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.

“Native”, the shelf

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

1,477 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 1840s
26 Apr 1848
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 26 April 1848) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1850s
26 Apr 1851
RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1852) 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
19 May 1855
Untitled (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1857
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1857
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1857) 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
1 Jul 1857
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 01 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
30 Oct 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 October 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Dec 1858
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
15 Oct 1859
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1859
LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1859) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 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
18 Jan 1860
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1860
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1860
CHRISTCHURCH (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 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
13 Oct 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
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
1 Dec 1860
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 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
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
4 Jun 1861
CATHOLIC CHURCH. (Daily Southern Cross, 04 June 1861) Daily Southern Cross · 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
24 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 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
18 Jan 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
1 Feb 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1862
M. REUTER. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
30 Aug 1862
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (Wellington Independent, 30 August 1862) Wellington Independent · 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
29 Jul 1863
PORT OF NAPIER. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 29 July 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1863
Shipping Summary. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 August 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · 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
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
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
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · 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
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. (Otago Daily Times, 23 February 1865) Otago Daily Times · 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
11 Mar 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 March 1865) Timaru Herald · 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
27 May 1865
NEW ZEALAND. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 27 May 1865) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
5 Jan 1866
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL EXTENSION BILL, 1865. (Timaru Herald, 05 January 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 13 April 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 14 April 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 17 April 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 28th May, 1866. (North Otago Times, 31 May 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
1 Aug 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 01 August 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 05 September 1866) Timaru Herald · 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 Oct 1866
PORT OF HOKITIKA. (West Coast Times, 01 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1866
LONDON. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Oct 1866
LONDON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 25th, 1866. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1866) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Oct 1866
OPENING OP THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (West Coast Times, 26 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1866
West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1866. (West Coast Times, 10 December 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · 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
25 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 25 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
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1867
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 August 1867) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1867
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 09 August 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 07 September 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1867
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 04 October 1867) 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.

“Native”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch