Ashburton (M?ori: Hakatere) is a large town in the Canterbury Region, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The town is the seat of the Ashburton District, a territorial authority encompassing the town and the surrounding rural area, which is also known as "Mid-Canterbury". It is located 85 km (53 mi) south west of Christchurch and is sometimes regarded as a satellite town of Christchurch.
Ashburton township has a population of 17,700, with an additional 12,400 living in the wider district. The town is the third-largest urban centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru
