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.

“Forget me not”, the shelf

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

198 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 1850s
20 Nov 1852
SUPREME COURT. (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1853
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTIONS. (Lyttelton Times, 03 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1856
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 12 March 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
19 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1861
SUMMARY FOR Europe & Australia PER S. S. "LORD WORSLEY." (Wellington Independent, 07 May 1861) Wellington Independent · 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
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · 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
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
22 Jun 1867
CHRISTCHURCH (Timaru Herald, 22 June 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
17 Feb 1870
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1872
DUNEDIN, OAMARU, AND CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 15 May 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 June 1872) Star · 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
27 Mar 1873
A VISIT TO THE WEST COAST. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1873) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jun 1873
THE LATE MR, H. REDWOOD. (Colonist, 24 June 1873) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 April 1874) Star · 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
3 Dec 1877
Untitled (Auckland Star, 03 December 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Aug 1878
LOCAL AMD GENERAL. (Star, 17 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
6 Feb 1880
POST OFFICE NOTICE. (Otago Daily Times, 06 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1880
THE BANK RETURNS. (Evening Post, 14 February 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 November 1880) Star · 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
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
11 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 11 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1882
OPENING OP THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1883
RAMBLES ROUND THE WORLD.—VIII. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
18 May 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 04 January 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1884
ROUND ABOUT NEW ZEALAND. (Grey River Argus, 31 January 1884) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1884
CATHOLIC CEREMONIES AT WELLINGTON. (New Zealand Tablet, 21 March 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Nov 1884
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 12 November 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1884
Local & General. (Star, 30 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
26 May 1885
THE BATTLE OF LYTTELTON. (Star, 26 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Jan 1886
THE BEARER OF THE LETTERS. (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1886
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 20 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1886
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
NOTES BY BEACON (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1887
OUR CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER. (Otago Witness, 22 April 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1887
MONDAY, MAY 23, 1887. (Timaru Herald, 23 May 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1888
FOOTBALL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1889
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 04 January 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1889
THE OTAGO A. & P. SOCIETY'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
14 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 29 May 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jan 1891
THE INFANTICIDE CASE. (Star, 16 January 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1892
Sporting Mems. (Southland Times, 16 November 1892) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1893
THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
22 Nov 1893
ELECTION NOTES. (Otago Daily Times, 22 November 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Mar 1894
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (BY TELGRAPH.) Christchurch, March 26. (North Otago Times, 27 March 1894) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1894
FOOTBALL. (Auckland Star, 12 May 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1895
THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB. (Observer, 12 January 1895) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Nov 1895
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Christchurch, November 5. (North Otago Times, 06 November 1895) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1895
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Christchurch, November 9. (North Otago Times, 11 November 1895) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1895
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 29 November 1895) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1895
ORANGE GRAND LODGE. (Otago Daily Times, 30 December 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1896
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 21 January 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1896
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 06 March 1896) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1896
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP VERDON. (Otago Witness, 07 May 1896) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1896
Lady Zetland by Sporting & Dramatic Review; C. H. Manning and Co., Christchurch · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
23 Jan 1897
BAND GOSSIP. (Star, 23 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1897
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 18 February 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1898
Local and General. (Ashburton Guardian, 04 June 1898) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1898
TUA-O-RANGI (DAYS GONE BY). (Star, 29 October 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1899
HEROIC DEEDS. (Wanganui Herald, 29 June 1899) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
12 Feb 1900
DAY OF INTERCESSION. (Star, 12 February 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1900
THE KNIGHT TEMPLAR. (Star, 20 February 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Mar 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1900
CHRISTCHURCH �� BLENHEIM RAILWAY. (Star, 29 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1900
LETTERS FROM LITTIE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 14 June 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1900
rUDU3HBI> DAILTi] PATUHDAY. SEPTEMBER 29, 190 H. THE WANG&NUI PQST OFFICE. (Wanganui Herald, 29 September 1900) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Oct 1900
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1900
Untitled (Otago Witness, 05 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 13 March 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. ENTRY INTO WELLINGTON. (Evening Post, 18 June 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 10 July 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 14 August 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1901
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS (Grey River Argus, 21 October 1901) Grey River Argus · 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.

“Forget me not”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch