How many records does the archive hold?

92,172 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.

“"a"”, the shelf

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

68,135 records matching 91 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 1930s
15 Apr 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 15 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1930
The Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe visit the South Island for the first time: Their Excellencies in Christchurch by Auckland Weekly News; Green and Hahn (Firm) · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
16 Apr 1930
Kirk-Windeyer Cup Contest: best amateur golfers of Australia and New Zealand competing in Christchurch this week by Auckland Weekly News; Green and Hahn (Firm) · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
17 Apr 1930
PIPER FLYING SOUTH (Evening Post, 17 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1930
GOLF AT SHIRLEY (Evening Post, 17 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 17 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1930
Cup Prospects (NZ Truth, 17 April 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 17 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1930
TOPICS FOR WOMEN (Evening Post, 21 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1930
PERSONAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1930
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1930
Start of a big railway construction work in the South Island Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
24 Apr 1930
Half His Outlay Returned (NZ Truth, 24 April 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1930
NEW ST. PATRICK'S (Evening Post, 26 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 26 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 26 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1930
NEW ST. PATRICK'S (Evening Post, 28 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1930
SPRINGSTON SOUTH (Ellesmere Guardian, 29 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1930
PERSONAL ITEMS (Evening Post, 29 April 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 29 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 29 April 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1930
New South Island hydro-electric works to cost over a million sterling: progress of the Waitaki River scheme Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
30 Apr 1930
Honouring our glorious dead: solemn Anzac Day observances in the North and South Island by Auckland Weekly News; Phillips, E. A.; Stapleton, V. A.; Louden, John Frederick ; Green and Hahn (Firm); Palmer, Thomas Grice · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 May 1930
Redcliffs Surprise (NZ Truth, 01 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1930
CHRISTCHURCH TAKE COUNT (NZ Truth, 01 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 02 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 02 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 02 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1930
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Evening Post, 03 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1930
Popular seaside and residential suburb of Christchurch, the capital city of Canterbury Province, South Island by Auckland Weekly News; Neilson, E. · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
8 May 1930
BASIC TROUBLE (NZ Truth, 08 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Ellesmere Guardian, 09 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 09 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1930
MARRIAGES. (Evening Post, 12 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1930
PLAY ELSEWHERE (Evening Post, 12 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1930
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 13 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1930
WHILE HUSBAND WAS IN GAOL (NZ Truth, 15 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1930
Team Alterations Are Risky (NZ Truth, 15 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1930
THREE YOUTHS' GRAVE CRIME (NZ Truth, 15 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1930
CHARITABLE BEQUESTS (Evening Post, 15 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1930
TOPICS FOR WOMEN (Evening Post, 16 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 16 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 16 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1930
RUGBY (Evening Post, 17 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
19 May 1930
AVIATION ART UNION (Evening Post, 19 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1930
SPRINGSTON SOUTH (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1930
DISTRICT NEWS (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1930
South Island triplets by Auckland Weekly News; Green and Hahn (Firm) · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
22 May 1930
AMOS PLAYS FOOTBALL (NZ Truth, 22 May 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1930
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 23 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 23 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 23 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1930
T.B. AND CANCER (Evening Post, 23 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1930
Ships and the Sea (Evening Post, 24 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 27 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 27 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1930
Page 16 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 27 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1930
Reflections on the foreshore at Sumner, a seaside and residential suburb of Christchurch, Canterbury's capital city, South Island by Auckland Weekly News; Green and Hahn (Firm) · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
29 May 1930
ADDINGTON MARKET (Evening Post, 29 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1930
PERSONAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 30 May 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 30 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1930
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 31 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 May 1930
RADIO PROGRAMMES (Evening Post, 31 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Evening Post, 31 May 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1930
Untitled (Waiapu Church Gazette, 02 June 1930) Waiapu Church Gazette · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 03 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1930
PERSONAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 03 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1930
WHY, OH WHY, DOES WYLIE WANDER? (NZ Truth, 05 June 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1930
N.Z. Truth " Replies (NZ Truth, 05 June 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1930
Golf LUSK INTO (NZ Truth, 05 June 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1930
LADIES' HOCKEY (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1930
PERSONAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 10 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1930
TOPICS FOR WOMEN (Evening Post, 10 June 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 10 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 10 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1930
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 13 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 13 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1930
A CROSSING TRAGEDY (Evening Post, 17 June 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 17 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1930
i ' ' ' ' Gieen and Habn, Photo. FATAL-CROSSING SMASH AT SOCKBURN.—At 5.23, p.m. on Mon day a workers''train,from Islington to Christchurch collided with a motor-car at the Sockburn crossing, the engine and six wagons being derailed, the car wrecked, and six people killed. Top left, the < tender of the overturned locomotive, beneath which the engine-driver was buried. On the left; behind the, fireman, is the motor-car responsible, \nr the damaee.' Bottom, left, a closp-ud view of the wrerlted motor-car. Tod rieht. the l five! trucks on fire after the collision. Bottom rishu the Sockburn crossing, scene of the disaster. ' ' (Evening Post, 18 June 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1930
WORST FOOTBALL YET (NZ Truth, 19 June 1930) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1930
PERSONAL NOTES (Evening Post, 23 June 1930) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1930
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 24 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1930
ELLESMERE v. CHRISTCHURCH. (Ellesmere Guardian, 24 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1930
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 24 June 1930) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1930
Tragic level-crossing accident in Canterbury, South Island: six people killed in a collision at Sockburn, Christchurch by Auckland Weekly News; Green and Hahn (Firm); Murphy, J. · Auckland Weekly News · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries

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.

“"a"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch