How many records does the archive hold?

81,477 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

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

15,065 records matching 99 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 1880s
25 Aug 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1882. (Star, 25 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 August 1882) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1882
Local & General. (Star, 26 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1882
AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND. (Evening Post, 31 August 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 01 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 05 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1882
TELEGRAMS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 13 September 1882) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1882
The Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1882. (Star, 13 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1882
VITAL STATISTICS. (Timaru Herald, 15 September 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 16 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 20 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1882
THE SEARCH FOR MR WINTER. (Star, 23 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 26 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Southland Times, 29 September 1882) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1882
LOOAL & GENEEAL. (Otago Witness, 30 September 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 09 October 1882) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 10 October 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1882
The Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1882. (Star, 11 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1882
VITAL STATISTICS. (Timaru Herald, 14 October 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1882
Local & General. (Star, 20 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1882
Local & General. (Star, 25 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 15 November 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1882
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1882. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 November 1882) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1882
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 22 November 1882) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1882
The Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 28 November 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 09 December 1882) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 19 December 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Dec 1882
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 December 1882) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Dec 1882
TELEGRAMS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 28 December 1882) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1883
New Zealand Shipping Company's Hurunui, the first ship to enter the new graving dock at Lyttelton, Jan. 1883 Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Images Collection · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
3 Jan 1883
OPENING OF THE LYTTELTON GRAVING DOCK. (Marlborough Express, 03 January 1883) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1883
NEW ZEALAND. (Nelson Evening Mail, 03 January 1883) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 January 1883) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1883
Opening of Lyttelton Graving Dock. (Southland Times, 04 January 1883) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 05 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1883
Fatal Accident at Christchurch. (Otago Witness, 06 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 January 1883) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH; (Wanganui Herald, 08 January 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 13 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 16 January 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Otago Daily Times, 17 January 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 22 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 24 January 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 27 January 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 02 February 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1883
TELEGRAMS. INTERPROVINCIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Waikato Times, 06 February 1883) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Feb 1883
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 February 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 06 February 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 07 February 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1883
TELEGRAMS. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Evening Post, 08 February 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1883
TELEGRAPHIC. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 February 1883) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1883
Local & General. (Star, 08 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 15 February 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1883
PUPIL TEACHES' EXAMINATION. (Star, 16 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1883
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 17 February 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1883
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH. (Poverty Bay Herald, 20 February 1883) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 20 February 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 05 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1883
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 06 March 1883) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1883
Untitled (Evening Post, 07 March 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 07 March 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 09 March 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Marlborough Express, 10 March 1883) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1883
Untitled (Thames Star, 10 March 1883) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 12 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1883
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 14 March 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 16 March 1883) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1883
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS. (Timaru Herald, 22 March 1883) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 26 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 March 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 29 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 03 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 07 April 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1883
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 07 April 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1883
NEW ZEALAND. (Nelson Evening Mail, 12 April 1883) Nelson Evening Mail · 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch