How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“Moment”, the shelf

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

897 records matching 94 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
6 Sept 1851
PARLIAMENTARY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 06 September 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1851
The Lyttelton Times. December 27, 1851. (Lyttelton Times, 27 December 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1852
CHRISTCHURCH ATHENÆUM (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1853
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTIONS. (Lyttelton Times, 03 September 1853) 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
18 Jul 1854
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 July 1854) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1855
The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, July 14. (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1855
Chapter II.—The River. (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1856
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Dec 1856
The Lyttelton Times, Saturday, December 20. (Lyttelton Times, 20 December 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) 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
23 Oct 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1859
OUR HIGHWAYS. (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 20 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1859) 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
18 Jun 1859
NEW ZEALAND PROVINCES. (Otago Witness, 18 June 1859) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 July 1859) 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
29 Oct 1859
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1859
LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1859
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 03 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 September 1860) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
17 Nov 1860
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 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
20 Jul 1861
LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1861
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jan 1862
GEOLOGY OF OTAGO. (Otago Daily Times, 31 January 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
26 Feb 1862
CHRISTCHURCH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 26 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1862
The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1862
The Daily Southern Cross. UNKNOWN. (Daily Southern Cross, 12 September 1862) Daily Southern Cross · 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
2 Dec 1863
CANTERBURY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (Daily Southern Cross, 02 December 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
21 Oct 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 21 October 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) 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
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 4th June, 1866. (North Otago Times, 07 June 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 11th June, 1866. (North Otago Times, 14 June 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 September 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1867
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 January 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1867
Letter to Mary, 1867 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71228 · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1867
Letter to Mary, 1867 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71227 · Christchurch City Libraries
6 Mar 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 06 March 1867) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 01 May 1867) Timaru Herald · 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
8 Jun 1867
THE MOORHOUSE TUNNEL. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1867) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1867
THE ASSEMBLY. (Daily Southern Cross, 03 September 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1867
GREAT MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 21 September 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1868
Letter to Mary, 29th February 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71225 · Christchurch City Libraries
29 Feb 1868
Letter to Mary, 29th February 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71226 · Christchurch City Libraries
11 Jul 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 July 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1868
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Wellington Independent, 25 July 1868) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1868
TAPANUI. (Bruce Herald, 29 July 1868) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1869
Local and General. (Star, 05 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71209 · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71210 · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Aug 1869
Local and General. (Star, 13 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1869
Magisterial. (Star, 27 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1869
Local and General. (Star, 30 November 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
12 Jan 1870
GERALDINE ROAD BOARD. (Timaru Herald, 12 January 1870) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1870
THE DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JAN. 18. (Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1870
Local and General. (Star, 01 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1870
West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. SATURDAY, APRIL 9. (West Coast Times, 09 April 1870) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1870
CANTERBURY PROVINCE. FEARFUL FIRE AT LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · 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
13 Dec 1871
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 13 December 1871) Grey River Argus · 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
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 March 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

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.

“Moment”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch