How many records does the archive hold?

71,563 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.

“"High Street"”, the shelf

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

5,716 records matching 95 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
8 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Local and General. (Star, 17 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 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
22 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
1 Jan 1870
Early Manchester and High street intersection by Christchurch Star · 1860 - 1900 Christchurch Star photographs · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1870
Photograph: Christchurch Town Halls, High Street by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
5 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1870
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1870
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1870
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1870
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1870
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 August 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 August 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 October 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1870
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 06 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1870
Local and General. (Star, 15 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1871
Local and General. (Star, 09 February 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 March 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
17 Apr 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 30 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 June 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1871
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 November 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jan 1872
Photograph: High Street by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1872
Glass Plate Negative: High Street by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
24 Jan 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1872
High Street, Christchurch, 1872 by Barker, Alfred Charles, 1819-1873 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
27 Feb 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1872) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · 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 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1872
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (North Otago Times, 12 November 1872) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 November 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
16 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“"High Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch