Ashburton District

The Ashburton District is a territorial authority in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It encompassed the eponymous town of Ashburton, a number of small towns and settlements and the surrounding rural area, roughly coterminous with the subregion of Mid Canterbury. The district has a population of 35,400 as of June 2020.[1]

Location
Ashburton District

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.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200627,372—    
201331,041+1.81%
201833,423+1.49%
Source: [2]

Ashburton District had a population of 33,423 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,382 people (7.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6,051 people (22.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 12,996 households. There were 17,016 males and 16,407 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. Of the total population, 6,810 people (20.4%) were aged up to 15 years, 5,937 (17.8%) were 15 to 29, 14,697 (44.0%) were 30 to 64, and 5,982 (17.9%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 83.8% European/Pākehā, 8.2% Māori, 5.1% Pacific peoples, 7.4% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 44.7% had no religion, 45.4% were Christian, and 3.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,477 (13.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 6,243 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 14,211 (53.4%) people were employed full-time, 4,281 (16.1%) were part-time, and 633 (2.4%) were unemployed.[2]

Government

The Ashburton District Council administers the district. The council consists of a mayor and nine councillors. The councillors are elected from three wards: five from the Ashburton ward, and two each from the Eastern and Western wards. The mayor is elected at-large. Elections are held every three years in conjunction with nationwide local elections, with the next election on 8 October 2022.

As of October 2020, the mayor and councillors are:[3]

  • Mayor: Neil Brown
  • Councillors – Ashburton ward: Leen Braam, Carolyn Cameron, John Falloon, Angus McKay, Diane Rawlinson
  • Councillors – Eastern ward: Lynette Lovett, Stuart Wilson
  • Councillors – Western ward: Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan (deputy mayor)

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ashburton District (063). 2018 Census place summary: Ashburton District
  3. "Council Members - Ashburton District Council". www.ashburtondc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2020-10-09.

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