Ashburton Museum

06/06/2026

Smoke Free, Victorian Style

You may be surprised to learn that the desire to create a Smoke Free Aotearoa is by no means a recent phenomenon. In the Victorian era, smoking was initially socially acceptable for males only. Smoking in front of women was considered an infraction of good manners, as was the lingering smell when a gentleman was in a lady’s presence. When a gentleman moved to another room to retire for his cigarette, he also wore particular clothing as he imbibed....

You may be surprised to learn that the desire to create a Smoke Free Aotearoa is by no means a recent phenomenon. In the Victorian era, smoking was initially socially acceptable for males only.&nbs…

05/06/2026

Don't forget to come along to our special heritage talk at 11am! 🎤

The Ashburton Family History group will be sharing their years of research into our Mid Canterbury Suffragettes at this free talk.

Also, drop by anytime from 10.30am - 3.30pm to contribute to our community stitching event. Help to create a textile panel honouring our suffragettes with the Ashburton Embroiderers Guild!

See you soon!
🎤Heritage Talk | Today, 11am
🧵Stitching event | Today, 10.30am - 3.30pm

04/06/2026

Last week, we celebrated the opening of Matariki herenga waka: A mooring place for all canoes! 🌟

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, and an even bigger thank you to the students from Ashburton Intermediate who designed waka, and the kapa haka group for their incredible performance.

It was an amazing evening, and we hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!

Make sure to come and visit 'Matariki herenga waka', on display until 16 August

03/06/2026

Don't miss our heritage talk and stitching event this Saturday! 🧵

At this free talk, the Ashburton Family History Group will share their years of research on the Mid Canterbury suffragettes, and add local context to this pivotal moment in time.

During this talk, we will also be running a community stitching event! Add a stitch to the textile artwork that is being created to celebrate our suffragettes by the Ashburton Embroiderers' Guild to support the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers’ Guilds Inc and Canterbury Suffrage Stitchers.

🎤 Heritage talk | Saturday 06 June, 11am
🧵Community Stitching Event | Saturday 06 June, 10.30am - 3.30pm

Image: Detail from Suffrage and Stitches exhibition, 2023

31/05/2026

We are open today from 10am - 4pm!

Come and explore our new exhibition Matariki Herenga Waka: A mooring place for all canoes, featuring waka hourua designed by Ashburton Intermediate School.

Free entry - see you soon!

30/05/2026

Thomas Bowyer: The Hawker of Havelock Street

Thomas Bowyer was well-known on the streets of Ashburton during the early part of the twentieth century. He was a hawker by trade, confined to a wheelchair upon which his merchandise was carefully displayed, which at least gave him flexibility to move around the streets at will as he sold his wares. Thomas’ stock included knives, to***co, combs, cutlery, scissors, and stationery....

Thomas Bowyer was well-known on the streets of Ashburton during the early part of the twentieth century. He was a hawker by trade, confined to a wheelchair upon which his merchandise was carefully …

29/05/2026

We are open everyday this long weekend from 10am - 4pm!

Come and get a first look at our brand new exhibitions, Matariki Herenga Waka, and Caught in the Moment: Guardian photographs of 1976.

Free entry, and all are welcome!

28/05/2026

OPENING TONIGHT 🌟⭐️💫

Matariki Herenga Waka and Caught in the Moment: Guardian photographs of 1976 both open TONIGHT at 6pm!

Come along and celebrate - there will be free food and drinks, and we will also be giving out 20 Cafe Tango vouchers for you to use at Glow in the Park!

While the opening celebrations will officially start at 6pm, we will be staying open from 4pm - 8pm so that you can pop by and see our new shows on your way to or from Glow.

Don't miss this exciting opening event, featuring a performance by the kapa haka group from Ashburton Intermediate.

Friday 29 May | 6pm

27/05/2026

Don’t miss the opening of Matariki Herenga Waka this Friday at 6pm!! 💫

We've been busy installing our interactive digital constellation today, and the waka hourua are already hanging... next jobs are lighting and sound to make the immersive space come to life!

All are welcome to join us on Friday night for kai, glowsticks, and celebrations! 🌟

Opening Friday 29 May, 6pm

26/05/2026

Travel back in time to 1976 in our new exhibition Caught in the Moment: Guardian photographs of 1976! 📸

This selection of photographs from our large collection of Guardian negatives will take you on a journey across various aspects of life in our district 50 years ago.

Although some of these images were published in the daily newspaper, most weren’t and won’t have been seen before. Many of the photographs were taken to support a newsworthy story, while some are a whole story in themselves.

Join us for the opening of this exhibition on Friday, 29 May at 6pm. This will coincide with the opening of Matariki herenga waka: A mooring place for all canoes.

Image from the Ashburton Guardian negative collection, 1 April 1976.