How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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.

“Royal Indian”, the shelf

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

237 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
21 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 October 1854) 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
8 May 1858
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 May 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
6 Feb 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · 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
14 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
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
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
the 1870s
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1873
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 February 1873) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1875
GENERAL SUMMARY. (Timaru Herald, 26 April 1875) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1876
A SINGULAR CASE. (Marlborough Express, 20 September 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1877
Evening Post. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1877. (Evening Post, 01 February 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1877
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1877. (Evening Post, 06 November 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1877
Untitled (Auckland Star, 03 December 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 31 December 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jan 1878
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 01 January 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1878
Evening Post FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1878. (Evening Post, 11 January 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1878
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1878. (Marlborough Express, 13 April 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1878
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 13 July 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jul 1878
TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 24 July 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1878
Evening Post. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1878. (Evening Post, 12 September 1878) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1879
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1878. (Otago Daily Times, 01 December 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
6 Oct 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 January 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 February 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 04 February 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 March 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 April 1881) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1881
THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1881) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 06 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 12 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 24 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1882
LOOAL & GENEEAL. (Otago Witness, 30 September 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Oct 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 09 October 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1883
RAMBLES ROUND THE WORLD.—VIII. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1884
THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY. (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 12 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
27 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1885
TELEGRAPHIC. (Poverty Bay Herald, 13 April 1885) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 06 June 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1885
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1886
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. (Evening Post, 24 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 24 September 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 29 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
AUSTRALIA." (Evening Post, 24 November 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1888
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 18SS. (Otago Daily Times, 13 September 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Jun 1889
THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. + (Evening Post, 29 June 1889) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 15 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
13 Jun 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 June 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1890
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 03 September 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1891
A Latest Locals. (Star, 23 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 06 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1891
Local & General. (Star, 28 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 April 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1892
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1892. (Auckland Star, 23 November 1892) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 22 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 12 April 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 21 June 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Aug 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1894. 1894. (Evening Post, 31 December 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 23 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 25 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1896
THE "HAURAKI" ECLIPSED. (Star, 08 May 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1897
Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1897. (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 February 1897) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1897
LOCAL ACT GENERAL. (Star, 22 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 July 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENEEAL. (Star, 14 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1898
Biographical Notes of Settlers of the First Decade. THE OLD IDENTITY. (Otago Witness, 31 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1898
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 07 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1898
IN A NUTSHELL. (Star, 28 May 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 18 July 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1898
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1898) 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.

“Royal Indian”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch