Southshore, New Zealand

Southshore (Māori: Te Kōrero Karoro) is an eastern coastal suburb within Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located on a narrow 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long sandspit that runs along the eastern side of the Avon Heathcote Estuary and west of the Pacific Ocean. The suburb is 8 km (5.0 mi) eastwards from the city centre and 5 km (3.1 mi) south from New Brighton's main retail area.

Before urbanisation, the area was largely swampland bordered by large coastal dunes which had some Māori presence. The area holds strong historical and cultural importance to local Māori hapū, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, because of the large amounts of resources and seafood gathered in the area and estuary prior to urbanisation of the area. Prehistoric evidence of middens in the area combined with Māori occupation on the sandspit indicates a high potential for the presence of archaeology in the area.

In its early years, the area was known locally to early European settlers as "Sandhills Run". They constructed baches and established a dairy station in the suburb. Southshore initially had very few permanent residents due to the absence of facilities and insufficient transportation; it was later urbanised in the late 1940s. The area was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and 198 properties were red-zoned. Southshore is prone to coastal-related hazards such as tsunamis, and sea level rise. At a national level, Southshore is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate. Locally, it is part of the Coastal Ward for local body elections.

Southshore's population predominantly consists of European New Zealanders, its above-average housing costs and coastal setting attracts an older demographic to the area. Notable people with connections with the suburb include motorcycle speedway rider Ivan Mauger, former deupty-mayor of Christchurch Peter Skellerup, and chairman of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Tipene O'Regan.

The Māori name for the suburb is Te Kōrero Karoro, meaning 'the chattering of the seagulls' which can alternatively refer to as 'the meeting place of the seagulls'.^[3] The sandspit was sometimes referred to as Te Ihutai, literally meaning 'the nose of the tides'.^[4]

Prior to the 20th century the area was known locally to early European settlers as 'Sandhills Run', however, this name is no longer in common usage.^[5] The name Southshore was officially adopted in 1955.^[6] Te Kōrero Karoro was previously advocated by the Canterbury Museum, however many locals disliked this proposal because they thought it was 'too long' and names of Māori origin were generally unpopular in the South Island.^[7] The name 'Southend' was suggested by the Christchurch City Council, 'Southend' lacked in appeal to many residents, since many locals for over a decade had known the area as 'Southshore', which was also the name of an early residential subdivision in the suburb.^[8][9]

Māori settlement

Like the rest of Christchurch, the Māori were the first settlers in the area,^[10] and the coastal sandspit was known as Te Kōrero Karoro. Southshore is considered an important food-gathering place by local Māori. The area and the estuary is home to a wide range of birds and plants. There were many wharenui around the estuary, which were mainly built from out of local raupō and other native trees.^[11][12] Southshore holds historical and cultural importance to local Māori due to large amounts of pipi and flounder gathered in the area. Archaeological evidence of middens in the area combined with the Māori history in the area indicates a high potential for the presence of archaeology in the area.^[13][14]

In the eighteenth century, Māori predominantly grew aruhe and kūmara in the sandy soil around the area Ōtākoro / Avon River.^[15] Early European settlers discovered Māori fishing equipment, eel traps and hāngī pits, which were used by the Māori to primarily cook seafood. In Southshore's early years, a local jogger presumably discovered a wharenui totem in the sand dunes near Tern Street, but others dispute this, as there is no documentation. Later, a skull was discovered here which dated to Māori occupation of the area.^[11]

Southshore holds cultural significance for Ngāi Tūāhuriri, who are the kaitiaki (caretakers) of the area, and have special food-gathering rights in the estuary and the area.^[16][17] There was a walking track from the fortified settlement of Kaiapoi Pā towards South New Brighton, and onwards further to the area now known as Southshore and beyond across the Avon Heathcote Estuary to the Banks Peninsula.^[18][19] There was also a sand dune walking track called Pohoareare, between the Ōpāwaho settlement to New Brighton and onwards to Te Kōrero Karoro.^[a][22][23]

