How many records does the archive hold?

61,639 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.

“"Hoon Hay"”, the shelf

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

230 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 1850s
16 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH, July 5th, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
24 Dec 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1854
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 March 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 16 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
15 Sept 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1856
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1856
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1856
Page 15 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1856
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1856
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1856
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 October 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1857
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 28 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Sept 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 18 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1858
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1859
LIST OF RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1859
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1859
LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
11 Jan 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
15 Aug 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1861
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 27 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 31 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.-CLAIMS TO VOTE-1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF HEATHCOTE—CLAIMS TO VOTE.—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
3 Feb 1863
CHRISTCHURCH. (Daily Southern Cross, 03 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGY, AND MINERAL PRODUCTS. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1868
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 01 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1868
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1873
THE EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 08 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 29 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places

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.

“"Hoon Hay"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch