The Waitangi Day public holiday on Friday 6 February 2026 will see temporary changes to operating hours at some Council facilities and to some Council services.

The Ashburton library and administration building, Te Whare Whakatere, will be closed but you can still get in touch at any time if you have a problem or urgently need to contact us -  the afterhours service will be operating 24 hours-a-day, please phone 03 307 7700.

Rubbish and Recycling

There is no change to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections on Waitangi Day, Friday 6 February. If Friday is your usual collection day, please have your bins out as normal by 7.30am, and please use your windstrap, no matter the weather.

Resource Recovery Parks

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will be open on Waitangi Day from 8am-6pm, and open its usual weekend hours (Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday 9am-5pm).

The Rakaia Resource Recovery Park will be closed on Waitangi Day, but open on Saturday from 9am-3pm.

The Methven green waste facility is open Sunday from 12pm to 4pm.

EA Networks Centre

The centre will open on Friday from 10am-5pm. The only classes on Waitangi Day are Aquafit at 10.15am, Evolve at 11am, Revolution at 12.15pm and The Trip at 3.30pm.

There will be no learn-to-swim lessons on Friday, Waitangi Day. Normal weekend hours apply.

Check EANC’s Facebook page for extra activities.

Ashburton Library

The Ashburton Library will be closed on Friday, Waitangi Day, but open on Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.

Rokowhiria Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum

The Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum will be open 10am-4pm on Waitangi Day, and over the following weekend.

Several exhibitions about the art of printmaking are in their final weeks, so come along and see works by the likes of Kathy Reilly, who travelled to the Subantarctic Islands for inspiration.

It is also the final days of Dearly Beloved – 100 years of the Wedding Dress. This exhibition features bridal wear from the last 100 years, including the winning gown in the Ashburton Bridg of the Year competition in 1970.

Customer Services at Te Whare Whakatere

Council’s customer services at Baring Square East will close at 5pm on Thursday 5 February, and re-open at 8.30am on Monday 9 February.

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 at any time.

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.