Ashhurst
Encyclopedia
Ashhurst is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui
Manawatu-Wanganui
Manawatu-Wanganui is a region in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand, around the cities of Palmerston North and Whanganui. It is administered by the Horizons Regional Council.-Administration:...

 region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

.

Location, features

Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the city of Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...

 and is a small rural town.

There is a main street (Cambridge Avenue) which once one leaves Ashhurst, turns into Pohangina Road, which leads to the Pohangina
Pohangina
Pohangina is a small rural town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand.Pohangina has two parts to it; Pohangina Valley and Pohangina Village and it is just north of Ashhurst...

 Valley.

It also features two Four Square supermarkets
Four Square supermarkets
Four Square is a chain of supermarkets in New Zealand. During the 1950s the Foodstuffs advertising department designed the famous "Mr 4 Square" who initially appeared only in newspaper advertising and posters, but was developed to become part of the Four Square identity, appearing in every Four...

, both located on Cambridge Avenue and are across the road from each other. One serves as the local Lotto outlet.

The town stands under the Ruahine Ranges, beneath its tallest peak Wharite, upon which is the television and radio transmitter. Also at the Ashhurst Domain (cnr of Cambridge Ave and Napier Road (SH3), one can view the Ruahine Ranges, the Tararua Ranges and the wind farm.

Transport

Ashhurst's importance stems from its location at the western end of the Manawatu Gorge
Manawatu Gorge
The Manawatu Gorge runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay regions...

. As such, it is close to the easiest road and rail link between the east and west coasts of the southern North Island.

Ashhurst is the location of Palmerston North's second bridge crossing over the Manawatu.
There is an occasional bus which links Palmerston North with Ashhurst.

Parks and Reserves

  • Ashhurst Domain - A large multipurpose park which includes a camping ground, a lookout to the wind farm, a cemetery and canine area.
  • Lincoln Park - The home ground to the local rugby team Ashhurst-Pohangina
    Pohangina
    Pohangina is a small rural town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand.Pohangina has two parts to it; Pohangina Valley and Pohangina Village and it is just north of Ashhurst...

     RFC

History

Ashhurst was named for Lord Henry Ashhurst, who owned land in the immediate area. Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...

 name for the area is Raukawa
Pseudopanax
Pseudopanax is a small genus of 12–20 species of evergreen plants, the majority of which are endemic to New Zealand, although they also occur in Tasmania and some plants from South America have at times been included in this genus. Flowers of the genus occur in terminal umbels.-Natural...

, after a native aromatic plant (Pseudopanax edgerleyi).

Notable Figures

Andre Taylor came from Ashhurst and went to the local school. He made his Hurricanes debut season in 2010 and also got named in the New Zealand Maori squad on their centenary anniversary.

Ashhurst-Fitzherbert Ward

Ashhurst-Fitzherbert Ward is Palmerston North's largest ward covering the area from James Line to part way through the Manawatu Gorge, to just north of Ashhurst township. Recently Fitzherbert
Fitzherbert
Fitzherbert is a constituent ward of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.The ward is made up of the suburbs of Turitea, Massey University, Linton and Aokautere.Fitzherbert is the largest ward in area in the city of Palmerston North.-Features:...

 Ward has become amalgamated with Ashhurst Ward.

The Ward is predominantly rural, with most of the population living in Ashhurst, Aokautere and Linton. The area varies from the suburban to the foothills of the Tararua Ranges to the river valleys of the Manawatu and Pohangina Rivers.

The Saddle Road Bridge, which crosses this river, had to be recently replaced due to floods in 2004 when a flooded Pohangina
Pohangina
Pohangina is a small rural town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand.Pohangina has two parts to it; Pohangina Valley and Pohangina Village and it is just north of Ashhurst...

 River swept the bridge away.
Saddle Road is the alternative route East when the Manawatu Gorge
Manawatu Gorge
The Manawatu Gorge runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay regions...

is closed.

There is an increasing amount of development in the area especially around Aokautere and Summerhill.

Because of the higher ground on the south bank of the Manawatu, there are spectacular views of the Ruahine Ranges and the northern parts of the city. On a clear day it is possible to see Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Taranaki.

Wards of Palmerston North
Ward Name Suburbs including Councillor(s)
Ashhurst-Fitzherbert Ward Aokautere, Ashhurst, Linton, Whakarongo, Turitea Two - Cr. Duncan McCann,
http://www.pncc.govt.nz/Council/TheCouncil/MayorAndCouncillors.htm?searchstring=&pos=&sel=2&ID=35#35 Cr. Bruce Wilson

Central Government

General
  • Rangitikei (as at 2006) is represented by New Zealand National MP Simon Power.
  • Prior to 1996, Ashhurst was part of the Manawatu electorate. However, due to the reformation of the electoral system from FPP to MMP, the electorate of Rangitikei's boundaries were redrawn to include Ashhurst.


Māori
  • People on the Māori roll in Ashhurst are currently represented by Māori Party co-leader, Tariana Turia, MP for Te Tai Hauāuru
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