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.

“The Long Knight”, the shelf

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

464 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
21 Oct 1854
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 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
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
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
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
11 Jul 1860
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1860
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1860
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1862
LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS, &c, (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1863
PUBLIC WORKS.-CANTERBURY. (FROM THE "LYTTELTON TIMES.") (Daily Southern Cross, 05 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
25 Jun 1866
POST OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 June 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1866
OPENING OP THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (West Coast Times, 26 October 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 24 April 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1867
THE MOORHOUSE TUNNEL. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1867) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1868
TAPANUI. (Bruce Herald, 29 July 1868) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1869
Provincial Council. (Star, 29 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1870s
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
11 Aug 1871
RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. (Star, 11 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1872
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 30 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 30 March 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1872
OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. (Star, 30 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 May 1873
Provincial Council. (Star, 14 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1873
ANNIVERSARY DAY. (Star, 17 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 23 March 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1874
MR WYNN WILLIAMS AT PAPANUI (Star, 01 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1874
Untitled (Auckland Star, 01 December 1874) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1875
BIRTHS. (Colonist, 16 January 1875) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1875
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 06 March 1875) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1875
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 27 March 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1875
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Star, 12 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 July 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1876
Latest Provincial Telegrams. (Marlborough Express, 12 April 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 August 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 November 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1876
SUPREME COURT. (Timaru Herald, 13 December 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1877
THE TRADE OF OUR PORT. (Colonist, 23 January 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1877
THE PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1877. (Grey River Argus, 05 March 1877) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1877
Evening Post. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1877. (Evening Post, 19 March 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1878
PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE. (Star, 08 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 May 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN RAILWAY. (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1879
CRICKET. (Star, 17 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1879
Local and General Intelligence. (Tuapeka Times, 19 November 1879) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
23 Jan 1880
Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 23 January 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1880
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 06 April 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 June 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 August 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
16 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Otago Daily Times, 16 December 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1881
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 March 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1881
CONSERVATIVE LEADERS. (Wanganui Herald, 22 April 1881) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 12 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1881
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 28 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1881
AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 04 October 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
30 Jan 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 January 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 06 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1882
Local & General. (Star, 12 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1882
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1882
Local & General. (Star, 19 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 01 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Untitled (Evening Post, 07 March 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1883
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 March 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
28 Apr 1883
THEATRICAL. (Otago Witness, 28 April 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1883
Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883. THE SPEECH. (Wanganui Herald, 15 June 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1883
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1883
NOTES BY PASQUIN, (Otago Witness, 06 October 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1883
THROUGH OUR EXCHANGES. (Bruce Herald, 06 November 1883) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1883
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS ITEMS. (Auckland Star, 08 December 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 23 April 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1884
TELEGRAMS. (Otago Daily Times, 30 April 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Apr 1884
TELEGRAPHIC. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 30 April 1884) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 07 May 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 September 1884) Star · 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
6 Jun 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 06 June 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1885
SYDENHAM v. MERIVALE. (Star, 15 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 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

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 Long Knight”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch