New Brighton, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
New Brighton is a coastal suburb of Christchurch
, New Zealand, about 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the east of the city centre
.
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
.
: 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 (984.3 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.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, about 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the east of the city centre
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
.
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 William 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 BrightonNew Brighton, Merseyside
New Brighton is a seaside resort forming part of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in the metropolitan county of Merseyside, England. It is located at the northeastern tip of the Wirral Peninsula, within the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, and has sandy beaches...
in England. The Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name for the area is Kaiuau (kai means food and aua is Yellow-eye mullet
Yellow-eye mullet
The yellow-eye mullet, Aldrichetta forsteri, is a mullet of the family Mugilidae, the only species in the genus Aldrichetta. It is found around New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, and southern Australia, from the surface to depths of 50 m...
) 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
Brighton, New Zealand
"Ocean View, New Zealand" redirects here. For the inner Dunedin suburb occasionally referred to as Ocean View, see Andersons BayBrighton is a small seaside town within the city limits of Dunedin, in New Zealand's South Island. It is located 20 kilometres southwest from the city centre on the...
near Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
.
Location
The suburb is divided into three sections spread along the southern coast of Pegasus BayPegasus Bay
Pegasus Bay is on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.-Location:The bay has a sandy beach and runs from Banks Peninsula to the Waipara River mouth...
: 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
Avon Heathcote Estuary
The Avon Heathcote Estuary is the largest semi-enclosed shallow estuary in Canterbury and remains one of New Zealand’s most important coastal wetlands. It is well known as an internationally important habitat for migratory birds, and it is an important recreational playground and educational resource...
. A 300 metres (984.3 ft) pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
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
The current attractions of the area include:- a sandy beach, with good surfing, stretching 18 km from the Waimakariri RiverWaimakariri RiverThe Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
mouth in the north, to the spit in the south - swimming with (summer) surf-club-supervised areas
- birdwatchingBirdwatchingBirdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
at the spit: godwitGodwitThe godwits are a group of large, long-billed, long-legged and strongly migratory wading birds of the genus Limosa. They form large flocks on coasts and estuaries in winter....
s migrate from this area and their return is something of a local event - cycling, walking, orienteering, geocachingGeocachingGeocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world....
in the extensive plantation areas which abut the northerly beach, and (of course) on the beach itself - 4WD driving (permit required) in the extreme northern beach area
- pier and Council library on the foreshore, in Central New Brighton
- restaurants and art/craft-related shops: in growing numbers
- Home of the first surf life saving club in New Zealand established in 1910, also North Beach Surf Club to the north and South New Brighton Surf Club to the south
- community market on the first Saturday of each month - held in the pedestrian part of the New Brighton Mall
- Rawhiti Domain - with a Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City CouncilThe Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
-run golf links, tnnis courts, dog park, rugby fields, cricket ovals, netball courts, community carden, archery club and children's play area