Ashhurst is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the city of Palmerston North. It has a population of 2526 (2001 census).
Ashhurst's importance stems from its ___location, at the western end of the Manawatu Gorge. As such, it is close to the easiest road and rail link between the east and west coasts of the southern North Island.
Ashhurst was named for Lord Ashhurst, who owned land in the immediate area. The Māori name for the area is Raukawa, after a native aromatic plant (Pseudopanax edgerleyi).
References
- Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
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