What we look after

Books and pamphlets

• A comprehensive collection of books about New Zealand.
• Most material published about or in Canterbury.
• Poetry, fiction and drama (especially with local content).
• School, church, club and society histories from throughout New Zealand.

Government publications

A comprehensive range of central and local government publications including Parliamentary papers, official reports, annual plans and annual reports, district schemes and other planning documents.

• Christchurch City Council and Canterbury Regional Council publications.

Statistics

• All statistical publications originating for Statistics New Zealand.
• Other statistical reports produced by government departments.
• Statistics from the National Health Information Service.
• Access to census information.

Legislation

• All statutes, regulations and bills.
• General legal texts and practical manuals suitable for the layperson.
• Guides to interpreting legislation.
• Subscriptions to looseleaf publications in areas of general interest eg family law, employment law.

Archives

• Unpublished records of local sporting, cultural or community organisations, clubs or societies.
• Christchurch City Libraries archives.
• Ephemera – posters, handbills, programmes, catalogues.
• Manuscripts – diaries, letters, scripts, church registers.
• Small oral history collection.
• More about the archives collection.
• Read our interview with archivist Rosemary O'Neill.

Genealogical material

• New Zealand material, with an emphasis on Canterbury.
• Unique index of baptismal, marriage and burial records for this region, transcribed from church registers.
• Headstone transcripts and cemetery records.
• The Registrar-General’s index of births, deaths and marriages.
• Electoral rolls – parliamentary and local.
• The Alexander Turnbull biographies index.
• Published family histories and many other geanealogical resources.
• Read our interview with Richard Greenaway, Genealogy Librarian.

Newspapers and newspaper indexes

• Early Christchurch newspapers including the Lyttelton Times (from 1851); The Press (from 1861); The Star; The Sun; the Weekly Press and the Canterbury Times.
• A selection of other Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand newspapers – contemporary and historical holdings.
• An index to the contents of a Christchurch daily newspaper has been maintained since 1851.
• Some of our newspapers are held on microfilm.

For more information about using newspapers at Christchurch City Libraries please refer to our newspapers guide.

Māori material

• Material on Māori subjects or which present a Māori perspective on a subject.
• Material by authors who identify as Māori.
• Māori language publications.
• Material published by, or relating to, Ngāi Tahu as tangata whenua including Ngāi Tahu Claim information.
• Much of this is in the Ngā Pounamu Māori Centre.

Maps

• Contemporary and historical maps of Christchurch and Canterbury.
• Current New Zealand topographical maps.
• Current New Zealand street maps.
• National Park and track maps.
• Soil maps.
• Geological maps.
• Nautical charts for local areas (not updated for navigation).

Photographs

• A collection of black and white photographs likely to be of historical interest with particular emphasis on Christchurch and Canterbury.
• Depictions of major events, social conditions, street scenes, architecture, fashion etc.
• The photograph collection is searchable through our catalogue and many images are available on our web site.
• Photographic print service available.

Theses

• Theses which complement and add depth to the Collection.
• Theses in geography, history, politics with local content.
• Artistic, literary and cultural topics which have few other printed resources.
• Theses which include research conducted in Christchurch or Canterbury.