Ashburton Courier

31/01/2025

In 2004, Raihana Zahedi arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Afghanistan. She was just 13 and could not speak any English. Today she lives in Ashburton and is helping other refugees settle in the district. When Raihana Zahedi came to New Zealand in 2004, it was with her parents, two brothers and...

31/01/2025

Forty-one Mid Cantabrians have this week received Advance Ashburton Community Foundation scholarships to assist with study, training and personal development. AACF chief executive Carolyn Clough said at a presentation evening at the Ashburton Event Centre it was the highest number and value of schol...

30/01/2025

🌻🌻Open days begin today 4pm!🌻🌻

Big and bright yellow sunflowers are beckoning visitors to Sunnydales Farm at Elgin, as open days begin today. Sara and Roger Peacock are offering members of the public a chance to roam among the sun-loving flowers at their lifestyle block, helping raise money for charity at the same time. They held...

30/01/2025

The Rakaia community is disappointed that saving a few seconds for motorists passing through their town is more important than safety. Rakaia Community Association chairperson Neil Pluck said the community fought for a decade to get a speed reduction, which finally came into effect in May 2024 when....

29/01/2025

Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade’s long-serving chief retires from the role on Saturday. Alan Burgess, 74, will step down after 55 years with the brigade, including the last 35 years as chief. Alongside Superintendent Thomas Barber, who was in the top job from 1900 to 1935, Burgess is the longest ...

29/01/2025

UPDATED: SH1 through Rakaia is going back to 70kmh, despite last year residents welcoming the reduction to 50kmh. But for the highway north of Rakaia, the public will get to have a say on whether it goes back to 100kmh from 80kmh. The change is proposed from the township to north of Weavers Rd, and the public consultation will run for six weeks from tomorrow.

The reversal of the blanket speed limit reductions will start on Wednesday night and will be completed by July 1. The National and Act coalition...

27/01/2025

A dead wallaby mysteriously dumped in Ashburton was dragged there by someone who drove to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. People walking to work early on Thursday noticed the creature on a bench on East St in the CBD. District council group manager infrastructure and open space Neil McCann s...

26/01/2025

Actor, singer and stuntwoman Sarah Bryant grew up in Ashburton before going on to have a successful career. The 36-year-old returned to where it all began this month - the Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School. Dellwyn Moylan reports. As an 11-year-old, Sarah Bryant (nee Hart), attended the very firs...

26/01/2025

An area of potholes on Hendersons Rd in Tinwald poses a risk to motorists as it goes unrepaired, despite complaints. Hendersons Rd resident Piers Mingham said the deteriorated area of roading necessitated him and fellow motorists to stop before they drove through it. Yet there is no signage or road....

23/01/2025

Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Alan Burgess is warning people to be careful with lithium-ion batteries after a fire on Saturday. The blaze in a house on Cameron St, about 1.30am, was one of at least four the brigade had attended over the last two years where lithium batteries were the cause....

23/01/2025

Happy 65th wedding anniversary today to Relda and Des 🎊🎉❤️

22/01/2025

Geoff Horrell of Ashburton grows gladioli to give away, and has more recently had a florist selling them $1 per stem for the cancer society.

A flower traditionally associated with strength, power and integrity is working its wonders in Ashburton. Named from the Latin name for sword, referring to the shape of the plant’s leaves and flower spikes, gladioli are being grown and harvested by a resident for the purpose of giving them to othe...

19/01/2025

Former Lowcliffe lad Tony Ralfe has made a lifelong career out of tennis. With a strong involvement and love of the sport over the years, he has been able to add many strings to his bow, or rackets as the case may be. He is patron of Canterbury Tennis, a recipient of Tennis New Zealand’s [...]

19/01/2025

SH1 ASHBURTON, CANTERBURY – RESURFACING - UPDATE FRI 24 JAN

Due to inclement weather, these works have been RESCHEDULED and will now take place 8pm to 6am the night of Monday 27 January.
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Plan ahead for an OVERNIGHT CLOSURE of SH1, between the intersections of Queens Dr and East St (north end) 8pm to 6am the night of Thursday 23 January.

A detour will be established via East St and Walnut Ave.

Please note that these works are dependent on various factors and could be postponed at short notice. In the event of postponement, an update will be provided in the comment section below. ^CS

19/01/2025

James Meager’s star is rising 🌟as the Rangitata MP is awarded new ministerial roles.

I'm proud and privileged to join the PM's ministerial team as Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for Youth, and Associate Minister of Transport (working alongside my friend, former boss and new Transport Minister Chris Bishop).

I'm particularly thrilled to take on the newly created portfolio of Minister for the South Island. It will be my job to champion the voice of the mainland in Government, and help new Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis MP drive the economic growth we know the South Island can deliver for New Zealand.

18/01/2025

Benjamin Lee of Ashburton has his sights on becoming a professional footballer and is heading to Germany to get closer to his dream. The 15-year-old will attend the FS Sport Academy. It’s an elite sports academy in Dusseldorf. He was one of just 14 players of his age accepted for this year’s int...

17/01/2025

The Ministry for Primary Industries has completed the first phase of an investigation into allegations of mistreatment of sheep connected to shearing practices.
Director compliance and response Glen Burrell said today in a statement that a "dedicated team" was looking into the allegations.
"Our team has analysed 235 video files and we continue to speak to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), industry groups and farm owners, and have also made proactive visits to farms," Burrell said.
"I want to thank everyone for their support and cooperation so far," he said.
"We have identified some instances in the video footage which are very concerning, and these are our focus in the next phase of the investigation.
"There are a range of actions we can take in response, to ensure the protection of animals and to hold those who mistreat animals to account. In this case it could include prosecution and disqualifying individuals from working with animals."
Separate to the investigation, MPI was working with wool sector groups to establish an oversight group to support good animal welfare practice and continuous improvement in the industry.
For further information and general enquiries, email [email protected].

16/01/2025

Rakaia Medical Centre patients have been warned they need to be kind and understanding to staff. Clinical director Dr Sue Fowlie emailed a letter to all the centre’s patients last month, concerned about increasing incidents of verbally abusive behaviour. She feared the behaviour would affect recru...