New Brighton, New Zealand

New Brighton

New Brighton Pier, Christchurch
New Brighton
Coordinates: 43°30′23″S 172°43′52″E / 43.50636°S 172.73100°E / -43.50636; 172.73100Coordinates: 43°30′23″S 172°43′52″E / 43.50636°S 172.73100°E / -43.50636; 172.73100
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 is the suburb's primary shopping and entertainment precinct.

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.

Naming

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.[1] The Māori name for the area is Kaiuau (kai means food and aua is Yellow-eye mullet)[2] or O-ruapaeroa (an east wind blowing along the shore).[1]

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

New Brighton Pier

Main article: New Brighton Pier

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.[3] 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.[4]

Location

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.

Attractions

Aerial view of New Brighton beach and the Port Hills

The current attractions of the area include:

New Brighton Pier, library, and clock tower


Events

New Brighton host a variety of free public events largely during the Summer period, targeting residents of Christchurch as well as other domestic international tourist.

Speight's Coast to Coast

Staged every February, the annual Speight's coast to Coast race finishing at New Brighton. Every years the event tracks thousands of spectators to watch the athletes complete the daunting challenge and cheer them on. The race coincides with the weekly New Brighton markets which occur every Saturday selling food, art, clothing and injecting life into New Brighton. Along with the markets the race brings in music and entertainment such as a fireworks display on celebrate the finishing of the race as well as life screening of the athletes progress through the race.

New Zealand Sand Castle competition

Held in February annually, the national sandcastle competition attract people from all over Christchurch and even New Zealand to witness some of the amazing sand castles build by specialist and regular people just wanting to have fun.

Kite Day

Held in January annually, Kite Day attracts thousands of people throughout Christchurch and injects life and activity into New Brighton. Kite Day itself features a wide range of unique and stunning Kites.

New Brighton day

Every February annually, Happy New Brighton Day is one of the largest community events held in New Brighton. The event attract as many as 10,000 people throughout Christchurch and provides a vibrant atmosphere of music, entertainment, markets and more.

Guy Fawkes

In November annually, Guy Fawkes attracts well over 10,000 people to witness a stunning display of Fireworks on the New Brighton Pier as well as a lights show off the pier and music.

Saturday trading

For several decades, New Brighton had the distinction of being the only place in Christchurch where general retail shops were permitted to open on Saturdays[6] (remaining closed on Mondays), and the business district thrived as a result. With the introduction of nationwide Saturday trading in 1980, and then seven-day trading in 1990, retail activity declined significantly.[7][8]

Public transport

A variety of bus routes connect the city centre with New Brighton. The Metroinfo website[9] has further information.

Education

As of 2015 there are four operating primary schools in New Brighton. This includes New Brighton Catholic and Rawhiti beach campus in central New Brighton, South New Brighton primary in the south New Brighton and Rawhiti QE2 base in North New Brighton.

By the end of 2018, two new high schools replacing Shirley Boys and Avonside girls are expected to be completed in North New Brighton. Rawhiti beach campus are Rawhiti QE2 base are expected to merge into one Rawhiti school, located in the old North New Brighton primary school site.

Sport and recreation

A number of well known sports groups represent the local area. Some of the most notable groups are the New Brighton Rugby club. the New Brighton cricket club and the New Brighton Olympic Athletic club. Other groups include the Christchurch Archery club and New Brighton long boarders club.

Christchurch earthquakes aftermath

In December 2012 residents held a protest against the perceived slow progress of rebuilding in the area following the region's damaging earthquakes, in which 80 people bared their bottoms.[10] Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said he wasn't offended, but the residents were "wrong". These feelings of neglect by the Christchurch City Council would continue to persist. Groups such as the Peoples independent Republic of New Brighton was formed by Paul Zaaman, The New Brighton Businesses and landowners association spokesperson, in order to protest lack of investment by the Christchurch City Council into New Brighton.

New Brighton was also named to be the host the finish of the annual Speight's Coast to Coast multisport race in February 2015. The previous finishing point of the race was in Sumner.

In early 2015, the Christchurch City Council and the Ministry of Education announced that North New Brighton's QE2 park would be accommodating the new 80 million dollar joint secondary school campus consisting of Shirley Boys and Avonside Girls high schools, along the 39 million dollar Eastern Recreation and sports facility. 2015[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Harper, Margaret (July 2011). "Christchurch Place Names" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. pp. 131f. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling, ed. Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-14-320410-7.
  3. ↑ "New Brighton Pier". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Fletcher, Jack (19 April 2016). "Pier to close for months of work". The Press. p. A1. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Centenary". New Brighton Surf Bathing & Life Saving Club Incorporated 1910. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Christchurch - A Chronology - 1946". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  7. ↑ "East Christchurch". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  8. ↑ Walrond, Carl (13 July 2012). "Food shops - Shopping hours". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.metroinfo.org.nz Metroinfo website
  10. ↑ "Angry residents hold 'cheeky' protest". 3 News NZ. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Mayor not offended by 'cheeky' protest". 3 News NZ. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.

External links

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