How many records does the archive hold?

78,375 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.

“Flowers in the City”, the shelf

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

1,179 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
15 Dec 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
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
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
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
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Aug 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 05 August 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1865
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 23 November 1865) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Jan 1867
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 22 January 1867) Hawke's Bay Herald · 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
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Nov 1870
OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US. (Star, 14 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1870
Local and General. (Star, 15 December 1870) Star · 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
17 Sept 1872
A TEIP TO THE SOUTH. (Colonist, 17 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Oct 1872
Local and General. (Star, 19 October 1872) Star · 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
26 Dec 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 31 March 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1873
Locan and General. (Star, 28 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1873
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 08 July 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1873) Star · 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
12 Nov 1873
Local and General. (Star, 12 November 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
5 Jan 1874
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 05 January 1874) Daily Southern Cross · 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
24 Oct 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
26 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1875
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Nelson Evening Mail, 22 April 1875) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1875
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 29 April 1875) Daily Southern Cross · 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
24 Feb 1876
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 February 1876) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 May 1876
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 10 May 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1876
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1876) Otago Witness · 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
3 Feb 1877
Odds and Ends. (Otago Witness, 03 February 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1877
Untitled (Colonist, 08 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
31 Dec 1877
CRICKET. (Timaru Herald, 31 December 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1878
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 01 January 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1878
Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1878. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 April 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Sept 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Untitled (Auckland Star, 05 November 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 12 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 14 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 17 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 19 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 20 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 21 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 26 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 29 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 31 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 27 October 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 November 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
the 1880s
28 Jan 1880
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 January 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 06 February 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Apr 1880
DEATH. The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1880. (Star, 06 April 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1880
THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 02 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1880
CHRISTOHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 04 November 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1880
CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. (New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1880) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1881
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 January 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
26 Feb 1881
THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1881
THE PROPERTY TAX RETURNS. (Evening Post, 28 March 1881) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1881) Star · 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

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.

“Flowers in the City”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch