annual Coast to Coast multisport race in February 2015. The previous finishing point of the race was in Sumner. There were plans to redevelop the town centre after the earthquakes. As of 2022, this has not happened. 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 pier was built here in the 1990s, and opened on 1 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 New Brighton being connected to Christchurch city. Demographics New Brighton covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. New Brighton, comprising the statistical areas of New Brighton and Rawhiti, had a population of 6,099 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 153 people (2.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 498 people (−7.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,544 households. There were 3,018 males and 3,084 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 1,134 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,143 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,952 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 876 (14.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 88.7% European/Pākehā, 14.2% Māori, 4.0% Pacific peoples, 3.4% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 18.5%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 59.7% had no religion, 27.1% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 3.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 846 (17.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,065 (21.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,454 (49.4%) people were employed full-time, 708 (14.3%) were part-time, and 234 (4.7%) were unemployed. Economy 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 (remaining closed on Mondays), and the business district thrived as