The public holiday for Matariki on Friday 20 June 2025 will see temporary changes to some Council services and facilities.

There is no change to the kerbside rubbish and recycling collection, so put your bins out at usual on Friday. Collection times can vary, but if your bin isn’t emptied by 7.30pm then please call us and let us know.

The Rakaia Gorge has a special platform offering seasonal views of the Matariki star cluster, but if you want an activity closer to home, then pop along to the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum and see its Puaka Matariki exhibition. The art gallery and museum is open 10am-4pm every day of the long weekend.

There are also some Matariki-themed activities coming up in the school holidays that you can check out in our latest What’s On guide.

Kerbside Rubbish and Recycling

Ashburton’s kerbside collection service will not be affected by the public holiday on Friday 20 June, so people whose bins are normally emptied on a Friday should put them out for collection as usual by 7.30am.

Resource Recovery Parks

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will be open 9am-5pm on the public holiday on Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday.

The Rakaia Resource Recovery Park will be closed on Matariki Friday.

Ashburton Library

The Ashburton Library will be closed on Matariki, but open Saturday and Sunday (10-4pm).

Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum

The Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum will be open over all three days of the Matariki weekend, 10-4pm.

Check out the Puaka Matariki exhibition, as well as new exhibitions in the gallery space. Take a trip down memory lane with a collection of photographs from the Ashburton Guardian taken 50 years ago in 1975.

EA Networks Centre

EA Networks Centre will be open the three days of the long weekend. It will be open Friday from 10am-5pm and then operate usual hours Saturday and Sunday, from 7am-7pm (though the pool and gym will close at 6pm).

There are no learn to swim lessons on Friday, but Saturday’s learn to swim schedule is as normal. Group fitness classes on Friday are Aquafit at 10.15am, Revolution at 12.15pm and The Trip at 3.30pm. Classes are as usual on Saturday and Sunday.

Customer Services

Council’s administration services at Te Whare Whakatere on Baring Square East will close at 5pm on Thursday 19 June, and re-open at 8.30am on Monday 23 June.

If you have a problem or urgently need to contact us, then the afterhours/24 hours-a-day service will be operating - please phone 03 307 7700.

Emails, Snap Send Solves and website requests will be cleared when the office opens for business as usual on Monday.

Public toilets around the district will be open daily as usual over the long weekend.