What's On Mid Canterbury

  • If you are clearing out your wardrobe consider donating to St John Op Shop, Tancred St Ashburton (opposite Westpac Bank). They would appreciate any clean clothing that you may not need or want anymore. Also manchester and small furniture coffee tables, chairs, dressers, mirrors and artwork. Help them help you by raising money for Ambulances & Medical Support Staff. Collection can be arranged of larger items give them a call 307 4221.

 

  • Downsizing or Moving? Whether downsizing, moving into care or clearing out a loved one's home, the task can be daunting. Mid Canterbury Hospice can pick up and collect all unwanted items such as furniture, bedding, clothing & shoes, homeware & small appliances. All donated goods are sold with proceeds used to provide support and services to locals with a life-limiting illness. Keeping it local, the Hospice Shop on Tancred Street. Contact Janis or Nicole 3078387. 

  

  • Ashburton Vintage Car Club has their Museum and Parts Shed open every SAT 10am-12pm. You can find them at 86 Maronan Road, Tinwald. Approx 30 veteran vintage and classic cars and motorcycles from 1906 to 1970s. Plus much more motoring memorabilia on display. Parts available from the parts shed. Museum open at other times on request. Phone Les Bennett 308 4705 or 027 612 1160. 

 

  • Litter Free Ashburton holds its group litter collection on the second THURS of each month, meeting 1:30pm on the corner of SH1 and Havelock Street near the former library. It is looking for more members. If you can help, please inquire via the Litter Free Ashburton FB page or simply turn up at the meeting. Resources supplied.  
  • Parkrun is now in Ashburton. Join the fun every SAT 8am on Walnut Ave through our stunning Domain. If running or walking isn't your thing, you could consider volunteering. They need people in a variety of roles including: photographers, first timer welcome, time keepers, pre event course check, course marshals, tail walkers, report writers, barcode scanners, finisher tokens, warm up leaders, course setup and close down. If you are interested or would like to find out more, search for "Ashburton Domain" on Park Run website or email [email protected]. Run, walk, volunteer!!
  • Rakaia Hockey Club is celebrating 125yrs and planning is under way to celebrate this amazing milestone in April 2025. The club hopes anyone who has been a part of the journey as a player, coach, umpire, manager or supporter will be there to celebrate.Check the clubs Facebook page for updates. 
  • The Mid Canterbury Refugee Resettlement programme is looking for televisions, single bedding and kitchen ware. They are also seeking more volunteers to offer friendship and assist with tasks such as shopping, going to events and helping with conversational English. For more information, contact Wendy 0272447127.
  • Enjoy the flavours of Methven at the Methven Arts and Growers Market. Something for everyone to sample & savour with stalls, food trucks, coffee and more. Visit for a family friendly day out. Bring your baskets or bags and stock up on all the fresh produce, flowers, breads, pies, tacos. The market is on 2 & 16 February, 2, 16 & 30 March, 13 April, 27 April. 10am to 2pm on Hobbs Road (500mtrs from Golf Course). On Site Parking. Find more at https://methvenmarket.com/ or find them on Facebook.
  • Helen Breach and the Boost team are after more volunteer tutors this year. Boost is a unique and locally funded programme across 19 schools in Mid Canterbury. It helps children achieve literacy success and gain confidence. For prospective tutors: No experience needed. The commitment is 2 mornings in school (4hrs a week) from March-Nov during term time (30 weeks). They use a research-based structured literacy programme called StepsWeb. No stress if you've never heard of it - all training, resources and support provided. Join a rewarding and supportive volunteering group. Please contact: Helen Breach (Boost Coordinator) on 027 507 1633 or [email protected].  
  • Need something signed by a Justice of the Peace? JPs are available every TUES and FRI at Community House on Moore Street. Pop in between 12pm-2pm, no appointment needed. For more contact Community House on 03 308 1237. 
  • While the EA Networks Centre is undergoing a facelift, the team is getting their inflatables out to other community pools across Mid Canterbury. Catch the fun from midday til 5pm Wednesdays through the rest of the holidays, and also 12:30pm til 3:30pm on weekends. Free to use, although you do need to pay the normal pool admission fee. This week they will be at Mt Somers Pool, next week (22, 25 and 26 JAN) Hinds, and then wrapping up at Rakaia (29 JAN, 1 and 2 FEB). Best to check the EA Networks Facebook page to confirm it’s on. 
  • Ashburton District Council is calling on local community groups and projects that would like some free money! Each year Council grants about $300,000. Last year’s recipients included an upgrade to a rugby club’s bathroom facilities, a women’s group teaching kids how to cook and repairs to a rural school pool. Grant applications will be accepted through FEB. Groups and project organisers are encouraged to get a head start and see if they meet the criteria. To see the grant categories and find more visit ashburtondc.govt.nz.  
  • Summer holiday fun across the district on TUES 21 JAN. Starting at Mount Hutt Memorial Hall in Methven 10am to 12pm. Then onto Mayfield War Memorial Hall (next to Mayfield Playcentre) from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Crafts, activities and cooking with crew from Ashburton’s library and art gallery and Wellbeing Opuke. Free entry. 
  • Want to play netball? Mid Canterbury Netball is currently taking registrations for the 6 week Formosa Summer League Competition, starting WED 22 JAN. There is social, social competitve, and business house grades. Due to popular demand, they've also included a men's grade. This is for those teams who have more males than females, who struggle to keep to the 3 men on court limit. This grade can have females playing to make up numbers, but the key feature is that there is no restriction to the number of men on court and their positions. Get your friends or workmates together and give it a go! Find more and register here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/332077. Team registrations only, $280 per team. Must be Yr11 for players and umpires. 
