Local History
Explore local history - the people and places of Ōtautahi.
Ancestry Library Edition
Trace your family history. Includes records from United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Featured topics
Pestilence parallels - The 1918 influenza pandemic
Joyce looks at what the papers had to say during the Influenza epidemic of 1918 and sees some parallels with the current global pandemic.
Chch 100 years ago
100 years ago in Christchurch & Canterbury. Follow @100chch on Twitter.
Crimes of the 19th century: Canterbury Police Gazette
Glenn delves into the quaint and unusual crimes and misdemeanours reported to Christchurch police, 1863-1877.
#LibraryFromHome
Lockdown activities
Be inspired by some activities captured in our digital heritage collection that you could attempt with your bubble during our Lockdown.
Ancestry Library Edition
Trace your family history. Includes records from United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Supermarkets
Take a look back at some of the supermarket photos from our collection.
Around the Square
Move around Cathedral Square with a selection of images from our collection over time.
Summer antics
Some highlights from our collection showing summertime activities around Canterbury.
Christchurch Street and Place Names
Explore this resource that explains the origins of Christchurch street and place names.
Popular resources
Popular resources
Picturing Canterbury
Edmonds factory demolition: Picturing Canterbury
A Linwood High School student runs past the demolition of the Edmonds factory on Aldwins Road, 1990. An image from the Discovery Wall.
Burning car on Centaurus Road: Picturing Canterbury
A car on fire in Centaurus Road, 1970. An image from the Discovery Wall.
World bed pushing record attempt: Picturing Canterbury
North Christchurch Jaycees Jim Wallace, Trevor Bayliss and Colin McNicholl pushing a bed to raise funds for the Bishopdale playground, 1972.
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.
