How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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 Grand Hotel”, the shelf

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

1,983 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
5 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 15 September 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1884
TELEGRAPHIC. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 07 October 1884) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 18 October 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1884
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 October 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 01 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1884
The Otago Daily Tmes. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1884. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1884
Tramway to New Brighton. (Star, 03 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1884
Local & General. (Star, 22 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1884
Latest Locals (Star, 23 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 23 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1885
The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1885. (Timaru Herald, 12 February 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1885
SPORTING HEWS. (Otago Witness, 14 March 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1885
Untitled (Auckland Star, 19 March 1885) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 30 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1885
Local & General. (Star, 07 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 12 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1885
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1885
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 11 June 1885) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 13 June 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 06 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 23 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 11 August 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1885
LAND & WATER. (Otago Witness, 03 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1885
Local & General. (Star, 21 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1885
West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1885. (West Coast Times, 24 December 1885) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1886
CORRESPONDENCE. (Nelson Evening Mail, 02 April 1886) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1886
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
14 Apr 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 14 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1886
A FLYING TRIP THROUGH NEW ZEALAND (Otago Daily Times, 28 May 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1886
A FLYING TRIP THROUGH NEW ZEALAND. (Otago Witness, 28 May 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 17 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Jul 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1886
THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. (Evening Post, 28 July 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Aug 1886
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 20 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1886
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. (Evening Post, 24 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 28 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1886
Societies, Clubs, &c. (Star, 14 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 24 September 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1886
THE §tq likr Jrps, PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 4,1886. (Grey River Argus, 04 October 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1886
OUR LONDON LETTER. (Star, 21 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1886
Untitled (West Coast Times, 29 October 1886) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1886
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 07 January 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1887
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1897. (Otago Daily Times, 21 January 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 08 February 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1887
Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1887. (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 March 1887) Poverty Bay Herald · 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.

“The Grand Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch