Ashburton Courier

23/07/2025

Many happy returns Doris!

In her younger years Doris Wakelin never gave any thought to living into her 100s. Today she celebrates turning 108-years-old. It will be a low-key affair. She is looking forward to friends and family popping in to see her as she celebrates. ‘‘It’s just another day really, it’s not a big dea...

20/07/2025

Going purple for Women's Refuge service

An increase in demand for help at Mid-South Island Women's Refuge and Family Safety Service has seen an office set up at Community House Mid Canterbury. It will be open every Thursday and staffed by integrated safety response advocate Hahano Latu. Refuge general manager Maria Parish said 121 clients...

20/07/2025

Building works coming along at Ashburton's world class aviation museum.

Development of a new 2000sqm build at the Ashburton Aviation Museum is flying along, but still in need of $300k to finish. The roof is on, the south-facing wall up and it is ready for interior walls. Building committee chairman Owen Moore said the building was now ‘‘mostly enclosed’’ and pro...

20/07/2025

Ashburton unit wins again

Ashburton Cadet Unit have done it again, coming away with placings at the Southern Area Skills competition at Burnham Military Camp. The unit bought home the Espirit De Corps trophy for the team which best displays the corps values of comradeship, commitment, courage and integrity. Cadet unit comman...

19/07/2025

Jake ready for national speechmaker competition

Seventeen-year-old orator Jake Parsons from Ashburton has a way with words. He was able to capture his audience for five minutes with a speech on country music, which had recently ‘‘snuck on to his playlist’’. Now, he is an award winning speechmaker preparing for a national speechmaker event...

19/07/2025

Creative writers claim victory

Caitlyn Neill, Crista Prado and Adrienne Moodie have taken top honours for their original works in the annual Ashburton Writers’ Short Story Competition. Respectively, each won their age group in the under 11, 12-15 years, and adult categories. The results were announced at a presentation, with sp...

18/07/2025

Councils feel blindsided but Ashburton mayor says the message from government was loud and clear.

Councils have been blindsided by the government's call to halt planning work, which they say will have ‘‘unintended consequences’’. Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes...

17/07/2025

AMI Driver Reviver in the Ashburton Domain layby area on West St .... free coffee and hot snack - open until 2pm.

17/07/2025

BIG UPS: B'baller Ashlee on court as an NZ Tall Fern. Well done!

An article by Ashburton College

17/07/2025

World gone mad, or better safe than sorry? What do you think?

A Tinwald mother says the almost $10,000 fence built between a stormwater pond and playground is an overreaction by council staff. Ashburton District Council installed the fence this month after fears were raised about a child drowning due to the playground being built so close to drainage ponds. Mo...

17/07/2025

Ashburton ranking 69th for urban tree canopy cover, council not concerned

Ashburton has ranked poorly on a nationwide urban tree canopy cover assessment. However, the district council is not concerned. University of Canterbury School of Forestry researchers completed urban tree canopy cover assessments for 75 towns and cities across New Zealand. The results show that urba...

17/07/2025

Dead Rockers Ball next weekend to raise money for Methven Lions

Bulletproof Convertible, a three-piece rock band from Dunedin, is returning to Mid Canterbury for a Dead Rockers Ball to raise funds for Methven Lions. Band members Silas Waring, Alex Ramsay and Paul Southworth, known for their high energy performances, will play at Mt Hutt Memorial Hall on July 26....