North New Brighton (Māori: Ōruapaeroa) is a suburb on the northern side of Christchurch city. It was originally known as North Beach and was readily accessible from Christchurch city by tram. It was renamed North New Brighton in 1953. A large sports centre and swimming pool is on the same locale as the former Queen Elizabeth II Park. The centre was rebuilt and opened in 2018.

The Māori name for North New Brighton and the Travis Wetlands is Ōruapaeroa, pre-European occupation it was rich with eels and bird life, and was considered as an important food-gathering place by the local iwi, Ngāi Tahu. The Māori wharenui were burned down in November 1882 when an early European settler acquired the land.

The statistical area of North Beach covers 1.99 km (0.77 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 4,250 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,136 people per km.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	4,083	—
2013	4,002	−0.29%
2018	4,071	+0.34%
Source:

North Beach had a population of 4,071 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 69 people (1.7%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−0.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,647 households, comprising 2,016 males and 2,052 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 37.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 834 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 753 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,941 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 537 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.4% European/Pākehā, 15.5% Māori, 3.7% Pasifika, 2.4% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.4% had no religion, 29.0% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 504 (15.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 717 (22.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 390 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,662 (51.3%) people were employed full-time, 465 (14.4%) were part-time, and 123 (3.8%) were unemployed.

Rāwhiti School is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8. It had a roll of 555. The school opened in 2015 as the result of a merger between North New Brighton, Central New Brighton and Freeville Schools.

Shirley Boys' High School is a single-sex secondary school for years 9 to 13 with a roll of 1240 students. The school opened in Shirley in 1957 and following damage to its site in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, it moved to the current location in 2019.

Avonside Girls' High School is also a single-sex secondary school for years 9 to 13. It has a roll of 1081 students. It opened in Avonside in 1919, and moved to North New Brighton in 2019 due to earthquake damage in 2011.

All of these are state schools. Rolls are as of August 2024.