  • Bring your spinning, knitting or weaving to a weekly craft session in the event space of Ashburton Library, starting WED 22 JAN. From 5:45pm, join this group for friendship, sharing and inspiration. Or if you would like to learn how to spin, come along and members of Ashburton Creative Fibre will be more than happy to help teach you.  
  • The Tarbotton Twilight Triples Bowls is back at the Ashburton Bowling Club in the Domain. Across 6 weeks starting FRI 24 JAN. Get your workmates, family or friends together to make up a team of three, or come on your own and be matched up. Bowls supplied. Flat soled shoes to be worn. BBQ on the night with the bar open and great prizes to be won. Just $10.00 per person, per night. Start at 5.30pm - finish approx. 8.00pm. For more and to register call Kelvin 027 308 4299 or John 308 6354 or 027 391 7936.
  • The Long Run fundraiser is back at Malvern Park and Rugby Park Christhcurch on FRI 24 JAN, in support of the Child Cancer Foundation and the McLeod Family who lost 9yr old Charlotte back in 2021. Mum Hayley says that Charlotte's greatest fear was being forgotten, so they are making sure there is no chance of that. A team of nearly 60 from Ashburton called "Charlottes Army" will be there with Charlotte's face on their tops. They are aiming for 25,000 laps collectively and hope to raise $250,000. Find more and support them here: https://crusaders.co.nz/about/crusade-with-heart/the-long-run/. 
  • Tinwald Reserve Board is hosting a wood chip fundraiser on SAT 25 JAN. Bring along your ute or a trailer and load up for just $10 between 9am-12noon. Find them at the Tinwald Holiday Park off Maronan Road. 
  • Rakaia Youth Crew’s first get together is on SAT 25 JAN from 1pm at the old rugby clubrooms located at 144 Railway Terrace West. Everyone in the Rakaia area is invited to go along. There will be a barbecue, live music, loads of games indoors and outdoors, and information about what Rakaia Youth Crew will look like.
  • Thanks to Creative Communities, Keep Learning Mid Canterbury is bringing the dynamic Koffie from Kadodo Music to Mid Canterbury. Book your spot on the African Drumming and Dance Workshop at Staveley Camp and Native Forest on SAT 25 JAN. Suitable for all levels, including beginners. There's the chance to enjoy the forest and stay at the camp to then enjoy a Well Being Day on the Sunday. Drums and lunch provided. Book via Keep Learning Mid Canterbury website. 
  • Further to the above, Keep Learning Mid Canterbury Wellbeing Day at Staveley Camp from 9am-5pm including yoga, creating forest mandalas, forest tour, print making cards. Tickets adults only $40 online at events.humanitix.com/wellbeingday-january. 
  • Shear4Life returns to the Ewing family woolshed at Hindsridge Farm, 1098 Hendersons Road, Hinds SAT 1 FEB, from 8am to 4pm. Veteran shearers over the age of 50 from right across the country will take to the boards to remember good mates lost to cancer. Gold coin entry. People are encouraged to bring along some money with funds raised going to Ashburton Cancer Society and Hospice Mid Canterbury.
  • Ashburton Library and Keep Learning Mid Canterbury are teaming up to offer Ashburton’s first Fix It Fair on SAT 1 FEB. Pop along to the library between 10am and 1pm and take advantage of volunteers from local community groups able to fix your items or help you make a plan for where to get the item fixed. Those in attendance include CanBead with all the tools needed to fix jewellery. Digital Waitaha to fix gaps in your knowledge when it comes to working out how to use your phone, tablet or other digital device. Menzshed members who can fix almost anything! Please bring photos of your items, rather than the items themselves. And Mid Canterbury TimeBank members for simple repairs to household items. Free event from 10am - 1pm. 
  • Hakatere Marae welcomes you for Waitangi at the Pa on THURS 6 FEB. Join for a powhiri at 8am followed by breakfast. Also featuring adult kapa haka debut. The event is free, although koha is welcomed. At Hakatere Marae 439 Rakaia Highway, Fairton. 
  • Tamar Farm is back with the annual Maize Maze. Due to cooler Summer weather and slower growth of the crop, the maze will open later this year SUN 9 FEB, 1pm. It will then be open SAT and SUN from 12pm. The maze has been created on 3ha of crop off the Methven Highway, and should take people around 40mins to complete.  Just $10 for adults and $5 children, with proceeds to St John. Last year the event raised $20k for the organisation. The course is a mystery design for people to figure out as they walk around it. Solve the puzzle for the chance to win a Tamar Beef meat pack! Horror maze nights will also make a return. Something which proved wildly popular last year with one night seeing 600 people pass through in the space of 2hrs. The course is pram friendly. Find more including firm start dates on the Tamar Farm FB page.  
  • There’s a beginners class for sign language starting at Ashburton Library on TUES 11 FEB. The class will be every Tuesday over 8 weeks, at 6pm for 90mins. It will be run by a NZ Sign Language tutor. 
  • The Ashburton Lions South Island Motorhome Show and Country Fete returns to Ashburton Showgrounds SAT 22 and SUN 23 FEB 2025. Motorhome sales, food vendors, market stalls, amusement rides and more. Fun for all ages with camping onsite. $5 entry each day, kids free. Find more at www.southislandmotorhomeshow.co.nz. 
  • Thirty-one finalists have been chosen for the 2025 Zonta Ashburton Women’s Art Awards. The finalists were chosen from 126 entries, an unprecedented number for the event, which is in its ninth year. The premier winner will be announced opening night FRI 7 MAR at the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum, 7pm. Twenty-five finalists have also been chosen for the Young Generation Award, for artists aged 16-20. The Zonta Ashburton awards seek to raise the status of visual artists who identify as women, as well as acknowledging the contribution women make to the greater art scene. The awards are also aligned with the values of Zonta International, which exists to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. The exhibition runs from 8 March to 27 April. Vote in the people’s choice. Coinciding with this is a solo exhibition by Marie Porter, the 2024 premier award winner. 

