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.

“Lower R”, the shelf

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

2,885 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 Mar 1851
RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1852
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 09 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 10 places
16 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH, July 5th, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
23 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. July 11, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
23 Jul 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
22 Oct 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1853
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1853
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 December 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1853
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 December 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1853
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 February 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1854
REPORT (Lyttelton Times, 22 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 10 June 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF LYTTELTON. (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 13 places
19 Aug 1854
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Mar 1855
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 31 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
4 Apr 1855
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 04 April 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Nov 1855
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 November 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1856
Evans, Charles, Papauni Laboure (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Feb 1856
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1857
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1857
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
21 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 November 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1857
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1857
BIRTHS. (Lyttelton Times, 16 December 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1858
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1858
toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1858
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 June 1858) 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
27 Nov 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 22 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 January 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 26 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1859
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
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
24 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
28 Sept 1859
ORDINATION. (Lyttelton Times, 28 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1859
Commercial. (Colonist, 06 December 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
11 Jan 1860
Miscellaneous. (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1860
LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS, FOR QUARTER. ENDING 31st MARCH, 1860. (Lyttelton Times, 14 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 9 places
25 Apr 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
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
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 06 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Jul 1860
RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 May 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 June 1861) Lyttelton 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.

“Lower R”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch