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.

“On The Low”, the shelf

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

3,855 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
31 May 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 May 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 June 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 February 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1852
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1852
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 September 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 March 1853) 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
10 Sept 1853
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 February 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
16 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 16 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
11 Oct 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1855
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Jan 1855
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1855) Lyttelton Times · 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
21 Jul 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 July 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1855
CORRESPONDENCE. (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1855
Chapter II.—The River. (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1855
Chapter IV.-The Rail. (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1855
Chapter I.—The Harbour. (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
14 Mar 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 March 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Mar 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 March 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
18 Jul 1857
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
9 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 January 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1858
Shipping News. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 26 February 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
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
10 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 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
7 Sept 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Sept 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 14 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1859
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 19 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
7 Jan 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 22 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 March 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (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
9 May 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1860
Shipping News. (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 May 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 May 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Jun 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1860
CANTERBURY. (Wellington Independent, 08 June 1860) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860) Lyttelton 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.

“On The Low”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch