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.

“"Riccarton"”, the shelf

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

4,381 records matching 99 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
9 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 08 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1869
CANTERBURY. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 27 April 1869) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1869
Magisterial. (Star, 04 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1869
Local and General. (Star, 12 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1869
CANTERBURY POSTAL GUIDE. (Star, 07 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1869
Local and General. (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1869
Local and General. (Star, 13 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 31 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Oct 1869
Local and General. (Star, 20 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
6 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1870
CANTERBURY POSTAL GUIDE, (Star, 08 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 May 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1870
EDUCATIONAL. (Star, 20 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 02 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 18 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 03 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 05 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1870
POSTAL NOTICE. (Star, 30 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1871
Photograph: Riccarton School by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
9 Jan 1871
POSTAL NOTICES. (Star, 09 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1871
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS. (Star, 10 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1871
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF CANTERBURY. (Star, 24 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1871
CANTERBURY POSTAL GUIDE. (Star, 27 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 02 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 27 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1871
Local and General. (Star, 31 July 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 23 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1872
OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. (Star, 30 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1872
COURTENAY PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 03 August 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1872
CHAMPION PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 09 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
A VISIT TO THE WEST COAST. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1873) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1873
Provincial Council. (Star, 14 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1873
Varieties. (Star, 04 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 14 July 1873) Timaru Herald · 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
11 Nov 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 November 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1874
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Timaru Herald, 23 January 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1874
Provincial Council. (Star, 23 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1874
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Timaru Herald, 26 January 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1874
ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING. (Star, 28 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Oct 1874
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 09 October 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Oct 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 12 October 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 Oct 1874
DIOCESAN SYNOD. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1875
BIRTHS. (Colonist, 16 January 1875) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 05 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 06 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 10 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Wanganui Chronicle, 15 March 1875) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1875
THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1875. (Grey River Argus, 07 April 1875) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 April 1875) 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.

“"Riccarton"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch