Sets

Carved by Chief Lelooska, the Totem Pole of Friendship was gifted to Christchurch in 1959 by the Oregon Centennial Commission and the Portland Zoological Society in appreciation of the hospitality given to personnel of Operation Deep Freeze. The totem pole originally stood at Little Hagley Park before being relocated to Christchurch International Airport in 1980.

The first railway to open in New Zealand was the line between Christchurch and Ferrymead when the locomotive, Pilgrim, made its initial journey in December 1863. From 1877 to 1990, the railway workshops in Addington were a source of industry and employment for the city. Take a journey through a selection of photographs from the age of steam to electrification.

With the establishment of the Canterbury Tramway Company Limited, from 1880 trams became a means of connecting the city with the outer suburbs. The Christchurch tramway system was discontinued in 1954, but today a tramway circuit, featuring restored trams, allows visitors to tour the centre of the city. Take your own tour through a selection of photographs from our collection.

Victoria Square, originally known as Market Square, was established on land which was once part of the Waitaha pā of Puari. Although it was superseded by the development of Cathedral Square, the square has remained a focal point of the central city. Explore a selection of photographs from our collection that showcase the changes Victoria Square has undergone over the decades.

Views from the top of the destructor chimney prior to the chimney being demolished in 1939.

With its head in the Southern Alps, the Waimakariri River meanders down from the mountains and across the plains north of Christchurch before meeting the Pacific Ocean. The river is a popular location for fishing and boating. Take a journey down the river through a selection of photographs from our collection.

Waitangi Day commemorates the signing on 6 February 1840 of the Treaty of Waitangi. Waitangi Day became a nationwide public holiday in 1974. Commemorations are often held at Okains Bay and Ōnuku Marae in Banks Peninsula.

Explore what it was like to dine out in Christchurch through our collection, from Collins Quick Lunch Parlour in the 1940s, Dux de Lux salad bar in the 1980s to contemporary images of Riverside Market.

The rivers, beaches, harbours, and swimming pools of Canterbury allow for a variety of water sports. From swimming to yachting, explore a selection of photographs from our collection that showcase the many ways in which we take to the water.

Winter in Canterbury, on a good day, offers clear, crisp mornings and views of the Southern Alps. At its worst, it can bring heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Wrap up warm and explore a selection of photographs from our collection that depict this time of the year.

Explore this selection of photographs from our collection that depict the various ways we convey information through the written word.