Archives

These comprise records dating back to 1862 of the Christchurch City Council and other Christchurch local authorities that have been absorbed into the area now administered by the Council. The City Council archives are administered under contract by National Archives.

Contact

Only a limited response can be given to telephone or written enquiries and researchers are encouraged to visit the archives in person. The public reading room at 90 Peterborough Street (ph 377-0760) is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Records of Former Local Authorities

• Borough Councils: Riccarton, Sydenham, New Brighton, Spreydon, St Albans, Sumner, Linwood, Woolston
• Cemetery Boards: Prebbleton, Belfast, Christchurch, Lincoln
• Christchurch Drainage Board
• Christchurch Fire Brigade Board
• Christchurch Tramways/Transport Board
• County Councils: Heathcote, Paparua, Selwyn
• Domain Boards: Halswell, Hillsborough, Templeton, Fendalton, Upper Riccarton, Spencer Park, Christchurch, Rawhiti, New Brighton, Papanui, Prebbleton, Richmond, Cashmere, Marshland
• Former Christchurch City Council
• Halswell District Community Council
• Metropolitan Milk Board
• Milk Delivery Board
• Roads Boards: Heathcote, Avon, Riccarton, Spreydon, Linwood, Sumner, Woolston, Tai-Tapu, Waimairi District/County Council

Once a record is determined to be of permanent value and regarded as an archive it will be stored forever. The Public Records Act specifies significant classes of local government records, and provides that they may not be destroyed unless prior approval is given by the Chief Archivist. These include: local authority meeting papers, electoral records, rate records, legal records, financial records, town planning records, property records, policy records, photographic master records, publicity material, cemetery records, registers and indexes of all records either destroyed or retained, staff records, works and development records, valuation rolls, maps and plans, documents formerly held by any branch of the central government and now in the custody of local government.

Records of the Christchurch City Council

• Budget/Costing/Finance
• Annual performance reports and supporting records
• Budget working sheets
• Expenditure control
• Financial delegations
• Financial records
• Financial reports
• Insurance
• Monthly cost reports
• Unit business plan