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.

“Walker & Hall”, the shelf

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

939 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
22 Oct 1853
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
16 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE DISTRICT OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 16 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
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
3 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 23 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
14 Jan 1860
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1860
LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS, FOR QUARTER. ENDING 31st MARCH, 1860. (Lyttelton Times, 14 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1860
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
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
9 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Jul 1860
RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1861
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
18 Jan 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1862
TIMARU DISTRICT ELECTORAL ROLL.—(Continued) (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1862
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1862
TIMARU DISTRICT ELECTORAL ROLL.—(Continued). (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Feb 1864
Page 24 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Witness, 20 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
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
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Mar 1866
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 31 March 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1866
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 02 April 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1866
THE NEW PARLIAMENT. (North Otago Times, 05 April 1866) North Otago Times · 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
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1867
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 01 April 1867) Daily Southern Cross · 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
9 Aug 1867
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 09 August 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 02 November 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Aug 1868
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 21 August 1868) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1869
THIS MONTH. (West Coast Times, 03 September 1869) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
13 Jan 1870
Local and General. (Star, 13 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1870
EDUCATIONAL. (Star, 20 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
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
5 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 05 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 07 November 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
26 Jul 1871
Local and General. (Star, 26 July 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 08 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 12 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CANTERBURY MUSEUM. (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1872
CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION. (Star, 01 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1872
News of the Week, (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1873
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 03 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1873
Local and General. (Star, 23 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 November 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 22 November 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 20 December 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 24 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 21 February 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1874
AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Timaru Herald, 22 April 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 06 June 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
18 Mar 1876
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1876) Otago Witness · 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
11 Nov 1876
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1876) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1876
SUPREME COURT. (Timaru Herald, 13 December 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1876
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 December 1876) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1877
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 17 January 1877) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1877
Evening Post. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1877. (Evening Post, 01 February 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1877
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 17 February 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
18 Jul 1877
MAGISTRATES' COURTS. (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1877
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 06 October 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1877
SUPREME COURT CASES. (Colonist, 20 October 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1877
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 October 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 January 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 26 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1878
West Coast Time. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878. (West Coast Times, 16 April 1878) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 June 1878) 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.

“Walker & Hall”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch