Methven, New Zealand

Methven is a small town in the Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand. It lies near the western edge of the Canterbury Plains, 35 kilometers north of Ashburton on State Highway 77

Once it was the end of a short branch line of the Main South Line, the Methven Branch that branched off at Rakaia. This line ran from Rakaia by Lauriston and Lyndhurst to Methven and was operated in the years 1880-1976.

The community is about the year a rural service center, in winter they are dominated by the ski tourism. It is the closest place to ski at Mount Hutt. Therefore, there are a number of cafes, bars, restaurants and accommodation options that are frequented mainly in winter. Besides skiing, driving with hot air balloons is popular.

At the 2006 census the population was 1326 inhabitants, an increase of 192 since 2001.

Methven was in the 1930s, the home of Rajah, New Zealand's first police dog. 2007, a monument to him was erected in front of the local police station.

Methven also served as an inn, the film crew and actors in the recordings in Edoras in the movie Lord of the Rings, the inland took place on.