The councillors are elected from three wards: five from the Ashburton ward, and two each from the Eastern and Western wards. The mayor is elected at-large.
Western Ward: Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan, Rodger Letham
Eastern Ward: Lynette Lovett, Stuart Wilson
Ashburton Ward: Leen Braam, Carolyn Cameron, John Falloon, Angus McKay, Diane Rawlinson
Community boards
Methven Community Board: Dan McLaughlin, Sonia McAlpine, Kelvin Holmes, Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan, Ron Smith
History
Original Ashburton Borough Council seal (1878–1966)
The council was formed in 1989, replacing the Ashburton County Council established in 1878.
In 2020, the council had 307 staff, including 43 earning more than $100,000. According to the right-wing Taxpayers' Union think tank, residential rates averaged $2,336.