New Brighton is a coastal suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of the city centre.

It is one of eastern Christchurch's main entertainment and tourist centres, with its architecturally unique pier and scenic coastline.

New Brighton is of cultural significance for the local iwi or tribe Ngāi Tahu who are the kaitiaki (guardians) of this takiwā (or area).

[5] Traditional food gathering or mahinga kai sites of Waitaha, Rapuwai, Kāti Mamoe and subsequently Ngāi Tahu iwi included Ihutai (Avon Heathcote Estuary) nearby to New Brighton.

[5] Walking trails between Ngāi Tahu settlements (kāika) passed close to New Brighton's present day commercial centre.

[3] A sand dune track called Pohoareare ran around Ihutai between Ōpāwaho kāika (settlement) on the Heathcote River and South New Brighton, a popular iwi destination for swimming and catching horihori (sole).

[9] These cob and sod houses were quite simple with one big room which was partitioned later, weatherboards on the outside walls, beaten clay floor and an oil drum for cooking purposes.

[10] Beside the lack of infrastructure, the first settlers had to deal with the nature of the area which consisted of sand dunes with nearly no vegetation.

After a lot of trial and error during which many grass types were planted, it was decided that lupins and marram-grass were the best for stabilising the sand dunes.

New Brighton was originally separated from the then outer suburbs of Christchurch by the swampy areas adjoining the Avon River / Ōtākaro.

Later on, urban expansion, land reclamation and drainage led to New Brighton being connected to Christchurch city.

The first tram services commenced in central Christchurch in 1880, with the tramway system consisting of several lines and stations.

A second tram route, which became known as the North Beach tramline, was constructed by the City and Suburban Tramway Company, passing through Linwood, Avonside, Shirley, Avondale, Rawhiti, before ending at the New Brighton Pier, was completed in 1894.

The Great Depression of the 1930s caused a decline in patronage, but increased during World War II due to the restrictions placed on other forms of motorised transport.

By the late 1940s, the growth of the Christchurch urban and suburban areas, along with increased rates of car ownership meant that the trams were no longer the best mode for public transport.

In a process lasting from 1947 to 1951, the Christchurch Transport Board made a series of decisions to phase out the trams, and replace them with diesel-powered buses.

In 1984, two new services, the 30 & 31 Seaside Specials were started to bring people from the southern and northern suburbs, respectively, to New Brighton on Saturdays for shopping.

[clarification needed] 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.

[citation needed] 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 New Brighton being connected to Christchurch city.

[26] 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[29] (remaining closed on Mondays), and the business district thrived as a result.

[30][31] The 2011 Christchurch earthquake compounded New Brighton's struggle for economic wellbeing creating vacant derelict sites in its main retail centre.

As part of the New Brighton Regeneration Project, the Beachside Playground has been upgraded and He Puna Taimoana saltwater hot pools built.

[32][33][34] Housing projects are planned by a range of developers including Williams Corporation who sold 37 townhouses situated in 180 Marine Parade within 24 hours in March 2022 and The Home Foundation who are building over 60 terraced homes in a development called Te Pakau Maru on Beresford Street.

[35] Paradigm Group are planning a mix of ground floor retail with 16 upstairs apartments at the vacant site of 101 Brighton Mall.

The 180 m (590 ft) long timber structure took three years to build and its opening was a significant achievement in promoting New Brighton as a health and recreational resort.