New Brighton, New Zealand

New Brighton
New Brighton Pier, Christchurch
New Brighton
Coordinates: 43°30′29″S 172°43′34″E / 43.508°S 172.726°E / -43.508; 172.726Coordinates: 43°30′29″S 172°43′34″E / 43.508°S 172.726°E / -43.508; 172.726
Area
• Total	2.7891 km2 (1.0769 sq mi)
Population (2013)
• Total	2,442
• Density	880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)

New Brighton is a coastal suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the east of the city center. In the 2013 census, New Brighton had a population of 2,442. At the heart of the suburb is the New Brighton mall, which once was the suburb's primary shopping and entertainment precinct. After the Christchurch earthquakes, this area was significantly damaged.

New Brighton is one of Eastern Christchurch's main entertainment and tourist centers with its architecturally unique pier and its scenic coastline being the suburbs best known features.

The naming of New Brighton was apparently done on a 'spur of moment' decision by William Fee, an early settler of the area. When Guise Brittan, the Waste Lands Commissioner, visited the area in December 1860, he was recognised and Fee chalked 'New Brighton' on a wooden plank, supposedly in reference to his fellow settler Stephen Brooker, who had come from New Brighton in England. The Māori name for the area is Kaiuau (kai means food and aua is Yellow-eye mullet) or O-ruapaeroa (an east wind blowing along the shore).

The suburb is frequently referred to simply as Brighton, occasionally leading to confusion with Brighton near Dunedin.

There have been two piers in New Brighton. The first pier, of wooden construction, opened on 18 January 1894 and was demolished on 12 October 1965. The current concrete pier was opened on 1 November 1997. It is one of the icons of Christchurch. The pier will close for earthquake repairs later in 2016, and is expected to reopen in early 2018.

The suburb is divided into three sections spread along the southern coast of Pegasus Bay: North New Brighton; New Brighton; and South New Brighton, which lies at the northern end of a narrow peninsula between the bay and the Avon Heathcote Estuary. A 300 metres (980 ft) pier was built here in the 1990s, and opened on November 1997.

New Brighton was originally a distinct coastal village, separated from the then outer suburbs of Christchurch by the swampy areas adjoining the Avon River. However, urban expansion, land reclamation and drainage have led to Brighton being swallowed by Christchurch city.