How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Halswell Timber”, the shelf

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

138 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
11 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Dec 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 28 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
19 May 1860
JURY LIST FOR 1860. (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
25 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1863
PUBLIC WORKS.-CANTERBURY. (FROM THE "LYTTELTON TIMES.") (Daily Southern Cross, 05 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGY, AND MINERAL PRODUCTS. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 December 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
6 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 May 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 05 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1871
Local and General. (Star, 26 July 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1873
THE EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 08 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1874
DIOCESAN SYNOD. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1875
GENERAL SUMMARY. (Timaru Herald, 26 April 1875) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1878
REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET OF THE LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 January 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1878
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 March 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
7 Oct 1881
LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 07 October 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1881
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 October 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1882
Local & General. (Star, 26 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
28 Jan 1890
CANTERBURY. (Otago Daily Times, 28 January 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1890
CANTERBURY. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1891
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 17 October 1891) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 22 August 1893) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1898
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1898. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 March 1898) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
25 Mar 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 March 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1901
The wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1901. A MODEL BOROUGH. (Wanganui Herald, 13 April 1901) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1904
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 23 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Herald, 08 February 1906) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Sept 1906
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1906
THE 50,000 POUNDERS. (Feilding Star, 06 October 1906) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1907
OLLA PODRIDA. (Taranaki Herald, 30 May 1907) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1908
An Artistic Residence. (Progress, 01 May 1908) Progress · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1909
DRAINAGE BOARD. (Star, 22 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
3 Jan 1912
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 03 January 1912) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1912
WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 April 1912) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1912
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 28 December 1912) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1917
THE NINTH BALLOT. (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 July 1917) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1917
15000 MEN CALLED UP (Evening Post, 03 September 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Sept 1917
Military Service Ballot. (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 September 1917) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1917
FIRST DIVISION (Evening Post, 02 October 1917) Evening Post · 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.

“Halswell Timber”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch