What we do

In January 2024, Ashburton Senior Citizens Incorporated came under the Safer Mid Canterbury umbrella. In 2025, they are rebranding to  Thrive .   "Our mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with passion, compassion, humour, and style." (Maya Angelou, paraphrased)   Thrive aims to...

Working with families to improve school attendance for children who have a high level of unjustified absences.  The Attendance Service works alongside families and schools to improve school attendance for tamariki who have a high level of unjustified absences. Truancy can be due to a range of factors. Our attendance...

CACTUS is a physical training, activities and self-discipline programme that supports young people to reach their potential through building their fitness, self-esteem, and confidence.  It is run during the school term for anyone aged between 10-14 to learn about physical fitness, teamwork, and discipline. CACTUS is a...

Our Supervised Contact service is a Family Court-ordered service which enables a child to spend time with a parent or family member with whom they do not have day-to-day contact. We are a Ministry of Justice-approved provider, and have trained Safer Mid Canterbury staff who supervise all contact meetings and provide...

The Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network is a service for people who have recently moved to the district to help connect them so that they feel at home here. We work with newcomers, whether from another part of New Zealand or from overseas, to create a sense of inclusiveness and understanding for the diverse ethnic and...

Neighbourhood Support aims to reduce crime and isolation through fostering connections between neighbours. It also helps to distribute information from Police to help neighbours work together to keep their properties safe. It is all about you and your neighbours looking out for each other. This might include keeping...

Ashburton has become a safe and welcoming place for the resettlement of former refugees coming to New Zealand under the New Zealand Government Refugee Quota Programme. Ashburton is proud to be one of thirteen settlement locations throughout New Zealand and receives approximately 110 persons per year from the national...

The Refugee Health Navigation Service links refugee families with health care providers in the Ashburton district. It is part of Safer Mid Canterbury’s Refugee Settlement Service. When a new family arrives in the district, Health Navigators can enrol them with a local GP, book medical appointments, offer transport to...

We receive funding from the Ministry of Social Development to put toward the support of refugee families once they have settled and no longer receive support from the MBIE-funded settlement service. For more information on this service, please email us via our contact form.

Safer Mid Canterbury has delivered restorative justice services in the Ashburton District Court since the initiative started in 1999. What is restorative justice? Restorative justice is a community-based response to crime. It aims to hold people to account for their offending and, where possible, repair the harm...

Free support, tuition and subsidised driving tests are provided through the Rural Driver Licensing Scheme to assist rural-based adult migrants and newcomers to learn to drive. The Mid Canterbury Rural Driver Licensing Scheme is a partnership between the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust and Safer Mid Canterbury....

The Safe Families Network aims to raise awareness and educate people about family violence and its prevention. The Network was formed more than 10 years ago in response to increasing levels of family violence in the Ashburton district. The Safe Families coordinator promotes the prevention and awareness of family...

The Transition Service team at Safer Mid Canterbury provide practical support to assist rangatahi, aged between 15 and 25, to achieve their goals as they move towards independence, adulthood and wellbeing.   Why do we need a transition service? It is understood that young people leaving care, or youth justice...

Community Youth Programme The Community Youth programme has been providing young offenders, and those at risk of offending, with positive alternatives since it began in 2010. Young people entering the youth justice system (generally for lower level offending) are referred to the Community Youth programme, so that we...