Leeston

Leeston
Town
Location of Leeston
Coordinates: 43°46′S 172°18′E / 43.767°S 172.300°E / -43.767; 172.300
Country	New Zealand
Island	South Island
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Selwyn District
Ward	Ellesmere
Electorates	Selwyn Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Selwyn District Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
• Mayor of Selwyn	Sam Broughton
• Selwyn MP	Nicola Grigg
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area
• Total	2.44 km2 (0.94 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[1]
• Total	2,530
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	7632
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Leeston (Māori: Karumata) is a town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and the mouth of the Rakaia River. The town is home to a growing number of services which have increased and diversified along with the population. Leeston has a supermarket, schools (pre-school, primary school and high school), churches, hospital (for the elderly only), gym, cafes, restaurants, medical centre, pharmacy and post office. The Selwyn District Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston.