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.

“"Manchester Street"”, the shelf

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

3,426 records matching 97 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
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
10 Dec 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 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
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · 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
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
6 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1879
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 May 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1879
EXTENSION OF GAS MAINS. (Star, 14 May 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1879
Page 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 22 August 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 September 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 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 05 September 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 24 September 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 21 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Manholes and sewers by Christchurch Drainage Board · No. 1 Pumphouse · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
5 Apr 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 April 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 31 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
24 Sept 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1881
Gloucester Street from Cathedral Square Panorama of Christchurch, New Zealand, from Cathedral tower · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Jan 1881
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 January 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1881
DEATHS. (Southland Times, 30 March 1881) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 01 April 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 16 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 01 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1881
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 September 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 October 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1881
Looal & General. (Star, 02 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 November 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 December 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 12 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1882. (Star, 24 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Mar 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 12 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 28 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1882
Manchester bridge Christchurch bridges: plans and drawings · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
2 Jun 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 June 1882) 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.

“"Manchester Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch