Local History
Explore local history - the people and places of Ōtautahi.
Featured
Tī Kōuka Whenua
Explore the vibrant past of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region that extends back many hundreds of years before 1850.
Ancestry Library Edition
Trace your family history. Includes records from U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Only available in libraries.
QUIZ: It's Show time
How much do you know about the history of The Show?
Christchurch: City of Light
An online exhibition from Canterbury Stories focused on electricity in Christchurch - articles, photographs and an interactive timeline.
Popular resources
Popular resources
He Kohinga Pūranga / Archives
Located on Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2 of Tūranga the Archives are a rich collection of primary sources on the city’s history.
Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974
The 1974 Commonwealth Games were known as the Friendly Games. They took place in Christchurch from 24 January to 2 February 1974.
Poster collection: Rock music
Local band posters digitised from the libraries' ephemera collection.
Skull Kid by Mitchell Reid: Picturing Canterbury
Chorus utility box featuring Skull Kid from Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on Marshland Road. An image from Canterbury Stories.
The Lodge fire: Picturing Canterbury
A fire at The Lodge in Hanmer Springs in 1958. An image from Canterbury Stories.
Raymond Lew with his parents: Picturing Canterbury
Raymond Lew with his parents in the family market garden at 76 Hargood Street, Woolston, 1949. An image from Canterbury Stories.
Kate Dewes and Harold Evans with ICJ verdict
Reading a fax announcing the judgment on nuclear weapons by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). An image from Canterbury Stories.
Discover Canterbury: Can you help us identify these potters?
Can you please help us identify the people at the 25th Jubilee Reunion for the Halswell Pottery Group in August 1996?
Discover Canterbury: Jan Kubelík cinema advertising slide
Hailed as one of the greatest violinists of all time, Jan Kubelík features on cinema advertising for recitals at The Theatre Royal.
Discover Canterbury: New Zealand Cup and Show Week
Show Day is a public holiday in Canterbury, celebrating the official anniversary of the region. We explore the history of the Show.
QUIZ: The Twelve (slightly tenuous) Days of Christmas
Work your way through the 12 local history questions of this quiz loosely based on the famous Christmas song.
QUIZ: It's Show time
How much do you know about the history of The Show?
QUIZ: Christchurch Heritage
The Christchurch Heritage Festival is on 6 to 23 October. Test your knowledge about city heritage treasures, past and present.
QUIZ: Women's suffrage
Aotearoa gave women the right to vote in 1893. To commemorate this historic event, test your knowledge with our voting rights quiz!
