How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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.

“Christchurch Electrical”, the shelf

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

467 records matching 99 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 1860s
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1875
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 06 March 1875) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1880s
28 Dec 1880
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES'FERE. (Star, 28 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 19 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Aug 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1882. (Star, 25 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Nov 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Colonist, 21 November 1882) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1883
SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Evening Post, 07 May 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1883
THE DUST NUISANCE. (Evening Post, 08 November 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 12 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
27 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 06 June 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 04 September 1885) Timaru Herald · 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
29 Oct 1886
Untitled (West Coast Times, 29 October 1886) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1887
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1887. (Otago Daily Times, 23 March 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1887
The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1887. (Inangahua Times, 23 November 1887) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1888
INCREASING ACTIVITY IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING. (Timaru Herald, 11 December 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 08 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1889
A School of Engineering. (Star, 29 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
1 Apr 1891
Untitled (Ashburton Guardian, 01 April 1891) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1893
THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY. (Otago Witness, 13 April 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 July 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1895
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1895
Local & General. (Star, 11 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1896
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 11 January 1896) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1896
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 June 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1896
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1897
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 July 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Apr 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 April 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 31 August 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1898
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1898
HEALTH IS WEALTH. (Otago Daily Times, 10 December 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1898
THE EXHIBITION. (Auckland Star, 13 December 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1899
Page 8 Advertisements Column 7 (Otago Daily Times, 14 January 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1899
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 04 February 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 March 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1899
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 17 August 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Auckland Star, 05 September 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
9 Jan 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 1-9-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1900
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 15 February 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 May 1900
THE Grey River Argus (Grey River Argus, 02 May 1900) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times 21-6-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 July 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 7-7-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 26-7-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 18 August 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 25 August 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 12 September 1900) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 13 September 1900) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 September 1900) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 September 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 04 October 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1900
Untitled (Otago Witness, 05 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 May 1901
In the Public Eye. (New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 01 May 1901) New Zealand Illustrated Magazine · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1901
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 May 1901) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1901
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBOBNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1901. (Poverty Bay Herald, 05 June 1901) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1901
THE NELSON CELEBRATIONS. (Colonist, 29 June 1901) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1901
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 October 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1901
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 October 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1901
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES (Star, 02 November 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1902
THE WEST END. (Star, 11 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1902
Untitled (Mataura Ensign 18-3-1902) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1902
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times 5-7-1902) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 6-1-1902) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Jul 1902
NEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES (Otago Witness, 09 July 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1902
GREATER CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1903
ADVANCE WHATAUPOKO. (Poverty Bay Herald, 31 January 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 04 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 11 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1903
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (Wanganui Herald, 17 February 1903) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
25 Mar 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 25 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Apr 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 15 April 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 06 May 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 03 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 August 1903) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Herald, 19 August 1903) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Aug 1903
PATENTS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 28 August 1903) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · 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
11 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 December 1903) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1904
PERSONAL MATTERS. (Evening Post, 29 January 1904) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 February 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Sept 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 07 October 1904) Star · 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

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.

“Christchurch Electrical”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch