It holds New Zealand's largest feedlot, where Wakanui Beef is produced through intensive farming.

[1][2] When Kermode and Moore sold their holdings, the land was subdivided (this process finished by 1877) and more people moved into the area.

Around that time, an extensive irrigation system was implemented, which was extended across all of Ashburton County, and that opened the dry but fertile land for wheat growing.

[3] A full primary school (i.e. serving years 1 to 8),[7] it had 109 students as of November 2024.

[12][13] Damien O'Connor, as Minister of Agriculture, weighed in on the debate in support of the feedlot.

He called it "innovative" and said it was, in general, "very well managed"; he added, "the image of pastoral farming is the one New Zealand promotes and it is the mainstay of our industry".

[13][14] The Winchmore-Wakanui statistical area surrounds Ashburton to the north, east and south, and covers 310.37 km2 (119.83 sq mi)[15] and had an estimated population of 1,690 as of June 2024,[16] with a population density of 5.4 people per km2.

Before the 2023 census, Winchmore-Wakanui had a larger boundary, covering 312.07 km2 (120.49 sq mi).