April 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1877
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 14 August 1877) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1877
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (West Coast Times, 15 August 1877) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 September 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 October 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1877
LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 October 1877) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1877
SUPREME COURT CASES. (Colonist, 20 October 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 October 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1877
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Dec 1877
LOCAL AND GENRAL. (Star, 19 December 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 31 December 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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