How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“On The Spot”, the shelf

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

1,157 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 1900s
26 Oct 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 26 October 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Nov 1904
Untitled (Manawatu Times, 05 November 1904) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
23 Nov 1904
SPORTING NEWS. (Star, 23 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1904
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 1904. (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 December 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Nelson Evening Mail, 28 December 1904) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jan 1905
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1905 1904. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 January 1905) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1905
LADIES' GOSSIP. (Otago Witness, 01 February 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1905
UNDER AORANGI. (Grey River Argus, 06 March 1905) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1905
THE MIDLAND EAILWAY (Star, 30 March 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1905
THE TAPANUI MURDER. (Otago Daily Times 4-12-1905) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 May 1905
EMMELINE'S " COSY CORNER CLUB." (Otago Witness, 10 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1905
A TRAMWAY CASE. (Star, 22 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1905
CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAYS. (Wanganui Chronicle, 07 June 1905) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Aug 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Aug 1905
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 August 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 06 September 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 06 September 1905) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 September 1905) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1905
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY. OCT. 5, 1905. FIFTY YEARS OF RAILWAYS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 05 October 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 16 October 1905) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1905
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 18 October 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1905
TALES OF COLONIAL SPORT. (Otago Witness, 25 October 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1905
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1905
THE TAPANUI MURDER. (Otago Witness, 22 November 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 December 1905) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Dec 1905
Untitled (Wanganui Herald, 27 December 1905) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
17 Jan 1906
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 17 January 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1906
BANK NOTES. (Otago Witness, 31 January 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1906
CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 February 1906) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 March 1906) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1906
DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE ASSOCIATION, (Otago Witness, 14 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1906
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 21 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1906
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 April 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Apr 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1906
COMMERCIAL. (Mataura Ensign 5-7-1906) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 08 May 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1906
THE FINAL SCENE. FUNERAL OF THE LATE PREMIER. (Evening Post, 21 June 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1906
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 17 October 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1906
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 30 November 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1906
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 04 December 1906) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1906
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 18 December 1906) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 December 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1907
LOCAL AND GENEBAL. (Star, 03 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jan 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Mar 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 March 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1907
LOCAL & GENERAL HEWS. (Marlborough Express, 09 March 1907) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 March 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Mar 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 25 March 1907) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 08 May 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 May 1907) Wairarapa Daily Times · 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.

“On The Spot”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch