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Ashburton
2013-12-27 11:12

Ashburton (Māori: Hakatere) is a large town in the Canterbury Region, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, which is also known as "Mid-Canterbury". It is located 85 km (53 mi) south west of Christchurch .The Ashburton District extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Southern Alps, and from the Rangitata River to the Rakaia River, including the towns of Methven, Mount Somers, and Rakaia.

Ashburton township has a population of 18,300, with an additional 12,400 living in the wider district. The town is the third-largest urban area in the Canterbury Region, after Christchurch and Timaru.‘Ashvegas', Ashburton's common nickname, is an ironic allusion to Las Vegas.[5]

Ashburton lies in the middle of the fertile alluvial Canterbury Plains which permits agricultural activity such as dairying provided irrigation is used. And much of Ashburton industry is orientated to the needs local farmers.

Ashburton has some unique and unusual businesses. Bruce McIlroy services and restores Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars. Peter Lynn manufactures kites. Talleys and CMP. NZ Sock Company. Ashford Handicrafts is the world's largest producer of spinning wheels.

In 2012, Ashburton was noted for having more cooperative companies operating in its district than in any other area of New Zealand, and was subsequently named by the New Zealand Cooperatives Association the "Cooperative Capital of New Zealand".

Opportunities within the town itself are limited to the kind of activities that could be expected for a town of its size. The Aerodrome is 5.5 km from the town centre and NZAS is an active light aviation hub and home of the Mid Canterbury Aero Club and Ashburton Aviation Pioneers both of whom offer flight training. The Aerodrome is unique with no landing fees and a large aviation museum on site.

Slightly further afield, the number of leisure opportunities rises dramatically. The beaches adjacent to Ashburton are steep and shingly with a strong undertow, making them unsafe to swim, but suitable nonetheless for surf-casting. In part to rectify the limitations imposed by the lack of recreational waterways, Lake Hood was constructed just south-east of Tinwald. It provides rowing, swimming, and water-skiing opportunities. The Ashburton, Rakaia, and Rangitata Rivers offer good fishing, the Rakaia in particular is renowned worldwide for its salmon fishing. Upper reaches of the Rangitata are frequently kayaked and rafted. The Rakaia is known for jet-boating. The Ashburton Lakes (Lake Heron, Lake Camp, Lake Clearwater, and a number of smaller lakes) are around an hour and a half inland, and offer water sport and fishing opportunities. On the road to these lake are Mount Somers and the Mount Somers walkway. Mount Hutt is a prominent South Island ski field.

Prominent residents have included the former Prime Minister of New Zealand,Jenny Shipley, international operatic tenor Simon O'Neill, Olympic silver medal cyclist Hayden Roulston.

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