How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“City Garden”, the shelf

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

2,318 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
26 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 25 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
10 Oct 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 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
20 Jul 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1862) 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
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.-CLAIMS TO VOTE-1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · 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
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 26 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 28 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 01 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 05 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 10 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1867
HAWKE'S BAY PROVINCE. (Daily Southern Cross, 29 May 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1868
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH (Timaru Herald, 29 April 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 18 July 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1868
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
13 Jan 1870
Local and General. (Star, 13 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jun 1870
MEMORANDA OF TRIE MONIR. (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1870) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1871
CHICORY FARM IN CANTERBURY. (Bruce Herald, 01 March 1871) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1871
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR. (Otago Daily Times, 31 March 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1871
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 April 1871) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1871
The Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 04 July 1871) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1872) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1872
CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION. (Star, 01 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1872
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Star, 26 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1872
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 13 December 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1872
Local and General. (Star, 26 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1873
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 February 1873) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Apr 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 25 December 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1874
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 20 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 23 March 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1874
NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL. (Colonist, 21 April 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1874
LOCAL INDUSTRY. (Star, 18 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 03 November 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1874
CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. (Star, 13 November 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1874
Untitled (Auckland Star, 01 December 1874) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 18 December 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 19 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1874
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Colonist, 22 December 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1875
LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. (Star, 08 April 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
26 Aug 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 August 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1875
The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1875. (Nelson Evening Mail, 13 October 1875) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 29 November 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1877
THE TRADE OF OUR PORT. (Colonist, 23 January 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jan 1877
Untitled (Auckland Star, 25 January 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1877
Untitled (Colonist, 24 March 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1877
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS (Colonist, 07 April 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 16 April 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1877
MAGISTRATES' COURTS. (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1877
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1877. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 January 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Otago Daily Times, 29 January 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 April 1878) Star · 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.

“City Garden”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch