Reference

Newspapers Guide

Contents

Back runs of newspapers

Christchurch newspapers

In order to preserve newspapers for future researchers, we microfilm them and provide microfilm readers with which they can be read. The Library holds back runs of all Christchurch newspapers in the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre (for titles, see Historical outline of main Christchurch newspapers). The Press, Lyttelton times, Weekly Press, Canterbury times, Canterbury standard, Guardian and Canterbury standard and Sun are available on microfilm. The Christchurch star is being microfilmed progressively and is currently available partly on microfilm and partly in hard copy. The Christchurch citizen is available in hard copy only from the Stack area on the first floor of the Central Library.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Centre holds bound copies of community newspapers. Generally, the most recent 5 or 6 years are held at the Central Library, with earlier issues being held at our Store building. These can be ordered and brought into ANZC for perusal. These newspapers are particularly useful for information about people and organisations in a particular suburb or region.

Other newspapers

A small number of non-Christchurch newspapers are held in ANZC on microfilm.

Other newspapers are accessible on the Internet. These include:

  • Papers Past, a National Library database which makes available the full text of a range of smaller nineteenth century newspapers from around New Zealand. This database Is being expanded.
  • Māori Niupepa, the full text of newspapers held at the Alexander Turnbull Library and published In the Māori language from 1842 until 1932. These newspapers are also available on microfiche in the Ngā Pounamu Māori collection at the Central Library.

Community newspapers held by Christchurch City Libraries

(earliest date held given in brackets)
NB: Some holdings may be incomplete - ask a librarian for more detail

Advertiser (1993-)
Akaroa Mail (1992-)
Bay Harbour news, (1999-)
Banks Peninsula times (1992 only)
Belfast and Kaiapoi times (1997-)
Canterbury Times (1996-)
Central Canterbury News (1983-)
Christchurch Chinese News (1993-)
Christchurch Midweek Mail (1985-1994)
Christchurch Mail (1995-)
Christchurch Tourist Times (1988-)
Christchurch West City Times (1992-)
Countryman, (1996-1997)
Ellesmere Echo (1992-)
Heathcote County News (1989-1990)
Hurunui News (1998-)
Kaiapoi Mail (1990-)

  

Kaiapoi Record (1981-1983)
Lyttelton Times (1993-1996)
Malvern Record (1993-)
News Plus (1990)
North Canterbury News (1993-)
North Christchurch News (1993-1994)
North West Herald (1993-1995)
Northern Outlook (1995-)
Observer (1972-)
Papanui Herald (1963-1991)
Pegasus Post (1995-)
Plains Express (1989-1996)
Riccarton and Hornby Times (1988-1992)
Riccarton Borough News (1989-1990)
Shoreline (1976-1978)
Sunday Miracle (1984 only)

Newspapers on microfilm

Christchurch newspapers

Canterbury standard, 1854-1860
Canterbury times, 1885-1917
Central Canterbury News , 1984-1985
Guardian and Canterbury Advertiser, 1852
Lyttelton Times, 11 Jan. 1851-29 June 1935
Press, 25 May 1861-
Standard and North Canterbury Guardian, 1890-1916
Star, 14 May 1868-1925; July 1935-1959; 1979-1982; 1999 - (NB: a retrospective microfilming project is in progress) See also Complete Star holdings list
Sun. 1914-1935
Weekly Press, 1865-1928

Other newspapers

Akaroa mail, 1877-1939
Dominion Sunday Times, 1987-1992
Ellesmere Guardian, 1891-1983 (incomplete)
Kaikōura Herald and East Coast Advertiser, 1869-1972
Nelson Examiner, 1842-1862
New Zealand Times, 1981-1986
New Zealand Truth, 1906-1955
Sunday Star Times, 1994-
Sunday Times, 1992-1994
West Coast Times, 1865-1916

Photocopying

Microprints, which are like photocopies, can be taken from the microfilm on reader-printers. Similar copies can be made from the Internet. Single paper copies of newspapers can be photocopied. Bound newspapers cannot be photocopied.