European settlement

Prior to the 20th century the area was known locally to early European settlers as "Sandhills Run". As more settlers arrived, they constructed baches and established a dairy station in the suburb.^[5][24] In 1916, most of the suburb was subdivided into residential sections. There was sparse transportation and lack of facilities in the area in the early twentieth century and Southshore had very few permanent residents.^[25][26] The Spit was used as a gun range for volunteers to practise during World War I and following.^[27] A local resident between 1940 and 1945, noted the New Zealand Army bulldozed the sandhills and removed the vegetation around Caspian Street to set up a position for defence. This work possibly lowered the land surface here, and the area is prone to extensive flooding by estuary and sea waters. In 1958, another local resident filled a marshy area in use of six sections before building at the Caspian Street and Estuary Road intersection.^[28] Development in the suburb was slow because of the absence of facilities, soon receiving a water supply until 1954.^[29][30] In 1953, Southshore residents received electricity.^[31]

Southshore grew rapidly and was heavily urbanised after World War II in the late 1940s. Southshore later received a sewerage system in 1967, channelling and kerbs were installed to the suburbs main road, Rocking Horse Road, which often flooded.^[32][28] There is a large public reserve at the southern end of the suburb, which is the location of most of the suburb's recreational activities.^[33] Southshore has no primary or secondary schools, the nearest primary school is South New Brighton School (established in 1922), 3.2 km (2.0 mi) to the north.^[34][35] A few decades ago, the only residential buildings in Southshore were baches. Today, Southshore is home to a range of residences, from large modern homes with all the early homes that have been mostly renovated. Not much land in the subrub is left undeveloped.^[36][b] Its housing type is mid-20th century to contemporary homes.^[37]

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary was formed approximately between 1000 and 2000 years ago by longshore drift.^[38][39] Sand from the mouth of the Waimakariri River was carried southward the east coast of the South Island, and built up along the coastline of modern-day Christchurch, progressively forming what is known as the 'Southshore Spit'.^[40] The Spit is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long sandspit with a minimum width of about 300 m (980 ft) at the suburbs boundary with South New Brighton and a maximum width of 500 m (1,600 ft) at its southern end.^[41]

Southshore is sited on a narrow sandspit which is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Avon Heathcote Estuary. To the north of Southshore is South New Brighton, to the south of the suburb across the estuary is the location of another coastal suburb, called Sumner.^[42] Prior to European settlement, the area now occupied by Rockinghorse Road from Heron Street to Torea Street was largely swampland, bordered by large coastal sand dunes, that were prone to flooding at high tide.^[43][44] In Christchurch's early years, the Brighton Spit generally referred to all the land south of Bridge Street. Today, the Southshore's boundary with South New Brighton is considered to be Caspian Street.^[45][46][c]

Southshore is located 5 km (3.1 mi) south from New Brighton's main retail area. Other suburbs nearby across the estuary include, Redcliffs, Mount Pleasant, and Ferrymead.^[42] Christchurch's coastline is characterised by intermediate-type sandy beaches. Historically, coastal dunes provided important resources for local Māori, including weaving materials from made the natural sand binder pīngao. In the 19th century, naitive vegetation were removed or burned by early European settlers. Introduced plants such as marram grass were rebuilt and stabilised when the settlers realised the dunes were a useful coastal protection resource.^[47]

As a coastal suburb, Southshore is exposed to complex sea-level rise scenarios, flooding and coastal erosion risks.^[48][49] In 2020, the Christchurch City Council has approved NZ$12,500,000 in funding to address issues related to erosion and flooding in Southsore and South New Brighton.^[50] The council rejected a request to restore collapsed walls along the red-zoned estuary edge, and have proposed a cobble beach along the eastern edge of the estuary. Challenges to the proposed plan are the local archaeological sites and coastal bird populations.^[51][52] Southshore is also prone to other sea-related hazards such as tsunamis and storms.^[53][54]

• Gallery of the suburb

• Tī kōuka in the sand dunes near Tern Street.

• Aerial view of Southshore (1974)

• A young seal on the beach

The Christchurch City Council administers Southshore. It is part of the Coastal Ward for Christchurch City Council local body elections.^[55] As of 2024, the currently elected councillor is Celeste Donovan.^[56] At a national level, Southshore is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate. As of 2024 the current elected member of parliament (MP) is Reuben Davidson of the Labour Party.^[57] Historically, Christchurch East has supported the Labour Party in general elections and is considered one of Labour's safest seats.^[58]

Southshore is part of the South New Brighton SA2 statistical area.^[59]

Southshore, comprising the SA1 statistical areas of 7026559–560 and 7026572–575, covers 1.24 km² (0.48 sq mi).^[1] It had a population of 1,041 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 96 people (−8.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 354 people (−25.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 417 households, comprising 519 males and 525 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female, with 198 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 162 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 498 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 183 (17.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.2% European/Pākehā, 12.1% Māori, 3.2% Pasifika, 2.6% Asian, and 3.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.7% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 195 (23.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 117 (13.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 159 people (18.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 408 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 162 (19.2%) were part-time, and 30 (3.6%) were unemployed.^[2]

Its demographics also reflect unique characteristics in relation to the Canterbury region more broadly, which indicates higher proportions of European New Zealanders, women, and home-owners compared to the Canterbury average. Southshore's above-average housing costs, and the coastal setting of the suburb attracted an older demographic to the area.^[60]

Southshore was hit hard by the 4 September 2010 Canterbury and 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Damage was caused to houses and land. Southshore was initially put into the orange zone before the beach side was zoned green on 29 October 2011.^[61][62] The estuary side remained in the orange zone awaiting a decision whether it was financially worth repairing and rebuilding on that land due to the extensive damage caused by the two main shakes and also the ongoing aftershocks.^[61]

In August 2011, residents were informed that they could expect a land zoning decision within six weeks. Later that month, it was announced that the decision would be released in September. In mid September, the decision was delayed due to "unexpected complexity". On 12 October, Gerry Brownlee as Earthquake Recovery Minister apologised for the delay and asked for another two weeks of patience.^[63] In mid December, Brownlee stated that a decision would be made "prior to Christmas".^[61][64]

One of the last areas to receive a formal red-zoning decision was Southshore.^[65] It was publicly released on 18 May 2012, with 198 of the properties zoned red and the remaining 203 properties allowed to be lived in.^[66][67] Households which were commited to stay in Southshore, tended to disagree with the red-zoning scheme and frequently sought legal advice or geotechnical explanations for its implementation. For other committed stayers, earthquake damage combined with the lack of amenities in the suburb had less impact on their dedication to the community of Southshore.^[68] As of 2024 the red-zoned western side of the suburb facing the estuary is an urban green space.^[69]

Historically, Southshore was an important travel route for the Māori. They used the sandspit as a through route between Kaiapoi Pā and the wider Banks Peninsula area.^[70] In European times, a longstanding aspiration of many people in Christchurch is a bridge across the estuary connecting the area of Southshore to Sumner. However, this concept has always been resulted with issues. Such as the land at the southern end of the spit, where a local farmer grazed livestock. Further problems with people denying the intending bridge builders easy access through their land were also encountered.^[71][72] Similarly, there was another proposal in 2014 to install a "chain ferry link" across the estuary, but this idea was never finalised.^[73]

Since 1939, the suburb's main and only entrance has been Rocking Horse Road. Road access to Southshore was very uneven and overgrown with gorse and lupin. The name reportedly originates from Peter Skellerup, a former deputy-mayor of the city, who drove the road in its early years, describing it to his son as "travelling on a rocking horse" (before it was metalled and levelled). This name was made official in 1949.^[74][75]

A bridge was built in 1926 in South New Brighton.^[72] In October 1952, bus services were introduced to the area.^[76] A new bridge was later built in 1981. The same year, the bus service extended to the end of Rocking Horse Road.^[77]

Today, Southshore's public transport is served by the Hillmorton—Southshore (route 60) bus service operated under the Metro brand. It serves the suburb to its neighbouring suburbs and the final destination of the route being the suburb of Wigram (not Hillmorton) on the opposite edge of the city.^[78]

Noted people with Southshore connections include many of them being "original residents" in the suburb, several of whom were long-term residents.^[79]

• Ivan Mauger, motorcycle speedway rider, once considered to be one of the world's "Greatest Riders"^[80][81]
• Peter Skellerup, industrialist, philanthropist and former deupty-mayor of Christchurch from 1974 to 1980^[82]
• Richard Petrie, international cricketer who played 12 One Day Internationals^[83]
• Tipene O'Regan, academic and chairman of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust. He vacated the suburb when his section was red-zoned.^[84][85]

Notes

Citations

• How can Southshore live with the sea? on Christchurch Dilemmas via Radio New Zealand