Snapshots from Canterbury's past wanted
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 1st October 2025
Calling all photo buffs! It’s time for the annual Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.
Since 2008, people from across the district have shared thousands of images during the month-long competition, which runs throughout October.
“We love that people are contributing their images to help build a rich photographic history of life here in Christchurch. We’re hoping there will be some exciting new treasures uncovered this year and encourage everyone to forage for old photos in their attics and garages, as well as their digital phones and cameras," says Acting Head of Libraries and Information Rosie Levi.
All photos and any shared memories will become part of the story of Christchurch and added to the Libraries’ digital heritage collection on Canterbury Stories.
“Last year’s overall winner "Tandem Paraglide at Taylors Mistake" captures an amazing view of two paragliders floating above the ocean at Taylors Mistake. We don’t have many images of paragliding in the collection, so it was wonderful to have this sent in,” says Ms Levi.
The judges said: “Both the pilot and the passenger who contributed the photo seem extremely happy and are enjoying themselves as they glide above Taylors Mistake. There is an interesting contrast in the left half of the photograph being broken up by the coloured cords suspending them beneath the fabric wing. The viewer’s gaze is also drawn to the waves crashing on the rocks below.”
The winning photograph in the People category last year captures a happy moment between work colleagues who are members of a basketball (netball) team at Hagley Park in the 1960s.
This year’s theme is Building Place – Evolving Community and it’s hoped that many of the diverse communities that have developed over time in Ōtautahi-Christchurch and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū-Banks Peninsula will be represented.
To contribute digital images to the Photo Hunt you can:
If you have physical photos to scan, please come along to one of the Digitise Your Photos events at selected libraries during October, or scan your photos at Auahatanga | Creativity at Tūranga or at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre.
Find out about Digitise Your Photo sessions from Christchurch City Libraries.
The Photo Hunt is open until 31st October as part of the Christchurch Heritage Festival.
The Heritage Festival is happening from 11th to 27th October 2025.
Check out the events programme for the Christchurch Heritage Festival.