How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“Better Life Dairy”, the shelf

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

246 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
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
the 1860s
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · 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
the 1870s
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1871
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 13 December 1871) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1874
YESTERDAY. Loal and General. (Star, 14 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 21 February 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1874
Untitled (Auckland Star, 01 December 1874) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1879
TELEGRAPHIC. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 28 October 1879) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
the 1880s
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1881
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881. (Otago Daily Times, 14 January 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1881
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 17 June 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Dec 1881
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · 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
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · 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
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1883
Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883. THE SPEECH. (Wanganui Herald, 15 June 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1883
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1884
Board of Health. (Star, 30 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 14 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
27 Aug 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 August 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
19 May 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 May 1888) Star · 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
17 Jul 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 July 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 25 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1889
A TRIP TO THE EXHIBITION (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 December 1889) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
22 Mar 1890
THE COLLEGE AND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. (Evening Post, 22 March 1890) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 May 1893
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 19 May 1893) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jul 1893
Local & General. (Star, 03 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 25 July 1893) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1893
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1893 (Otago Daily Times, 24 August 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 10 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Jan 1894
Evening Post. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1894. (Evening Post, 26 January 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jun 1894
MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE and AMERICA. (Auckland Star, 14 June 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 21 June 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY. JULY 23, 1894 THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE. (Evening Post, 23 July 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1894
NZ. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 23 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1894
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1894. 1894. (Evening Post, 31 December 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1895
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 January 1895) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1895
West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1895. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1895) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1895
POST OFFICE NOTICES. (Otago Daily Times, 02 July 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1895
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Auckland Star, 12 September 1895) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1896
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 September 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1897
TOWN EDITION. The Ensign. GORE: THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1897. DAIRY INDUSTRY. (Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1897) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1897
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 01 July 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1897
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Daily Times, 25 November 1897) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1898
COMMERCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 03 March 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1898
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1898. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 March 1898) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1899
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1890. (Otago Daily Times, 15 April 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1899
GOOD HEALTH WITHOUT DRUGS. 2.—THE LARGEST ORGAN IN THE BODY. (Otago Witness, 15 June 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
UPPER HOUSE REFORIM. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 August 1899) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1899
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Daily Times, 24 November 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1899
SHOWS. OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Witness, 30 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1900s
30 Aug 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 November 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1900
Untitled (Otago Witness, 05 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1900
COUNTRY NEWS. (Otago Daily Times, 07 December 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1901
The wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1901. A MODEL BOROUGH. (Wanganui Herald, 13 April 1901) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. ENTRY INTO WELLINGTON. (Evening Post, 18 June 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
7 Mar 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1902
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 May 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1902
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1902
RUSSIAN UNREST. (Wanganui Herald, 14 October 1902) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Hawera & Normanby Star, 13 December 1902) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1903
AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 09 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1903
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 21 September 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1903
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISEORNE. TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 1903. (Poverty Bay Herald, 27 October 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1903
DOT'S LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 November 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1903
THE COLONIST. Ppublished Daily-Morning. Nelson, Thursday, Deo. 31, 1903. 1903. (Colonist, 31 December 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1904
NOTES AMD QUERIES. The Otago Witness, THE WEEK. SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES. SHOOTING AT A CHINAMAN SPORTING. TALK OF THE DAY. IN A NUTSHELL CANTERBURY DOINGS. WELLINGTON NOTES. AUCKLAND TOPICS. SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jun 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 26 October 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Nov 1904
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 30 November 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1904
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 1904. (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 December 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 05 December 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 30 December 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1905
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY. JAN. 18. 1905. (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 January 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1905
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY. MAR. 8. 1905. (Poverty Bay Herald, 08 March 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1905
Untitled (Manawatu Standard, 13 April 1905) Manawatu Standard · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1905
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 26 April 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1905
THE DICTATES OF FASHION. (Wanganui Herald, 27 April 1905) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 03 October 1905) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read

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.

“Better Life Dairy”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch