# South New Brighton

South New Brighton (Māori: Te Kai-a-Te-Karoro) is a coastal suburb on the eastern side of Christchurch city. The area previously had some Māori presence. The suburb also contains a primary school.

## History

The Māori name for South New Brighton is Te Kai-a-Te-Karoro. It is suggested that Karoro is both the Māori name for seagulls entirely, and specifically the kelp gull, which is widespread throughout the suburb. There was also a Ngāi Tahu pā (fortified settlement) in South New Brighton which took advantage of the nearby estuary's rich food and resources.
From the late nineteenth century the area was under the control of the New Brighton Borough Council, and early residents were part of the South New Brighton Special Rating Area. The special rating area ran from Rodney Street heading south, bounded by the sea on one side and the Avon River / Ōtākaro on the other. The South Brighton Progress League was established in 1920 to promote and advance the interests of the district, and the league, along with the South New Brighton Burgesses' Association drove much of the development of the district during the tenure of the New Brighton Borough Council. Their work included funding for road formation and extending tram access to the area, promotion for an area school, and promoting the recreational areas, Pleasant Point and the Domain.
Known as South New Brighton since the early 1910s the suburb's name was officially recognised by the Christchurch City Council in 1953, after a suggestion that it be called South Brighton was rejected because there was already Brighton near Dunedin.
South New Brighton Community Centre (transitional facility) opened November 2013 on the site of the demolished community hall following damage in the 2010–2011 earthquakes. The former community hall opened in November 1961 after several years of fundraising by a local committee.

## Demographics

The statistical area of South New Brighton, which also includes Southshore, covers 2.77 km$^2$ (1.07 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 3,420 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1,235 people per km$^2$.
South New Brighton had a population of 3,234 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 411 people (−11.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,287 households, comprising 1,596 males and 1,641 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 39.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 684 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 519 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,575 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 453 (14.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.5% European/Pākehā, 13.0% Māori, 3.2% Pasifika, 2.6% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 20.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.2% had no religion, 26.3% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 576 (22.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 393 (15.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 432 people (16.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,296 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 423 (16.6%) were part-time, and 102 (4.0%) were unemployed.

## Education

South New Brighton School is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8. It had a roll of 428 as of November 2024. In 1917, the New Brighton school committee was asked to establish a school in South New Brighton since fifty-four children resided in South New Brighton. A premises near Jellicoe Street was proposed by the committee, however many locals disliked this proposal and suggested the current site closer to the domain. The school opened in 1922.