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.

“Box”, the shelf

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

4,570 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
18 Oct 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1851
Untitled (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 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
29 May 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1852
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Oct 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1852
SUPREME COURT. (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1853
CHRISTCHURCH MARKET. (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1853) 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
15 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1857
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 07 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1857
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Apr 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 April 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Apr 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 April 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 September 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 September 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 23 September 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 September 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 October 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1858
Shipping News. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1858
Shipping News. (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
9 Oct 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 June 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
15 Oct 1859
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
11 Jan 1860
Miscellaneous. (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1860
ARRIVED. (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 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
12 May 1860
Shipping News. (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 May 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
31 Oct 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Feb 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 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
12 Jun 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 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
12 Oct 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
16 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1863
PORT OF NAPIER. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 29 July 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1863
Shipping Summary. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 August 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1863
THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND. (Wellington Independent, 12 December 1863) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1864
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 08 March 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
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
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 February 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1866
PORT OF HOKITIKA. (West Coast Times, 20 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1866
POST OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 June 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 14 July 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 22 September 1866) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1866
PORT OF HOKITIKA. (West Coast Times, 01 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1866
PORT OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 07 November 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1866
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 December 1866) Daily Southern Cross · 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.

“Box”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch