Ashhurst

Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the Palmerston North city centre. The town stands under the Ruahine Range, beneath Wharite Peak,^[7] which is the most notable peak on the south end of the Ruahine Range, upon which is the television and radio transmitter.

Ashhurst covers 4.21 km² (1.63 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 3,350 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 796 people per km².

Ashhurst had a population of 3,237 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 303 people (10.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 588 people (22.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,608 males, 1,614 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,131 dwellings.^[10] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 771 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 537 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,488 (46.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 444 (13.7%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.7% European (Pākehā); 21.3% Māori; 4.2% Pasifika; 4.4% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori by 4.1%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 6.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[8]

Religious affiliations were 29.9% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.4%, and 8.4% of people did not answer the census question.^[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 477 (19.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,464 (59.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 528 (21.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 201 people (8.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,368 (55.5%) full-time, 330 (13.4%) part-time, and 48 (1.9%) unemployed.^[8]

Ashhurst's importance stems from its location at the western end of the Manawatū Gorge. As such, it was close to the easiest road and rail link between the east and west coasts of the southern North Island. However, the Gorge has been closed since April 2017 and the road link to the east coast from Ashhurst is now via Saddle Road.

There are four buses on weekdays and one on Saturdays linking Palmerston North with Ashhurst.^[11]

• Ashhurst Domain – A large multipurpose park which includes a camping ground, a lookout to the wind farm, a cemetery and canine area.
• Durham Street Reserve and McCraes Bush Reserve^[12][13][14]
• Lincoln Park – The home ground to the local rugby team Ashhurst-Pohangina RFC

Ashhurst was named for Lord Henry Ashhurst, who owned land in the immediate area. The Māori name for the area is Raukawa, after the native aromatic plant Pseudopanax edgerleyi, whereas for the town it is Otangaki.^[15]

Ashhurst School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[18] with a roll of 460 as of October 2025.^[19][20] It opened in 1879.^[21]

• Andre Taylor, rugby player
• Mark McGrath, darts player