Two O’Clock Tours | Michael Greaves

An artist preoccupied with the philosophical questions surrounding painting and its purpose in the 21st century, Michael Greaves tests how memories and ideas about the things of the world can be translated compellingly onto the painted surface. At our first Two O’Clock Tour of 2025, we will be exploring Greaves’ exhibition Falling if not Flying,…

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Bridging the Chasm Railway Talk | Michael Ross

Join us on Wednesday 26 January at 5.30pm for a special talk by Michael Ross, a Whakatere Ashburton local, about the history of railway here in Waitaha Canterbury. Michael will discuss a general history of the Great Southern Railway, including the men who worked on trains and the final trains seen around the district. He…

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Finger-knitting workshop with Wesley John Fourie

Wesley John Fourie’s exhibition ‘and with his kiss i became a braided river‘ showcases a total of 2100 metres of finger knitting, mimicking (at 1/100 scale) the branches of Whakatere Ashburton river. Wesley works across multiple media, but one element of their practice is the production of hand-knitted scale models of rivers, including Te Awa…

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Summer Holiday Activities 2024/25

This summer, we have free activities running every day! Drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm to get involved. Check out our list of activities below.   Paper Hand Wreath 01 December – 14 December 10AM – 4PM daily Create, decorate & celebrate! Gather your family and make a DIY hand print wreath to celebrate…

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Lost Luggage

Lost luggage includes items of luggage or personal goods left behind or that have not arrived at the correct destination with the passenger. Whether travelling by rail, bus, ship or airline, lost luggage usually and hopefully follows shortly after. Luggage with no claimant was (and in some cases, still is) forwarded to the nearest city,…

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Island Breeze

Join us for our monthly Pasifika wāhine art and craft session in Ashburton! If singing, chatting, and art sounds like your cup of tea, come along on the third Thursday of every month from 1pm – 3.45pm. Island Breeze welcomes Māori and Pasifika. Kai is provided. Contact Fifita on 027 529 0022 for more details….

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Bridging the chasm – 150 years of Ashburton District Railway

Arriving in August 1874, the Great Southern Railway opened Ashburton to the world. The station became the arrival and departure platform for thousands of people coming and going over the next 128 years until all passenger services ceased in 2002. It was, in its heyday, the central hub for our community. A railway trip was a day out…

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