How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“The Ashley Hotel”, the shelf

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

275 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
13 Dec 1856
Local Intelligence. (Lyttelton Times, 13 December 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1858
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 April 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jun 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
28 Mar 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 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
21 Apr 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 9 places
25 Apr 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
17 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 02 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
6 Mar 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 06 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 Mar 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 April 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
17 Jul 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 10 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 September 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Nov 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Nov 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 18 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 28 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 25 May 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1867
THE ASSEMBLY. (Daily Southern Cross, 03 September 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 12 February 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1868
LOCAL NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Timaru Herald, 02 May 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1869
THE SOUTH. (Daily Southern Cross, 28 September 1869) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1869
The Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 October 1869) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Local and General. (Star, 17 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
11 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jun 1870
MEMORANDA OF TRIE MONIR. (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1870) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1870
CANTERBURY PROVINCE. FEARFUL FIRE AT LYTTELTON. (Colonist, 04 November 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1871
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 November 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Sept 1872
CHAMPION PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 09 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1874
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Timaru Herald, 26 January 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 19 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 25 September 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Oct 1874
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 09 October 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Oct 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 12 October 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
21 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1874
CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. (Star, 13 November 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 06 October 1875) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Mar 1878
SNORTING. (Timaru Herald, 09 March 1878) Timaru Herald · 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
10 May 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1879
The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1879. (Star, 19 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1879
Hawke's Bay Herald. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1879. RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 15 September 1879) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
6 Feb 1880
POST OFFICE NOTICE. (Otago Daily Times, 06 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1880
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 September 1880) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1880) 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.

“The Ashley Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch