Local History
Explore local history - the people and places of Ōtautahi.
The Christchurch Documentary Project
Photographers show ever-changing Christchurch: the central city, Bishopdale, the seaside suburbs, Halswell, and Woolston!
Featured event
Local History Talk: Christchurch, A Sickly City
Mar 2nd | 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Local historian and author, Gerard Morris takes us back to the grimey, unsanitary early days of Christchurch's settlement.
Local history events
Featured topics
Christchurch Street and Place Names
Explore this resource that explains the origins of Christchurch street and place names.
Chch 100 years ago
100 years ago in Christchurch & Canterbury. Follow @100chch on Twitter.
Māori place names
Resources to help find Māori place names in Christchurch and New Zealand.
Christchurch Photo Hunt 2019 - The Winners
Photo Hunt 2019 was an outstanding success with a record number of entries — 543 entries.
Popular resources
Popular resources
Picturing Canterbury
Xeus and the ring of fire: Picturing Canterbury
Police dog Xeus leaps through a ring of fire at the Canterbury A&P Show parade. Handler, Mark Willis, is accompanying him, 1987.
Mini-mini-micro bike: Picturing Canterbury
Stuart McLean riding his mini-mini-micro bike up Colombo Street past Victoria Square.17 February 1969. An image from the Discovery Wall.
Queuing at Lancaster Park for Canterbury-Lions tickets
Three teenagers sitting outside Lancaster Park queuing to get the best tickets for the rugby match,1971. An image from the Discovery Wall.
Discovery Wall
Tūranga is the home of NZ’s largest digital touchwall. Find out more, and how you can contribute to this unique heritage resource.
Tī Kōuka Whenua
Explore the vibrant past of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region that extends back many hundreds of years before 1850.
