Ashburton, New Zealand

Capital City

Living in Ashburton means dealing with a heavy tax burden and occasional bureaucratic headaches. The town of 20,200 sits 86 kilometers south of Christchurch, in the middle of the fertile Canterbury Plains. Summers can be scorching, with an average of 39 days over 25°C, while winters bring frequent frosts - over 50 nights below freezing each year. The local economy is heavily skewed towards agriculture, with primary industries contributing 27% of the GDP, far above the national average. Ashburton may suit those drawn to rural, pastoral living, but it's not for the faint of heart.