How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“City Church Christchurch”, the shelf

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

3,380 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
27 Aug 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 August 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 28 August 1886) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1886
Yesterday. (Star, 21 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 24 September 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 08 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 29 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1886
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1886
The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. (Waikato Times, 18 November 1886) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1886
The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 24 November 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 07 January 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1887
Local & General. (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1887
Latest Local. (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1887
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1897. (Otago Daily Times, 21 January 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 28 January 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 16 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 19 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1887
Local & General. (Star, 25 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1887
Christchurch Presbytery. (Star, 09 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1887
The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1887. (Timaru Herald, 12 March 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1887
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1887. (Otago Daily Times, 23 March 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1887
N.Z. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (West Coast Times, 11 April 1887) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1887
Saint John's Anglican Church (Southland Times, 12 May 1887) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jun 1887
Sydenham Borough Council. (Star, 14 June 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1887
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. (Otago Daily Times, 22 June 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 June 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1887
THE NEW ELECTORATES. (Timaru Herald, 05 July 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1887
SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS. (Auckland Star, 16 July 1887) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Aug 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 20 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 25 August 1887) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1887
Local & General. (Star, 29 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1887
FOOTBALL. (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1887
Local & General. (Star, 30 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1887
West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1887. (West Coast Times, 17 October 1887) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1887
Local & Genera (Star, 03 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
AUSTRALIA." (Evening Post, 24 November 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1888
St Luke's Chapel - List No. 5328 by Robyn Burgess [Report Author] · The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga · about 2 places
5 Jan 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 05 January 1888) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1888
SANE PEOPLE IN THE ASYLUM. (Auckland Star, 01 February 1888) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1888
Page 20 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Witness, 10 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 17 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES (Otago Daily Times, 18 February 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1888
THE FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION. (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1888
Latest Locals. (Star, 21 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1888
FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION. (Taranaki Herald, 23 February 1888) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES (Otago Daily Times, 12 March 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1888
Local & General (Star, 12 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1888
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1888
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 March 1888) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1888
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 06 April 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1888
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1888. (West Coast Times, 17 April 1888) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1888
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 18 April 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 10 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 29 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1888
Local & General. (Star, 30 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Timaru Herald, 05 July 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Aug 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1888. (Otago Daily Times, 11 August 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Aug 1888
Local & General. (Star, 30 August 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1888
OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED. Additional Particulars. Christchurch, September 1. THE DAMAGE TO THE CATHEDRAL. OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED. (Te Aroha News, 05 September 1888) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1888
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 18SS. (Otago Daily Times, 13 September 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1888
Evening Post. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1888. (Evening Post, 15 September 1888) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Oct 1888
INTERPROVINCIAL (West Coast Times, 23 October 1888) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1888
TELEGRAMS (Inangahua Times, 24 October 1888) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1888
Local & General. (Star, 20 November 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 28 November 1888) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1888
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 30 November 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 01 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1888
Latest Locals. (Star, 10 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1888
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 14 December 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 15 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1888. (Otago Daily Times, 17 December 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 26 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1888
Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1888. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." GOOD ADVICE. Local and General Intelligence. (Tuapeka Times, 26 December 1888) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1888
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 December 1888) Auckland 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.

“City Church Christchurch”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch