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.

“On The Spot”, the shelf

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

1,140 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
28 Sept 1849
Untitled (Daily Southern Cross, 28 September 1849) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1850s
25 Jan 1851
WALKS ON THE ROADS. (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1851
WALKS ON THE ROADS. (Wellington Independent, 19 February 1851) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Sept 1851
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 September 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Oct 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 04 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 December 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1852
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 03 April 1852) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 07 April 1852) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 September 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 12 February 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
28 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1855
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 23 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 June 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1855
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 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
13 Dec 1856
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 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
17 Mar 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 March 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1858
Shipping News. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 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
17 Nov 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (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 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1858
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 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
9 Mar 1859
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 March 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
the 1860s
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1862) 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
1 Feb 1862
Page 9 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · 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
12 Dec 1863
THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND. (Wellington Independent, 12 December 1863) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
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
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
3 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Wellington Independent, 03 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 10 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 17 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 19 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 21 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 24 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 26 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 28 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 05 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 10 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1866) Wellington Independent · 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
25 Jul 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 25 July 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1867
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 22 January 1867) Hawke's Bay Herald · 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
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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

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 Spot”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch