How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“South City Mall”, the shelf

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

185 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 1860s
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
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 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
16 Jun 1868
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jun 1873
THE LATE MR, H. REDWOOD. (Colonist, 24 June 1873) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 09 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1875
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 June 1875) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 August 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1879
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 19 February 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 27 October 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
28 Jan 1880
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 January 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1880
THE BANK RETURNS. (Evening Post, 14 February 1880) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1880
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 03 April 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1882
Local & General. (Star, 11 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 13 May 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jun 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 17 June 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1882
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 01 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
8 Feb 1883
Local & General. (Star, 08 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Dec 1883
CROWN LANDS SALE. The Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 21 December 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 12 January 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1884
Board of Health. (Star, 30 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 July 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Aug 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 16 August 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1884
The Otago Daily Tmes. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1884. (Otago Daily Times, 02 December 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1885
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Nov 1885
Local & General. (Star, 16 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1886
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
15 May 1886
The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886. (Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1886) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 August 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 August 1886) Star · 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
29 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 29 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
12 Mar 1887
The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1887. (Timaru Herald, 12 March 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1887
West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1887. (West Coast Times, 17 October 1887) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 17 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1888
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 06 April 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1888
The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1888. (Inangahua Times, 29 August 1888) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1888
Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1888. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." GOOD ADVICE. Local and General Intelligence. (Tuapeka Times, 26 December 1888) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1889
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1889
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 09 November 1889) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1889
Local & General. (Star, 27 November 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1889
THE OTAGO A. & P. SOCIETY'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
26 Jul 1890
District and General. (Bush Advocate, 26 July 1890) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1891
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 04 February 1891) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1891
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1891) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1892
BY MAZEPPA. (Otago Witness, 23 June 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1892
THE GENERAL ELECTION. (Otago Witness, 14 July 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
16 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 16 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 April 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
24 May 1894
OUR LONDON LETTER. (Otago Witness, 24 May 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
22 Jan 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 January 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1896
CABLED TOPICS. (Evening Post, 25 January 1896) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1896
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Auckland Star, 21 March 1896) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1897
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 February 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1897
Financial Statement. (Nelson Evening Mail, 13 October 1897) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1899
LoOAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 04 May 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1899
FOOTBALL NOTES. (Star, 12 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1899
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Star, 15 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 15 June 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
30 Aug 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 November 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 November 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1901
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD FOR THE YEAR 1900. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 March 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1901
Untitled (Taranaki Herald, 18 March 1901) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 June 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 July 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 September 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1901
Nelson: SIXTY YEARS OF HISTORY. (Nelson Evening Mail, 07 September 1901) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1901
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 25 December 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 09 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1904
PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS. LITERARY NOTES. Comparisons NOT ALWAYS ODIOUS. GLENMARK. PERSONAL NOTES. IN OLD LINLITHGOW. THREE VALUABLE REPRINTS. ART ANts ARTISTS. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
LACAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 April 1904) Star · 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.

“South City Mall”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch