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.

“Garden Hotel”, the shelf

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

1,546 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
20 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1878
West Coast Times. (West Coast Times, 29 June 1878) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 18 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 22 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 05 August 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1878
LOCAL AMD GENERAL. (Star, 17 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1878
Page 22 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 23 August 1878) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1878
PROPOSED NEW HOTEL AT SUMNER. (Star, 02 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1878
Page 22 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 13 September 1878) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 22 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1879
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 6. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 05 September 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1879
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1879) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Dec 1879
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1878. (Otago Daily Times, 01 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
24 Jan 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 January 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
18 Mar 1880
INTERIM REPORT BY THE NATIVE COMMISSION. (Evening Post, 18 March 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1880
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 03 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Southland Times, 05 May 1880) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 July 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 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
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
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
8 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1880
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY. (Timaru Herald, 17 December 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1881
THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1881
The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY. MARCH 14, 1881. (Southland Times, 14 March 1881) Southland Times · 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
22 Apr 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 April 1881) Star · 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
31 May 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 31 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 19 November 1881) Auckland 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.

“Garden Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch