Wikipedia
Leeston is a town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 40 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere and the mouth of the Rakaia River. The town is a farming service centre, but has all the necessities for a real township such as a supermarket, schools, churches, hospital (for the elderly only) and a small open swimming pool. The Selwyn District Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston.
Leeston is growing relatively fast for a small town, having a 2006 population of 1,299 up 8.3%, or 99 people, since the 2001 census. This is significantly above the average population growth rate in New Zealand, though not as high as centres close to Christchurch. The 2013 census returned a population of 1,506, which is 15.9% higher than the 2006 census. Population growth is expected to continue due to people leaving Christchurch as a result of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.