How many records does the archive hold?

60,434 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.

“Advantage”, the shelf

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

1,393 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 1840s
26 Apr 1848
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 26 April 1848) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1850s
17 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 February 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1852
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1852
CHRISTCHURCH ATHENÆUM (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
14 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
21 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
28 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
27 Aug 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 27 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1853
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTIONS. (Lyttelton Times, 03 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
REPORT (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1854
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 July 1854) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1854
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1855
REPORT. (Lyttelton Times, 16 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 May 1855
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1855
Untitled (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 23 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Sept 1856
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1857
The Lyttelton Times (Lyttelton Times, 10 January 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1857
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Aug 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 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
30 Mar 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
18 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 July 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
22 Oct 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 22 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
the 1860s
18 Jan 1860
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 March 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1860
CANTERBURY. (Wellington Independent, 08 June 1860) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1861
SUMMARY FOR Europe & Australia PER S. S. "LORD WORSLEY." (Wellington Independent, 07 May 1861) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1861
CATHOLIC CHURCH. (Daily Southern Cross, 04 June 1861) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1861
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1861) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Nov 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jan 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1862
GEOLOGY OF OTAGO. (Otago Daily Times, 31 January 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Feb 1862
M. REUTER. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1862) Otago Daily 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.

“Advantage”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch