Ashburton is a town in the Canterbury region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The third largest centre in Canterbury (after Christchurch and Timaru), it is the main centre of Mid-Canterbury. The Māori name for the town/area is Hakatere.

Ashburton is located on State Highway 1 80km south of Christchurch. The South Island Main Trunk Railway also runs through the centre of town, but passenger services ceased on 10 February 2002. The town is the centre of a rich agricultural and pastoral farming district, part of the Canterbury Plains. It has one large relatively separate suburb, Tinwald, which is south of the main town and Ashburton River .

Prominent local residents include the town's former Member of Parliament and Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jenny Shipley, and New Zealand television and radio personality Simon Barnett .

A common nickname for Ashburton is 'Ashvegas'

Economy

Much of Ashburton's industry is oriented towards servicing the surrounding farmland. Additionally, it is currently the site of New Zealand's only bus manufacturer, Designline, and also produces many of the world's spinning wheels.

External Links

• Enterprise Ashburton Economic Development Agency
• Ashburton District Council
• The Ashburton Guardian
• Designline Bus Builders.
• Ashfords, makers of spinning wheels and looms.