Mayfield, Canterbury facts for kids
Mayfield is a small farming town in Mid Canterbury, New Zealand. It is located on the South Island. Mayfield is about 35 kilometers from the town of Ashburton. It sits near the top of the Canterbury Plains.
About 200 people live in Mayfield village. Most people in Mayfield work in farming. Some work directly on farms, while others provide services for farmers. Mayfield is part of the Ashburton District Council area.
Contents
What's in Mayfield?
The village has a few important places. You can find a shop, a garage, and a local pub (tavern). There is also a transport company and a rural supply store.
Community Facilities
Mayfield has a special area called the Mayfield Domain. Here, you can find rugby fields and courts for tennis and squash. There's also an outdoor swimming pool. Kids can enjoy a play centre and an adventure playground. The town also has a memorial hall for events.
Mayfield Fire Brigade
Mayfield has a volunteer fire brigade. This means local people help fight fires. They use special fire trucks. The fire brigade is very important. This area can get very dry. Grass fires are common in summer.
History of the Post Office
The first post office in Mayfield opened in 1879. Mr. John Bowick was the first Postmaster. He was also the town's blacksmith. His house was the first post office. Later, Mr. James Dellow took over in 1881. He also became the local blacksmith.
A proper post office building opened in 1889. It also had a telegraph office. This post office served the town for many years. In 1982, it became a volunteer post office. Later, postal services moved to the local store.
James Dellow's Role
Many people think James Dellow helped Mayfield grow. He created stronger farming tools. These tools were needed for the stony ground. He saw Mayfield grow from a few houses to a busy town.
Local Events and News
The local store burned down in 2008. But it was rebuilt and reopened in 2009.
Every year, the Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral show takes place. It happens on the second Saturday in March.
In 2006, Mayfield had a big snowstorm. It caused power and phone outages. Roads were also blocked. Power was out for many homes for over a week. It was one of the worst storms in decades.
Mayfield also has a monthly newsletter. It is called the Mayfield Message. It is sent to homes in the area. You can also find it online.
How Mayfield Stays Connected
Mayfield has phone and internet services. These are provided by Chorus Limited. The internet service is called ADSL 1.
The town also has fibre optic networks. These are very fast internet cables. Vodafone and Electricity Ashburton have these networks. Mayfield also gets wireless internet. This is for rural areas.
Learning in Mayfield
Mayfield has a primary school. It serves the town and nearby areas. The school opened between 1880 and 1887.
School Expansion
In 2000, the school became bigger. Two smaller schools, Lismore and Westerfield, closed. Their students moved to Mayfield School. Two classrooms from Lismore were moved to Mayfield. Another building was used to make the library bigger.
Mayfield School is for students from new entrants to Year 8. It is a state school. In 2010, about 71 students attended the school.
Secondary Education
After primary school, students go to high school. They can attend Geraldine High School or Ashburton College. School buses take students from Mayfield to both high schools.
Mayfield's Water Supply
Mayfield village has a water supply system. It provides water to about 60 homes.
Water Challenges
The water supply used to come from stock water. In 2009, the community wanted a better source. They raised money to drill a well in the village. The water supply then came from this well.
However, the well water was not enough. Mayfield homes have faced limited water. Since 2016, there have been water restrictions. People cannot use outdoor hosepipes. The council is also trying out water meters. They also have a backup system using stock water.