  • Zonta Ashburton is bringing award-winning television journalist Barbara Dreaver to Ashburton for its 29th annual Women’s Day Breakfast on SAT 8 MAR at Hotel Ashburton. Organiser Freda Bierema said members were thrilled to have the acclaimed broadcaster as its guest speaker. “Barbara has spent 30 years bringing the news from the Pacific Islands to New Zealanders and her work has exposed major crime, as well as raising awareness of climate change and other important issues,’’ Bierama said. “She was most recently in Vanuatu after the devastating quake there.’’ Of Kiribati, Cook Islands and Kiwi heritage, Dreaver has specialised in stories from the Pacific across print, radio and television. She was named an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit in the 2024 New Year’s honours. Barbara’s work aligned with Zonta’s goals of building a better world for women and girls.  Tickets $45, available from Zonta Ashburton members or via the club’s website and social media pages. 

  • EA Networks Centre and Wheetbix Try Challenge are playing host to a Kids Duathlon/Triathlon on SUN 24 MAR. $40 entry per child. Register at eanetworkscentre.co.nz.  
  • Mid Canterbury farmers are being invited to unwind, connect and recharge at the Farming Families Charitable Trust End of Summer Session on SAT 5 APRIL from 7pm. At Ashburton MSA, the night will feature  entertainment from Timaru's Brad Staley (who also featured to rave reviews at the recent Party in the Paddock). He will be accompanied by Ashburton's own Molly Harrison. Tickets are available for $45 (early bird until MAR 15) before they rise to $60. Tables of 10 available at a sharp rate too. A great chance to bring family and friends and enjoy some time off farm. Alongside the food and entertainment there will also be an auction to raise funds for the Farming Families Trust. Find more on the Farming Families Facebook page. 
  • Hampstead Rugby Club is celebrating 100yrs the weekend FRI 4 - SUN 6 JULY 2025. They will kick off on the Friday evening with a catch up to share memories with those they have worked and played alongside. On Saturday, games of rugby across the grades from juniors to seniors will be held, followed by a reunion dinner in the evening with a speaker. On Sunday people will be able to watch a golden oldies game of rugby. They want to make sure everyone involved with Hampstead over the past century is invited. For registration details and more information please contact Tracey on 0274058064 or email [email protected]. 

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