How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Z”, the shelf

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

63,896 records matching 72 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 1850s
14 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 18 October 1854) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1854
CORRESPONDENCE. (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 04 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
11 Nov 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
15 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
15 Nov 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
18 Nov 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
18 Nov 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
22 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
22 Nov 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
25 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
25 Nov 1854
Untitled (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
29 Nov 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 November 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
2 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
6 Dec 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
6 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
9 Dec 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
13 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
13 Dec 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
16 Dec 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
20 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
23 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
30 Dec 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 December 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1855
Mountfort Drawing: Design for Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, 1855 by Benjamin Mountfort · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
3 Jan 1855
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
6 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
27 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
31 Jan 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
10 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
14 Feb 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
14 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
17 Feb 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
21 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
28 Feb 1855
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Feb 1855
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 28 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
28 Feb 1855
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 February 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
3 Mar 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 07 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
10 Mar 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1855
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1855
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
17 Mar 1855
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
21 Mar 1855
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Mar 1855
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
28 Mar 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
31 Mar 1855
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1855
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 31 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
4 Apr 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 April 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1855
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 04 April 1855) Lyttelton Times · 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.

“Z”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch