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.

“Colony”, the shelf

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

3,324 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 1860s
30 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jan 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Jan 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1862
GEOLOGY OF OTAGO. (Otago Daily Times, 31 January 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Feb 1862
M. REUTER. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1862
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (Wellington Independent, 30 August 1862) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1862
The Daily Southern Cross. UNKNOWN. (Daily Southern Cross, 12 September 1862) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 22 September 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1863
PUBLIC WORKS.-CANTERBURY. (FROM THE "LYTTELTON TIMES.") (Daily Southern Cross, 05 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1863
CANTERBURY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (Daily Southern Cross, 02 December 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1863
THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND. (Wellington Independent, 12 December 1863) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1864
Page 23 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 05 March 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. (Otago Daily Times, 23 February 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGY, AND MINERAL PRODUCTS. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1865
NEW ZEALAND. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 27 May 1865) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 02 September 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1866
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (Timaru Herald, 19 January 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Wellington Independent, 03 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 10 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1866
CHRISTCHURCH, (Timaru Herald, 13 April 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 14 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 17 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) Christchurch, 18th June, 1866. (North Otago Times, 21 June 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1866
POST OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 June 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 25 July 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 28 July 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 August 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 01 September 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 September 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 10 October 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1866
LONDON. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Oct 1866
LONDON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 25th, 1866. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1866) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Oct 1866
OPENING OP THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (West Coast Times, 26 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 21 December 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1867
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 January 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1867
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 22 January 1867) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1867
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 09 March 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · 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.

“Colony”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch