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 Woolston Daily”, the shelf

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

233 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 1870s
2 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 02 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 17 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1873
Varieties. (Star, 04 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1877
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1879
EXTENSION OF GAS MAINS. (Star, 14 May 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Aug 1879
Page 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 22 August 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1879
Page 19 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 05 September 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
25 May 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1881
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 17 June 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 06 March 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
20 Apr 1882
OPENING OP THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1882
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1882. (Star, 25 August 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
22 Sept 1882
Local & General. (Star, 22 September 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1885
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1885. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 June 1885) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Nov 1886
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Marlborough Express, 20 September 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1888
ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM. (Otago Daily Times, 29 June 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1888
Local & General. (Star, 30 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1888
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 03 July 1888) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 9 (Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 23 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
28 Jan 1890
CANTERBURY. (Otago Daily Times, 28 January 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 05 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1893
Local & General. (Star, 21 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1893
Local & General. (Star, 30 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1893
BURGLARIES. (Otago Daily Times, 12 September 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 26 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 16 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 22 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Jul 1895
POST OFFICE NOTICES. (Otago Daily Times, 02 July 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1895
THE UNEMPLOYED. (Star, 27 July 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1896
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 January 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 22 January 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 19 December 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

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 Woolston Daily”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch