A New New Brighton
New Brighton Pier and beach. Source: Olivia Welsh.
New Brighton: the seaside suburb is recognised as a significant part of Ōtautahi Christchurch’s foundation, and an area of living and entertainment for locals and tourists alike. Over the years, New Brighton has changed significantly, affecting how the public interacts with it.
In the 1980s and 1990s, New Brighton was a bustling attraction. Chris Ruske, owner and operator of Canterbury Brewers Collective and an Ōtautahi local, recalls a time when the shopping outlet strip in particular was packed “shoulder to shoulder” with people. It was with the opening of commercial spaces and malls, and the development of the inner city, that traction slowed down.
“While some things haven’t changed, like the need to wear a jacket to beat the easterly, it would be ridiculous not to acknowledge the decline of the mall as many knew it,” said Alex Hewison, Coastal Ward Community Board member and advocate.
“This started decades ago with the lifting of the Saturday trading ban, but has been significantly disrupted recently by vacant buildings and land owners that are, in simple terms, holding New Brighton hostage. It’s time for them to go,” he added.
New Brighton Seaside Market in 2016. Source: Jack922 / Wikimedia Commons.
Despite the aforementioned Saturday trading ban being lifted, and the pier and New Brighton Library / Te Kete Wānanga o Karoro closing temporarily as a consequence of the 2011 earthquake, New Brighton managed to keep up for a time.
This included beach events, weekly seaside markets, and the consistent promotion of small businesses. Each shop on the strip had something different to offer: cheap fish and chips, pubs, movie rentals, thrifting outlets, and easy-going areas for kids and their whānau to relax and enjoy the weather.
But it’s undeniable that things have taken a turn in recent years.
“What stood out to me was the quietness, how [few] people there were, and how dry the place seemed to be… I asked some people about it and they said New Brighton was already desolate even before the earthquake,” commented Sarah Candra, who has moved to Aotearoa from the United States.
New Brighton Shopping Outlet in 2024. Source: Olivia Welsh.
Nostalgia is hard to hold onto with the closing of so many stores, and the numerous vacant lots that remind locals of what once used to occupy them.
One example is United Video. After moving across the road to a smaller space in order to remain open, Ōtautahi’s last United Video officially shut its doors in 2021. This left a huge gap, especially for physical media and movie lovers. At its peak, there were over 100 United Videos in Aotearoa. Now, there are two.
Remains of the original United Video store in New Brighton. Source: Olivia Welsh.
I asked locals about the hurdles that they believe have to be overcome to see New Brighton once again become a bustling attraction, and it all relates back to care and to focus on the people.
Many of the houses in South New Brighton do not have the proper infrastructure to survive another massive earthquake if one were to occur, as noted by Helen, a local of twenty years who recently moved away from the area.
She feels that some of the neighbourhoods have been written off, especially with a lot of focus and funds going into new developments. In her view, if we wish to see a change, it has to come from the people. Spaces for, and within, the community are important to those who love seeing New Brighton thrive.
This is evident in Kraken Coffee, a small beverage and food business which operates in Common Ground, a Community Greenspace in South New Brighton fronted by Sustain.
An objective of Kraken Coffee is to tie in the community by selling hand-made Hope River Pies, and providing a favourable coffee discount to patrons who bring their own sustainable cup.
“We’re taking this into our own hands, and trying to be self-sufficient. It’s harder to rely on government agencies nowadays… people tend to be more generous with small businesses,” said Jimmy, who is currently in charge of managing Kraken Coffee and is uncle to Kraken owner Tyler Bartlett.
“We’re real down to earth, and love a yarn.”
Common Ground, and Kraken Coffee. Source: Olivia Welsh.
But the future may not be so grim.
There is much-needed change underway in the form of the New Brighton Centre Master Plan, which aims to re-establish the centre as the heart of the community. Its goal is for people to “live, work, and play” in New Brighton, and features an extensive list of projects and actions that are commenced, current, ongoing, and completed.
One of the completed actions is the upgrade of the Marine Parade, including wider footpaths, street lighting, and connection to the hot pools which opened in 2020.
“We need [to] ensure we are utilising these ideas, and proactively drawing people in with activities and amenities, like the hot pools… making New Brighton ‘a place to be’ rather than somewhere everyone does their shopping,” said Hewison.
He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools on Marine Parade. Source: Olivia Welsh.
The New Brighton Centre Master Plan would see the desolate mall space reduced by half, and then reoriented North/South to provide shelter from the easterly.
It’s refreshing to see one thing that’s remained the same: the popularity of the New Brighton beach and pier. Always a staple, the pier provides a beautiful view of the ocean where families and friends can enjoy a relaxed walk, take a seat on a bench, or fish at the pier’s edge. There is something for everyone.
The New Brighton Beachside Playground has been modified in recent years to include more variety, with spouting fountains, and traditional carvings on the large waka.
While in the midst of these developments, small businesses and locals have been doing their best to bring an immediate sense of community and support through food trucks, fruit and vege pop-up shops, and creating areas to come together.
It has not been easy for New Brighton, both as a place to conduct business and as a place to live. The earthquake changed the way people interacted, and even viewed, the suburb. While there is much improvement to be made, it seems we might be getting started.
“I’m proud that we are a community full of great ideas, like the Community Gardens and the New Brighton Project. Council have dropped the mark, waiting more than nine years, and it’s time we get the ball rolling again,” Hewison said.
New Brighton Beachside Playground. Source: Olivia Welsh.
Banding together has done wonders for New Brighton. This April, it was announced that the Thomson Park Fort, a playground that has been popular with children for decades, would be taken down due to safety issues. However, the replacement design would differ in structure, and would feature new plastic-style play equipment as opposed to its current wood features.
A Save Our Playground petition was started to demand that the council consult the public to help them design and create a custom playground, as opposed to a pre-made one.
This kind of action, whether or not successful in the end, showcases the sense of community that remains despite setbacks, and how locals will fight for what they love to ensure future generations can enjoy what they have.
From connecting with professionals and locals regarding New Brighton’s hopeful future, it's clear that people want New Brighton to once again thrive as “the place to be”. It’s held so dearly in the public’s hearts, and with enough advocacy and action on everyone’s behalf, could very well breathe new life to Ōtautahi.