How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Black & White”, the shelf

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

3,370 records matching 80 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
1 Jan 1850
Christchurch NZ, 1852-1921 Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 Jan 1850
A Good Deed 2010 Photo Hunt · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Christchurch, Number One by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Christchurch, Number Two by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Interior of the Sitting Room of Blackwall House by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Interior of Studding Sail Hall by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Studding Sail Hall by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
29 Nov 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1852
Photograph: Image of Christchurch 1852 by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1852
Sketch: The Church and Parsonage by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · no. 103227 · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1852
Sketch: The Church and Parsonage by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · no. 113507 · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1852
Sketch: View from Alfred Charles Barker's Balcony by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1852
Sketch: Parsonage and Church by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1852
Sketch: View from the Bridge at the Market Place by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
17 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jan 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 February 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 07 April 1852) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 May 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1852
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1853
Sketch: Election for the First Superintendent by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
19 Mar 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 March 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1853
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1853
Page 11 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1854
Sketch: The Temporary Church by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1854
Sketch: Interior of the Temporary Church by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
7 Jan 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1854
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1855
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jun 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Aug 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 August 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1855
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Dec 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1855
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1856
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 February 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Apr 1856
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1856
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 July 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1856
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jan 1857
Glass Plate Negative: Town Hall by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
31 Jan 1857
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1857
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 October 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 October 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1857) 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
11 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (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
18 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (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
1 Jan 1858
Photograph: Government Buildings, Christchurch 1858 by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1858
Photograph: Government Buildings, Christchurch by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1858
Glass Plate Negative: Panorama by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
9 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Mar 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1858
toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 March 1858) Lyttelton 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.

“Black & White”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch