How many records does the archive hold?

58,089 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.

“Rose”, the shelf

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

1,844 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
15 Dec 1841
LAST- NIGHT'S MEETING. (New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, 15 December 1841) New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1850s
25 Jan 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1851
RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 29 March 1851) 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
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
7 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 07 April 1852) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Nov 1852
CHRISTCHURCH COLONISTS' SOCIETY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 June 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
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
30 Jul 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 30 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 08 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
15 Apr 1854
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 April 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1854
Page 11 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1854
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 May 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
12 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 12 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · 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
18 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 18 October 1854) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) 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
4 Apr 1855
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 04 April 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 July 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
11 Apr 1857
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 April 1857) 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
19 Sept 1857
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 19 September 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1857
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 November 1857) 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
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
29 Oct 1859
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 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
14 Jan 1860
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 14 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
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
5 Sept 1860
SUPREME COURT.-Criminal Sittings. (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1860
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 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
13 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
20 Jul 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1861
LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS, &c., (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1861
Tuesday, November 5. (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 12 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
9 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.-CLAIMS TO VOTE-1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
16 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 10 places
16 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 Apr 1862
LIST OF CLAMANTS TO BE PLACED ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHEVIOT. (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 11 places
19 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
10 May 1862
CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION. (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
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
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
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
7 Nov 1866
PORT OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 07 November 1866) Daily Southern Cross · 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 Apr 1867
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 April 1867) Daily Southern Cross · 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
17 Jul 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 17 July 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 24 July 1867) Timaru Herald · 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
21 Sept 1867
GREAT MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 21 September 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 12 February 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Marlborough Express, 15 February 1868) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 04 March 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 07 March 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1868
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. BIRTHS. (Wellington Independent, 07 April 1868) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1868
THE Grey River Argus THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1868. (Grey River Argus, 29 October 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) 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.

“Rose”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch