Stories by Jonathan Leask

More than 100,000 people have flocked to Methven's Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa complex since it opened in November 2021.

Removing the use of cellphones at Ashburton College is about eliminating a major disruption, according to the school's principal.

The Ashburton mayor will be answering his pager if he can, with local volunteer firefighters continuing to respond during the union strike action.

Wastebusters is happy to see the first loads of farm plastics hit the road after four years of stockpiling, but its green waste collection is in breach of the land and water regional plan.

A couple who lost their daughter to meningococcal disease have appealed to the Health Select Committee to provide a free meningococcal vaccine programme for all secondary students.

Community service provider Safer Mid Canterbury is eyeing bigger office space as it expands its services and demand continues to grow.

Ashburton District council chief executive Hamish Riach says the council must improve on its delivery after $14.5 million worth of carry-over projects from the 2021-22 financial year.

Ashburton's mayor backs the de-population of the district's major cattle feedlot to curb the mycoplasma bovis disease, even though he expects an impact on the local economy.

Another Ashburton District Council candidate has expressed her disapproval of government-enforced mandates.

A sneak peek inside Ashburton's new library and civic building, Te Pātaka a kā Tuhituhi and Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka, has only increased the anticipation.

New Associate Minister of Local Government Kieran McAnulty admits the impact of funding cuts to roading in Mid Canterbury is now being seen.

Key Ashburton retailers are opposed to a new CBD market day, saying further "restricted trading'' is not what they need.

Methven's Dame Lynda Topp says she is committed to her election candidacy campaign despite setbacks in her cancer treatment.

The Ashburton District Council's approval rating has plunged to its lowest level and there is a "clear link" to the state of the roads.

Ashburton's planned second bridge now faces its biggest hurdle, with the need to find $76 million more than originally expected to pay for it.

Dame Lynda Topp joins a host of new names seeking a seat on the Ashburton District Council, which is set for a changing of the guard with four current councillors not standing for re-election.

The incident involved a female student being recorded as she was being assaulted by another girl at the school.

A large-scale solar farm planned in Mid Canterbury will have the capacity to power the district on its own and could impact power prices.

Opinion - The government is pressing forward with its plans to redefine how three waters infrastructure is operated in New Zealand through centralisation, but a faction of district councils, including…

Ashburton is being made to "look scruffy" by KiwiRail, a district councillor says, and she wants it to do better.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown says there has been no budget blow out at the new library and civic centre.

The Ashburton District Council's draft annual plan proposing a 9.4 percent rate increase has received a paltry 58 submissions with five days before consultation closes.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown is hoping for at least a pause to proceedings as the fight against the Three Waters reform continues.

Mayor Neil Brown is surprised the Ashburton District's rate rise is one of the highest in the country.

The Stocker family were supposed to be enjoying their new home by now but are still, along with others, at loggerheads with ECan over wastewater consent related to nitrate risk in Ashburton's…