1 June 2026
in  

Honour Bestowed – Richard Ashford recognised in King’s Birthday Honours List 2026

Ashford Wheels & Looms is proud to announce that Richard Ashford has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution to business and the textile craft industry in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2026.

Richard described the recognition as “a complete surprise” and said he accepted the honour on behalf of the many people who have contributed to Ashford’s success over the past 92 years.

Founded in 1934 by Richard’s late father Walter Ashford, Ashford Wheels & Looms has grown from a small family workshop in Mid Canterbury into the world’s largest manufacturer of textile craft equipment, supplying spinning wheels, weaving looms and fibrecraft tools to customers in more than 65 countries.

Reflecting on the honour, Richard paid tribute to his family, staff, customers, suppliers and the worldwide fibrecraft community that has supported the company through generations.

“This recognition belongs to many people,” Richard said. “To my parents Walter and Joy, who built a business based on craftsmanship and integrity; to my wife Elizabeth who has worked tirelessly with me for more than 40 years; our children Cathy, Lucy and James, and now James and his husband David who continue the family tradition; my sisters Gay Epstein in Australia and Heather Guthrie with the Hands Craft Store in Christchurch, and to the incredible Ashford team whose dedication has helped shape the company we are today.”

Richard also acknowledged the contribution of long-serving team members, including Sales and Marketing Manager Kate Sherratt and Production Manager Ken Meehan, as well as Ashford’s commitment to apprenticeship training.

From humble beginnings in Rakaia, Richard grew up surrounded by spinning wheels, weaving looms and the sounds of woodworking machinery. After studying wood machining, draughting and management at the Christchurch Technical Institute, he joined the family business and learned the trade alongside his father.

Under Richard’s leadership, Ashford has become internationally recognised for designing and manufacturing high-quality, exceptionally functional, affordable and accessible textile equipment. The company has produced more than 900,000 spinning wheels and weaving looms and today works with more than 800 active dealers worldwide.

Innovation and accessibility have remained central to Richard’s vision. Products such as the portable Joy Spinning Wheel, named after his mother, and more recently electronic spinning and carding equipment have helped make fibrecrafts accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Ashford has also become a global educational and creative resource for the fibrecraft community, publishing books, producing online tutorials and building a large international following through social media and video content. The company’s educational YouTube videos have attracted millions of views worldwide.

Sustainability has been another cornerstone of Ashford’s philosophy. The company uses timber sourced from sustainably managed forests, supplies New Zealand wool processed at Ashford’s woollen mill, and continues to invest in safe and environmentally friendly manufacturing machinery and practices.

Beyond manufacturing, Richard and Elizabeth established the Ashford Textile Award, to support textile artists and community initiatives around the world. Previous recipients have included organisations in Canada, France, India, Peru, Rwanda, and the UK, that use textile crafts to create employment, preserve traditional skills and support vulnerable communities.

“Textile crafts provide a mindful, joyful and productive activity for people all over the world,” he said. “My philosophy and passion have always been to create affordable, easy-to-use and exceptionally functional equipment that enables people to enjoy making something unique with their own hands.”

Richard and Elizabeth also remain active supporters of the Ashburton community, contributing to a range of charitable, educational, art, craft, and sporting organisations throughout Canterbury.

In addition to his work with Ashford, Richard served for 23 years as a Director and Deputy Chairman of the Ashburton Permanent Building Society and later CBS Canterbury, helping guide the organisation that would eventually become Heartland Bank.

Ashford Wheels & Looms congratulates Richard on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates the generations of family, staff, craftspeople and customers who continue to shape the Ashford story today.