Ashley is a small town in North Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. It used to have a railway station on the Main North Line that runs through the village.

Ashley
Ashley Hotel
Ashley Hotel
Map
Coordinates: 43°16′34″S 172°35′57″E / 43.276028°S 172.599248°E / -43.276028; 172.599248
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityWaimakariri District
WardRangiora-Ashley Ward
CommunityRangiora-Ashley Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaimakariri District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of WaimakaririDan Gordon
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total0.99 km2 (0.38 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total410
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
7477 and 7473
Area code03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Education

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Ashley Rakahuri School is Ashley's only school, and was established in 1864.[3] It is a state co-educational full primary, with 166 students (as of August 2024).[4] The principal is Linda Horne.

Demographics

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Ashley is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 0.99 km2 (0.38 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 410 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 414 people per km2. Ashley is part of the larger Ashley-Sefton statistical area.[5]

Historical population for Ashley
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901202—    
2006222+0.09%
2013261+2.34%
2018312+3.63%
Source: [6][7]

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 4.66 km2 (1.80 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Ashley had a population of 312 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (19.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (40.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 108 households, comprising 153 males and 159 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 35.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 81 people (26.0%) aged under 15 years, 60 (19.2%) aged 15 to 29, 138 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.2% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 2.9% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 73.1% had no religion, 20.2% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (27.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 39 people (16.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 129 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 57 (24.7%) were part-time, and 12 (5.2%) were unemployed.[7]

Ashley-Sefton statistical area

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Ashley-Sefton statistical area, which also includes Sefton, covers 86.91 km2 (33.56 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 2,430 as of June 2024,[8] with a population density of 28.0 people per km2.

Historical population for Ashley-Sefton
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,710—    
20131,953+1.92%
20182,139+1.84%
Source: [9]
 
Ashley River bridge
 
Ashley war memorial

Ashley-Sefton had a population of 2,139 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 186 people (9.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 429 people (25.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 762 households, comprising 1,065 males and 1,074 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 45.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 441 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 318 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,041 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 339 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.4% European/Pākehā, 6.6% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.2% had no religion, 33.7% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 246 (14.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 354 (20.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 351 people (20.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 891 (52.5%) people were employed full-time, 318 (18.7%) were part-time, and 42 (2.5%) were unemployed.[9]

Climate

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The average temperature in summer is 15.9 °C, and in winter is 7 °C.[10]

Month Normal temperature
January 16.4 °C
February 16.1 °C
March 14.9 °C
April 12.4 °C
May 9.4 °C
June 7.0 °C
July 6.5 °C
August 7.4 °C
September 9.4 °C
October 11.5 °C
November 13.2 °C
December 15.1 °C

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ Wood, Pauline J (1989). "From slates to computers : the history of Ashley and Mt. Grey Downs schools, 1864-1989". Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Ashley-Sefton
  6. ^ "Ashley". THE CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW ZEALAND. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023938.
  8. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ashley-Sefton (313700). 2018 Census place summary: Ashley-Sefton
  10. ^ "Weather statistics for Ashley, Canterbury (New Zealand)". yr.no. Retrieved 11 December 2013.