Southshore, New Zealand

Southshore (Te Kōrero Karoro) is an eastern coastal suburb within Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited on a narrow 2.5 km long sandspit that runs along the eastern side of the Avon Heathcote Estuary. The suburb is 8 km eastwards from the city centre and 5 km south from New Brighton's main retail area. Before urbanisation, the area was predominantly swampland, bordered by large sand dunes which had some Māori presence. The area holds historical and cultural importance to local Māori iwi because of the large amounts of resources and seafood gathered in the area prior to European occupation.

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 after World War II. Southshore is part of the Coastal Ward for Christchurch City Council local body elections. Nationally, Southshore is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate. 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.

Toponymy
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". The sandspit was sometimes referred to as Te Ihutai, literally meaning "the nose of the tides".

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. The name Southshore was officially adopted in 1955.

Previously, Te Kōrero Karoro was advocated by the Canterbury Museum, however many locals disliked this proposal because they thought it was "too long" and Māori names were generally unpopular. 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.

Māori settlement
The Māori were the first settlers on the spit, known as Te Kōrero Karoro. Southshore is considered an important food-gathering place by local Māori. The area was (and still is) home to a wide range of birds and plants. There were many Māori houses (whare) around the estuary, which were mainly built from out of local raupō and other native trees. Southshore holds historical and cultural importance to local Māori due to large amounts of pipi and flounder gathered in the area.

In the eighteenth century, Māori predominantly grew aruhe and kūmara in the sandy soil around the area (particularly at the mouth of the Avon River). 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, it was believed a local jogger discovered a wharenui totem in the sand dunes near Tern Street, but others dispute this, as there is no documentation. Later, a human skull was discovered which was dated to Māori occupation of the area.

The suburb 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. 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. There was also a sand dune walking track called Pohoareare, between the Ōpāwaho settlement to New Brighton and onwards to Te Kōrero Karoro.

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. 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.

"The Spit" was used as a gun range for volunteers to practise during World War I and following. Development in the suburb was slow because of the absence of facilities, soon receiving a water supply until 1954. In 1953, Southshore residents received electricity. Southshore grew rapidly and was heavily urbanised after World War II. Southshore later received a sewerage system in 1967, channelling and kerbs were installed to the suburbs main road, Rocking Horse Road, which often flooded.

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. Southshore has no primary or secondary schools, the nearest primary school is South New Brighton School (established in 1922), 3.2 km to the north.

Geography
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary was formed approximately between 1000 and 2000 years ago by longshore drift. 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". The Spit is a 2.5 km long sandspit with a minimum width of about 300 m at the suburbs boundary with South New Brighton and a maximum width of 500 m at its southern end.

The suburb 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 lies the suburb of Sumner and Rapanui Rock, known locally as "Shag Rock". The "Sumner Bar" forms a natural barrier between the suburbs. Southshore is a largely residential suburb. Prior to European settlement, the area from Heron Street to Torea Street was largely swampland, bordered by large coastal sand dunes. 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 Caspian Street.

The western side of the "Southshore Spit" commands views of the estuary, as well as some of the other eastern suburbs of Christchurch, and parts of the Hillsborough spur. Other suburbs nearby include, Redcliffs, Mount Pleasant, and Ferrymead. Southshore is approximately 8 km from the Central Business District (CBD), and 5 km from New Brighton's main retail area.

As a coastal suburb, Southshore is exposed to complex sea-level rise scenarios, flooding and coastal erosion risks. , the Christchurch City Council has approved NZ$12.5 million in funding to address issues related to erosion and flooding in Southsore and South New Brighton. 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. Southshore is also prone to other sea-related hazards such as tsunamis and storms.

Governance
Southshore is part of the Coastal Ward for Christchurch City Council local body elections. The currently elected councillor is Celeste Donovan. Nationally, Southshore is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate. The currently elected member of parliament is Reuben Davidson of the Labour Party. Historically, Christchurch East has supported the Labour Party in general elections and is considered one of Labour's safest seats. The Christchurch City Council administers Southshore.

Demographics
Southshore is part of the South New Brighton SA2 statistical area.

Southshore, comprising the SA1 statistical areas of 7026559–560 and 7026572–575, covers 1.24 km2. 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.

Canterbury earthquakes


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. 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.

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. The 29 October 2011 decision split Southshore into two zones. In November, Brooklands was zoned red, but the decision for Southshore was further delayed. In mid December, Brownlee wrote to residents, stating that a decision would be made "prior to Christmas". On 23 March 2012, land zoning decisions were made for the remaining areas of Linwood, Richmond and the Avon Loop within the Central City, while Brownlee wrote to the 401 Southshore home owners stating that they should have a decision during April.

By the end of April, Roger Sutton as Chief Executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority issued an apology to residents for further delays. The decision was released on 18 May 2012, with 198 of the properties zoned red and the remaining 203 properties allowed to be lived in. the red-zoned western side of the suburb facing the estuary is an urban green space.

Transport


Historically, Southshore was an important travel route for the Māori. They used the suburb as thoroughfare south alongside coastal sand dunes. There was a proposal in 1912 to construct a bridge from Southshore across the estuary to Sumner, however, several local organisations were against this proposal and a local farmer named "Moore" who grazed livestock on the southern end of the spit was also against this, which led to the decision for the bridge not to be built. Similarly, another proposal in 2014 to install a "chain ferry link" across the estuary, but this idea was never finalised.

Since 1939, the suburb's main and only entrance has been Rocking Horse Road. The name originates reportedly 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).

In 1952, the suburb was linked by several bus routes to its neighbouring suburbs and central Christchurch. In 1981, residents saw the opening of the South Brighton Bridge, which saved residents time, a more convenient route. Today, Southshore's public transport is served by the frequent 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.

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


 * Angus Tait, an electronics innovator, businessman and founder of Tait Communications
 * Ivan Mauger, a notable motorcycle speedway rider, once considered to be one of the world's "Greatest Riders"
 * Peter Skellerup, an industrialist, philanthropist and former deupty-mayor of Christchurch from 1974–1980
 * Richard Petrie, an international cricketer who played 12 One Day Internationals
 * Tipene O'Regan, an academic and chairman of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust. He vacated the suburb when his section was red-zoned.