This is not only due to lifestyle and employment opportunities but also due to Ashburton's strategic location in the South Island of New Zealand. Ashburton is centrally situated on State Highway 1 and the main trunk railway line.
With the opening of a new industrial estate (200 hectares), it is now more cost-effective for North Island companies to locate a good proportion of their distribution activity in Ashburton to cover not only the South Island but also the lower North Island.
Both the reduced cost of site establishment and competitive freight and distribution costs make Ashburton a viable locality choice.