How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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 Science Shop”, the shelf

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

179 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
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
19 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · 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
2 Aug 1867
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 August 1867) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
29 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 29 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 14 January 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1874
YESTERDAY. Loal and General. (Star, 14 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1874
Local and General. (Star, 17 February 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · 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
8 Jan 1876
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 08 January 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Aug 1881
Local & General. (Star, 01 August 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 14 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
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
5 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 05 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 09 March 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 March 1883) Otago Witness · 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
19 Oct 1883
Untitled (Auckland Star, 19 October 1883) Auckland Star · 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 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1885
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Apr 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 22 April 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Aug 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 14 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1887
ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. (Otago Daily Times, 10 August 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 08 April 1889) Auckland Star · 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
the 1890s
1 Mar 1890
NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. (Grey River Argus, 01 March 1890) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 28 July 1890) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1892
Local & General. (Star, 22 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 December 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1893
A FLAT CONTRADICTION. (Evening Post, 24 April 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1893
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 03 June 1893) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1893
ELECTION NOTES. (Otago Daily Times, 22 November 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jun 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 21 June 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jul 1895
POST OFFICE NOTICES. (Otago Daily Times, 02 July 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1897
THE ILLUMINATIONS. (Star, 23 June 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 July 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 13 August 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
14 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENEEAL. (Star, 14 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1898
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 January 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 19 September 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1898
THE PROPOSED DISARMAMENT. (Auckland Star, 30 December 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1899
TABLE TALK. (Auckland Star, 07 January 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
26 Apr 1900
DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 26 April 1900) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 10 July 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 02 May 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1902
THE GENERAL ELECTION. REDUCED GOVERNMENT MAJORITY. (Evening Post, 26 November 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1903
AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Oct 1903
Untitled (Colonist, 23 October 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1906
Untitled (Evening Post, 27 March 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1906
LOCAL & GENERA. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1906
West Coast Times MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1906 RATIONAL EDUCATION. (West Coast Times, 17 December 1906) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1907
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 September 1907) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Dec 1908
ITS EFFECT IN INDIGESTION. (Otago Witness, 16 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 05 January 1909) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1909
THE CRITIC. (NZ Truth, 21 August 1909) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1909
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 24 August 1909) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1910s
30 Jan 1911
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 30 January 1911) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1913
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 07 May 1913) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1918
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 08 February 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1919
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 February 1919) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
18 Aug 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 18 August 1921) Ashburton Guardian · 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 Science Shop”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch