Ashburton District, Ashburton

Let's get familiar!

Let's get familiar!

Introduce yourself on the Know Thy Neighbour page.

Got something to swap or sell?

Got something to swap or sell?

Head to Market if you need to buy or list uniforms, books or bikes.

764 days ago

Chill Your Bills with NZ Compare!

CEO from NZ Compare

"It’s been chilly hasn’t it Neighbours? Has your internet froze when you’re streaming all your fave shows on rainy weekends or maybe the power bill has gone crazy from trying to keep snug?!

Don't stress, we’ve got a tonne of awesome broadband and power deals to chill your … View more
"It’s been chilly hasn’t it Neighbours? Has your internet froze when you’re streaming all your fave shows on rainy weekends or maybe the power bill has gone crazy from trying to keep snug?!

Don't stress, we’ve got a tonne of awesome broadband and power deals to chill your bills instead of your wallet. Think BIG joining credits, cheap broadband, beneficial power plans and more. Limited time only, DEALS END 30th AUGUST 2022! BE QUICK!

It’s easy, just sit down over a hot cuppa or a beer – whatever tickles your fancy and take a look here. We’ll do the rest for you!"
Grab a deal

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766 days ago

Subscribe to Stuff's First Time Buyers' Club

Stuff

Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.

Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first… View more
Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.

Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first ever home. When you join our six-week LearnStuff course, you’ll get an email every week giving you all the basics on what you need to know, who you need on your side, and what you need to do at each stage of the journey.

We can’t make the houses any cheaper, but we can guide you through the process, share some tips from the experts, and help you avoid some of the trips and traps.

Sign up (it's free) and get started on your house-buying journey.
Find out more

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767 days ago

What would you add to this list of budget-boosting crops?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Have you grown these veges and fruits, and what's on your list of money savers and budget boosters?

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768 days ago

Ashburton has some Topp candidates to chose from

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

A dame, a DJ, farmers, and plenty of fresh faces are among the potential new Ashburton District Councillors.

Dame Lynda Topp is set to take on politics after stepping forward as one of the new candidates vying for a seat on the council.

She is … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

A dame, a DJ, farmers, and plenty of fresh faces are among the potential new Ashburton District Councillors.

Dame Lynda Topp is set to take on politics after stepping forward as one of the new candidates vying for a seat on the council.

She is best known for being one-half of the Topp Twins with her sister Dame Jools. Earlier this year the duo announced that they were both fighting breast cancer.

On August 4 the twins shared an update on their Facebook page that said “we are both alive and kicking” and then just over a week later Topp has thrown herself into an election campaign.

She said she had been having weekly chemotherapy sessions and spending a lot of time on the couch when her election enrolment update arrived in the mail.

“It prompted me to think about it and I talked to a few people who said I should go for it,” Topp said.

“All you can do is have a goal and get on with life.

“It’s something I can look forward to and give back to the community, a community that has been so supportive of me in the past year.”

It’s her first official run at local office having previously had a satirical tilt at the Auckland mayoralty.

“Several years ago my character Camp Mother ran for the Auckland mayoralty with Camp Leader as the campaign manager.

“In the end, we pulled out as the polling was looking like we might go close to being the mayor of Auckland. But we only did it as a big publicity stunt to get more candidates in the Auckland area.”

Topp joins a host of new names seeking a seat on the council which is set for a changing of the guard with Stuart Wilson, Angus McKay, Dianne Rawlinson, and John Falloon not standing for re-election.

That means at least four new councillors will be announced on October 8, but that number could be higher with plenty of new candidates stepping up across all three wards, while current mayor Neil Brown has a challenger in local businessman Jeff Swindley.

Topp is standing against incumbents Liz McMillan and Rodger Letham in the Western Ward.

The Ashburton Ward is set to be hotly contested with 12 candidates vying for the five vacancies.

Sitting councillors Carolyn Cameron and Leen Braam are in the running along with two former councillors, Thelma Bell, who missed out in the last election, and Russell Ellis who was unable to stand in the last election after a technical error on his nomination form.

Janet Glassey and Shfire Sapphire were the final additions to the Ashburton Ward candidate list joining eight other potential newcomers -Tony Todd, Carol Johns, Phill Hooper, Bev Skates, Brie Burgess and Hayden Tasker.

The Eastern Ward has incumbent Lynette Lovett joined by Richard Wilson, Rob Mackle and Keith Townshend.

Six candidates are running for the Methven Community Board’s five seats.

The Braided Rivers Community Trust will also have an election with nine nominations for the six vacancies.

Gerard Rushton, Chantelle Quinn, Kevin Clifford, and Sapphire all entered the race before the cut-off on Friday.

There are also three candidates standing for the two seats in Environment Canterbury’s Mid Canterbury Ōpākihi Regional Constituency.

Incumbents Ian Mackenzie and John Sunckell along with NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers president Peter Trolove.

Where they stand

Mayor: Neil Brown, Jeff Swindley.

Western Ward (2): Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan, Lynda Topp

Eastern Ward (2): Lynette Lovett, Richard Wilson, Rob Mackle, Keith Townshend.

Ashburton Ward (5): Russell Ellis, Leen Braam, Hayden Tasker, Bev Skates, Tony Todd, Thelma Bell, Brie Burgess, Carol Johns, Phill Hooper, Janet Glassey, Carolyn Cameron. Shfire Sapphire.

Methven Community Board (5): Kelvin Holmes, Richie Owen, Allan Lock, Robin Jenkinson, Megan Fitzgerald, Adam Preston.

Braided River Community Trust (6): Tim Silva, Chris Robertson, Robert Harnett, Kerry Clough, Kieran Breakwell, Gerard Rushton, Shfire Sapphire, Chantelle Quinn, Kevin Clifford.

Voting opens: September 16

771 days ago

Love your compost? Pimp it up to win great prizes for your garden!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost … View more
Dear neighbours,

To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost wins 1 of 9 Compost Kits (RRP $319 each).

So email through your best tip for successful compost and one photo of your composting setup to loveyourgarden@yates.co.nz by August 26, 2022 to be in to win.

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771 days ago
771 days ago

Your whole retirement is our consideration

With the 75+ population projected to double in 20 years’ time, it’s more important than ever to choose a retirement village that is equipped to support you when you’re fully independent as well as if you need care.

That’s why Ryman villages plan ahead by offering independent living in … View more
With the 75+ population projected to double in 20 years’ time, it’s more important than ever to choose a retirement village that is equipped to support you when you’re fully independent as well as if you need care.

That’s why Ryman villages plan ahead by offering independent living in apartments and townhouses, assisted living in serviced apartments, resthome care and, in most villages, hospital and specialist dementia care.

We offer a higher ratio of care in our villages so that if your needs change, you have priority access to our care centres.
Find out more

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772 days ago

Ashburton district’s road repair bill to top $1.5m

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

The recent run of heavy rainfall has caused an estimated $1.5 million of damage to the Ashburton district's already battered roading network.

Ashburton District Council infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann informed the councillors … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

The recent run of heavy rainfall has caused an estimated $1.5 million of damage to the Ashburton district's already battered roading network.

Ashburton District Council infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann informed the councillors Wednesday that the expected cost of the last few weeks of heavy rainfall events has been initially estimated at $1.5m.

As a comparison, McCann said the district had suffered about $5m worth of damage from the May 2021 flood event.

“We currently are desperately trying to chase potholes,” McCann said.

“We now have three teams out working on road, tidying up and filling in potholes.

“This time of the year it’s really difficult to fix them. We can only temporarily fill until the weather gets better and we can do some decent repairs.”

The council is preparing an application for emergency works funding to cover a large percentage of the damage bill he said.

Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said most damage had occurred in the high country: Double Hill Run Rd, Ashburton Gorge Rd, Hakatere Potts Rd, Hakatere Heron Rd and the roads affected by Dry Creek flooding again.

The council added $300,000 to the previous financial year’s roading repair programme to bring in an extra stabilising machine to focus on potholes.

“A large proportion of that work has stood up really well. A few areas not as well.”

Those failures were the responsibility of the contractors to repair at no extra cost to the council, McCann said.

The council has included an extra $1.7m in the annual plan for major roading repairs.

Sitting mayor Neil Brown said potholes were not an issue unique to Ashburton and had not been helped by the reduced amount of funding coming from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to maintain roads.

“Underfunding over the years is starting to show up,” Brown said.

“We have stretched the things out and sweated the asset and we are now paying for it from a lack of funding.”

He said the council applied for more money every year and Waka Kotai was not approving all of it, leaving a shortfall.

All local roads around the country are subject to the FAR (financial assistance rate) of about 51% from Waka Kotahi and 49% from the local council.

Brown had raised the issue with the other Canterbury mayors at the regional transport committee, which he said was investigating the funding shortfall across the Canterbury region and would have a dollar figure at its next meeting.

772 days ago

Late run of nominations in Ashburton

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

The race is on in the Ashburton Ward with the local voice of Mid Canterbury radio one of the latest people in the running for Ashburton District Council.

Hokonui FM breakfast host Phill Hooper is running for a seat on the council in the Ashburton … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

The race is on in the Ashburton Ward with the local voice of Mid Canterbury radio one of the latest people in the running for Ashburton District Council.

Hokonui FM breakfast host Phill Hooper is running for a seat on the council in the Ashburton ward and is joined by Carol Johns, the organiser of community events like the Santa Parade, Mid Town Mardi Gras and Waitangi on East.

The other new candidates coming forward are Rob Mackle and Keith Townshend in the Eastern ward.

With Hooper, Johns, and sitting Councillor Carolyn Cameron also expected to enter the race, there will be at least 10 candidates running for the five seats in the Ashburton ward.

Of those Cameron and Braam are the only current councillors standing again, Russell Ellis and Thelma Bell are former councillors and the other six candidates are newcomers.

The nominations of Mackle and Townshend means there will be an election in the Eastern Ward with sitting councillor Lynette Lovett and newcomer Richard Wilson, the son of retiring councillor Stuart Wilson already standing.

The mayoralty remains a two horse race between incumbent Neil Brown and local businessman Jeff Swindley.

The West ward currently has enough candidates to fill the vacancies without an election process.

There will be no need for an expensive by-election for the Methven Community Board with the nominations of Allan Lock, Robin Jenkinson, and Megan Fitzgerald providing enough to cover the five vacancies.

The Braided Rivers Community Trust had only five nominations for its six vacancies.

There are three nominations for the two seats in the Environment Canterbury Mid Canterbury Ōpākihi ward, with incumbents Ian Mackenzie and John Sunckell along with Peter Trolove.

Where they stand

Nominations Received (as at Wednesday 2pm)

Mayor: Neil Brown, Jeff Swindley.

Western Ward (2): Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan.

Eastern Ward (2): Lynette Lovett, Richard Wilson, Rob Mackle, Keith Townshend.

Ashburton ward (5): Russell Ellis, Leen Braam, Hayden Tasker, Bev Skates, Tony Todd, Thelma Bell, Brie Burgess, Carol Johns, Phill Hooper.

Intending to stand: Carolyn Cameron.

Ruled out: Stuart Wilson, Angus McKay, Dianne Rawlinson, John Falloon.

Methven Community Board (5): Kelvin Holmes, Richie Owen, Allan Lock, Robin Jenkinson, Megan Fitzgerald.

Braided River Community Trust (6): Tim Silva, Chris Robertson, Robert Harnett, Kerry Clough, Kieran Breakwell.

Nominations close: August 12

Voting opens: September 16

773 days ago

Support our Yuri Bear Project

Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village

Knitting needles are clicking across our villages and the wider community for the Yuri Bear project🐻❤️.

We’re aiming to knit 20,000 teddy bears for children displaced as a result of turmoil in their country.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response so far, but 20,000 bears is no … View more
Knitting needles are clicking across our villages and the wider community for the Yuri Bear project🐻❤️.

We’re aiming to knit 20,000 teddy bears for children displaced as a result of turmoil in their country.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response so far, but 20,000 bears is no small ask!

If you can knit, know someone who can or would like to find out how you can help, please click on the link below.

773 days ago

Did you start gardening in school?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

How many of you remember gardening in school? Hopefully, more students and teachers will be inspired by the great work being done at this amazing school.

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774 days ago

Inverter

Mark from West Melton

12v dc/240v pure sine wave inverter.
1000w peak 2000w
great remote everything works perfectly.
selling as i have upgraded

Price: $250

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775 days ago

Do you have a great asparagus recipe?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.

Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable … View more
Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.

Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.

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775 days ago

Subscribe to Stuff's First Time Buyer's Club

Stuff

Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.

Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first… View more
Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.

Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first ever home. When you join our six-week LearnStuff course, you’ll get an email every week giving you all the basics on what you need to know, who you need on your side, and what you need to do at each stage of the journey.

We can’t make the houses any cheaper, but we can guide you through the process, share some tips from the experts, and help you avoid some of the trips and traps.

Sign up (it's free) and get started on your house-buying journey.
Sign up now

Image
777 days ago

Aged terracotta pot

The Team from Resene ColorShop Ashburton

It’s easy to age a brand new terracotta pot using Karen Walker Chalk Colour and Vintage Wax from Resene.
Find out how to create your own.

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