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. 

 

  • Mid Canterbury Anglican Advocacy wants to let you know about free legal advice. The advice can be accessed via Zoom calls with lawyers from the CHCH based Community Law Canterbury. Advice topics include consumer, traffic offences, employment or tenancy disputes and more. Each session is 55mins. The appointments are held at Community House on Cass Street. Book an appointment by contacting co-ordinator Warren James at Community House, or visit the Community Law Canterbury website.  

  

  • Need to get into Ashburton from around the district? Have no transport or don't drive anymore? The Mid Canterbury Connector, run by Mid Canterbury Community Vehicle Trust, is a service that runs on demand 5 days a week for passengers who may be going to appointments in town or just wanting to get out of home for a while. The cost for passengers is low. For example, a return trip from Methven to Ashburton is just $15. Door to door service with friendly, volunteer drivers. For more and to book call 03 928 8164. You can also find Mid Canterbury Connector on Facebook.  The connector is also looking for more volunteer drivers for hours that suit them between 9am-4:30pm Monday to Friday. Training is provided. If you can help call Lesley 027 5866 556. 

 

  • 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. 

 

  • The 2024 Methven Scarecrow Trail continues through the school holidays until SUN 28 APRIL. This year's theme is Children's movies - animated characters. Over 30 scarecrows to be discovered around Methven township. Purchase a map and entry form for $10 from Methven iHub or Methven Four Square. 

 

  • NZ Blood Service is collecting in Ashburton TUES 23 and WED 24 APRIL at the Sinclair Centre on Park Street. There are more than 500 active donors in Ashburton. The service will visit 11 times this year. More donors are always gratefully welcomed. For more and to book hit up the service's app, website or call 0800 448 325. 

 

  • The Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson is on a Woolshed Tour which stops by David and Kate Ackland's Mount Somers Station on WED 24 APRIL. You are welcome to attend to discuss issues facing farmers and rural communities. 9am-10:30am at 281 Peaches Road (opposite lime works). For more information get in touch with local MP James Meager's office. 

 

  • An Anzac Day Concert performed by the MSA choir is on THURS 25 APRIL 2pm at the MSA. A free concert with sing-along war-style music and a performance by Don's Boyz. 

 

  • Weed wranging is on again at Staveley Campsite SAT 27 APRIL to remove invasive weeds. 9am-1pm. Register via Humantix or the Keep Learning Mid Canterbury Website. 

 

  • GDC Wheels Week Plus is back, starting with the Ashburton Car Club Street Sprints on SAT 27 and SUN 28 APRIL at Riverside Industrial Estate. From 8am both days. $10 per adult, children U15 free. Entry via Robinson Street. Proudly fuelled by KFC. Find the full list of events here: https://www.hokonui.co.nz/whats-on/gdc-wheels-week-plus-2024/ 

 

  • Ashburton Bird Club Annual Show is on SAT 27 and SUN 28 APRIL at Tinwald Memorial Hall. Open Sat 1pm-4pm, and Sun 9am-12pm. Adults $5, children under 16 free. Raffles, bird and seed sales. You don't have to be a member to sell a bird. For more call 308 8524. 

 

  • JGT Barber on East Street proudly presents “HAIR 4 CARE DAY” on SUN 28 APRIL by the Clock Tower Baring Square East, opposite the new Ashburton Council Building. A day of free haircuts raising money for Mental Health Awareness, with all proceed going to GUMBOOT FRIDAY/I AM HOPE. Also marking 1yr in business for Jadah and JGT. Between 11am - 3pm there will be 8 barbers cutting hair for free! Also free food, entertainment and face painting. Special thanks to the support from Anzco, Smoke Butcher, Netherby Meats, Simon Lowe, Franz, Joseph Campbell and Musician Tom Taukamo. Barbers include Craig (Owner 1855 Barbershop CHCH), Peni (1855), Gary (1855), Carlos (1855), Brooklyn (1855), Leish (Stylez Hair Studio Ashburton), Fatboy (JGT Barber). DONATIONS/KOHA are encouraged to help make this day a success. 

 

  • Keep Learning Mid Canterbury and Hospice Mid Canterbury have been running a series to help people be informed about the legal stuff around death. There was so much demand for Wills & Executors in March that they had to run an extra session to cater for the 100+ people who registered. Catherine from Community Law Canterbury and AWF staff will again feature at the final event in the Death & Paperwork series with Hospice Mid Canterbury. At the new Ashburton Library TUES 30 APRIL, 12.30pm. The topic is on what is required when someone dies, what must you use a lawyer for and what can you do yourself, and it also covers the topic of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPoAs). Please register as the event is likely to book out again. Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/death-and-paperwork-3?fbclid=IwAR0cnX6OaGV5_svBZbkTHOunJ-nFjwRY094mKpWTX1Y_lkb3MPJTbIO1kUQ. 

 

  • Mid Canterbury Rural Women women's chainsaw information day is on at Winchmore Hall WED 1 MAY from 10am-2pm. Open to all women. Just $20. Register with Marg on 027 267 7600. 

 

  • Rhythm and Brass is a show featuring the New Zealand Army Band Jazz Ensemble with special guests the United States Air Force ‘Pacific Brass Quintet'. Each of these ensembles will take the stage at Ashburton Event Centre WED 1 MAY with captivating, diverse repertoire, before joining forces at the end of the evening, bringing the concert to a climatic finale. 7:30pm start, tickets from the venue. 

 

  • Lions Club of Ashburton County is hosting its annual Mahjong Tournament on FRI 3 MAY in the Ashburton Senior Centre (Cameron Street), 9.30am - 3.30pm. Fun day of competition along with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea included in the registration of $30. Prizes for the tournament winners as well as some fantastic raffles. Competitors from right across Canterbury. Registrations close FRI 26 APRIL. Proceeds to Hospice Mid Canterbury and other local charities. For more and to register contact Ann Smith on 027 444 4893 or Sue Green 027 281 2807. 

 

  • Vintage Car Club of Ashburton Swap Meet is on SAT 4 MAY at the Club Grounds on Maronan Road, Tinwald. Gates open 7:15am. No dogs. Catering by Ashburton Lions Club. Site bookings to Cathy Sweetman [email protected] or 021 372 087. Part of Wheels Week. 

 

  • Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton Mega Pumpkin Growing Competition Weigh-In Day is SUN 5 MAY. At the end of 2023 they gave away 50 giant pumpkin plants for customers to grow for a competition. Now it's time to weigh in. We have four categories, Biggest, Weirdest, Heaviest and Best Dressed. Weigh in from 8am-11am, Prizegiving 2pm. Find more on the Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton FB page. 

 

  • Ravensdown Ashburton A&P Association Winter Feed Competition judging is set down for MON 6 and TUES 7 MAY. Entries close WED 1 MAY. Prizegiving on WED 8 MAY. Entry fee $50 per crop ($40 for A&P members). To enter, send your details to Fleur Crofskey [email protected]. 

 

  • Agriconnect Day is an opportunity to connect with other rural professionals from all aspects of farming for support and to ensure you don't feel isolated. Also helping rural professionals such as stock agents and vets to know how to help. Organised by Lean on a Mate and supported by many locals, on WED 8 MAY at the Ashburton MSA 10am-3pm (with a break for lunch). Rural wellness checkups at the event too. Find more and register at leanonagate.co.nz. 

 

  • Winchmore Rural Women NZ is hosting it's annual Quiz Night on FRI 10 MAY, 7:30pm start in the Winchmore Hall. Entry just $30 for a team of up to 6. BYO refreshments. Great prizes and raffles to be won. Bring some cash for those on the night. Please register by MON 6 MAY to Maryann Blair 027 276 5998 or [email protected]. 

 

  • While the Rangitata Diversion Race is shut down for maintenance, RDRML is supporting the Hinds and District Lions in opening the Surrey Hills Siphon on Lower Downs Road for a public walk through on SUN 12 MAY 11am-3pm. A rare opportunity as the last walk through was back in 1996! The 2.6km long siphon has both a downgrade and upgrade and while not too steep, it may be slippery. Good footwear such as gumboots is recommended. Bring a torch and cash as BBQ and ice cream on offer. Entry via donation to the Lions to keep supporting local causes. Guided tours every half hour showing features and repairs. For further information please contact RDRML Kees Beentjes - 027 578 8763 or Hinds & Districts Lions Club. 

 

  • Variety Theatre Ashburton presents the NBS season of Les Miserables at the Ashburton Event Centre from FRI 17 - SAT 25 MAY. Evening shows 7:30pm, with 2pm matinee on Sunday. With glorious new staging, the acclaimed musical phenomenon Les Misérables returns to our Ashburton Event Centre next month! Set against the backdrop of 19thcentury France, Les Mis tells the gripping story of broken dreams and unrequited love. Passion, sacrifice and redemption all words that come to mind – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit.  Songs like I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, One Day More and Do You Hear the People Sing have helped this epic and uplifting tale become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatre history. Book now via the venue or listen to Luke Howden Breakfast to win! 

 

  • Methven Golf Club are celebrating their Centennial the weekend FRI 7 and SAT 8 JUN. Please note the change of dates. They invite all our current and past members to join the celebration. Registrations are open and are available via their Facebook page, or at [email protected].

 

  • Hot Air Balloon Fire and Ice Glow and Laser Festival is on at Methven A&P showgrounds SAT 22 JUN from 2:30pm. Welcoming Hot Air balloonists from all over Aotearoa. They will perform a tethered Hot Air Balloon Glow Show, with lasers light, coordinated by music. Before and after the show there will be a local live band playing while you enjoy watching the Balloonist inflate and deflate their balloons. There is also an incredible food court with a medley of culinary delights to tickle your taste buds and to wash it all down we have our local Irish bar providing refreshment. Lots of fun for all the family. Find more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/383394850891830/?ref=newsfeed

 

  • NZ Highwaymen are back as part of their Winter Tour at the Ashburton Event Centre THURS 27 JUN, 7pm. The best of Eddie Low, Dennis Marsh, Gray Bartlett and Brendan Dugan. Tickets from the venue. 

 

  • Ashburton Model Train Show is on at Tinwald War Memorial Hall on Graham Street the weekend SAT 6 and SUN 7 JULY. 10am-4pm each day. Model Train show featuring model trains, retailers, second hand tables and other displays. Adults $10 children $3 family (2 adults 2 children) $20. Please bring cash. Find more on Facebook. 

 

  • The South Island Half Marathon (and 1/6 marathon) is being held SUN 4 AUG at Lake Hood. The run will see runners run around the lake and experience amazing water views throughout the run. Then some of the most amazing home and garden settings and reserves in the South Island. South Island Half Marathon will cater for all runners; whether you’re a beginner or an elite runner, this fast-flat course will give you the opportunity to do one of the fastest half’s you’ve ever done. There will be a walking section in both the ½ and 1/6 marathon, plus the Hybrid in the 1/2 marathon - "This allows you to run a bit and walk a bit". With the Kidz Dash being a 1.5km run, this giving them a flavour of the experience of running at the lake and subdivision. The Minimum age for the Half Marathon is 13-years of age on Race Day and the 7km is 10-years of age on Race Day. The Course is certified by a Certficated Road Race Course Measurer for World Athletics. Grade and certified in corporation with AIMS. Find more and sign up here: https://raceroster.com/events/2024/78795/south-island-half-marathon?mibextid=Zxz2cZ 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you