👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Don’t forget your umbrella this morning! We’re in for another wet one. And by the way… welcome to May! How is it May already?? 

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. First time reading? I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton, some news headlines you can’t miss, and road closures that might impact you. Join over 7,550 Hamiltonians here.

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🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Colour Group meet up | Thu 1st 9:15am at Mealmates Cafe. Bring your own colouring in pages and pencils and enjoy lovely company while colouring. Info.

Alba Tequila Tasting | Fri 2nd from 4:00pm at Hamilton Beer & Wine Co. Alba tequila is in town to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Alba will be teaching you how best to enjoy their blanco and reposado. Info.

$10 Board Game Club | Fri 2nd from 6:00pm at Escapist. Want to meet new people or simply broaden your social circle? Come join for a board game night and some chats. Info.

Late Night Car Meet | Fri 2nd from 7:30pm at Collins Automotive. Inviting all car enthusiasts, whether you drive a classic car, performance car, european, JDM, show car, slow car or your daily driver that you’re proud of - everyone is welcome! Info.

$5 Burgers | Fri 2nd until 8:00pm at Downlow Burgers on Grey Street. Get an OG Single Smashed Burger for just $5 with the secret code: SINGLE, and an OG Double Smashed Burger for just $7 with the secret code: DOUBLE. Info.

Salt Water Criminals 'I Believe in Dog' NZ Tour 2025 | Fri 2nd 8:00pm at Last Place. With the release of the stirring, hook-heavy I Believe in Dog, comes the first Salt Water Criminals headline tour. Tickets.

Hamilton Lake parkrun racer event | Sat 3rd 8:00am. With a range of pacers available, both walkers and runners to keep you on track and get you to the finish. Info.

Plant sale | Sat 3rd 10:00am-2:00pm at Hamilton Gardens. Friends of Hamilton Gardens' monthly plant sale, with a great range of plants at great prices. Info.

Beginners Tarot Course | Sat 3rd 10:00am-2:00pm at Infinity Spiritual Centre. For anyone who wants to learn the cards, how to interpret and read for yourself or others, develop your intuition and gain spiritual knowledge. Tickets.

Taylor Swift Bottomless Brunch | Sat 3rd 2:30pm at The Roaming Giant. Are you a Swiftie? Who also likes a bottomless brunch? Perfect. Think bracelets, DJ, themed food and beverage items. Book.

Vase Paint and Sip | Sat 3rd 6:00pm at Petal & Posie. Unleash your creativity at our night where art, good vibes, and a splash of sangria come together for the ultimate night out. Tickets.

Contact 50th Anniversary Party | Sat 3rd 7:00pm. A one-night celebration of the music, musicians and music lovers of Hamilton from the 1970s-2000s when Radio Contact was the cornerstone of alternative culture in the Waikato. Info.

THE BACK BAR & GRAY SPACE PRESENT: FLOWIDUS | Sat 3rd 10:00pm at The Back Bar. The Aussie/Kiwi duo have been on a tear over summer with full capacity crowds at their sets for both Rhythm & Vines & Northern Bass. Tickets.

Star-crossed Lovers: Force of Destiny | Sun 4th 2:30pm at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. Experience New Zealand's favourite classical saxophonist Simon Brew, featuring Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra in a concert for all the family to enjoy. Tickets.

Sisterly Sunday Swims | Sun 4th 6:00pm at Waterworld. For women who would like to swim in a safe and inclusive environment with female only staff. Join in the Hydrotherapy Pool for a unique swimming experience designed exclusively for women aged 16 years or older. Info.

Taylor Swift Tribute Show | Sun 4th 7:00pm at Clarence St Theatre. The No.1 Taylor Swift tribute show, Taylor’s Story, comes to New Zealand direct from North America. Tickets.

Yoga at the Museum | Mon 5th 5:30pm at Waikato Museum. Flow into the new month with an after-work yoga session in collaboration with Sun Salute Yoga - $25 per session. Tickets.

Hamilton Ethnic Communities Recruitment Seminar | Tue 6th 5:00pm at Settlement Centre Waikato. Curious about what Policing in New Zealand is all about? Info.

Hamilton Property Roadshow | Tue 6th 6:30pm at Ibis Tainui. Learn how to build considerable wealth through property. Info.

Rock of Ages | Tue 6th 7:00pm at Sacred Heart Girls’ College. A hair-raising musical collaboration between Sacred Heart Girls' College and St John's College, Hamilton! Info.

Quiz Night | Tue 6th 7:00pm at Smith & McKenzie. A classic believe it or not quiz. Info.

A Moment for Song: A Lunchtime Recital of Art Song | Wed 7th 1:00pm at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. Take a midday pause and be uplifted by the timeless beauty of Art Song, performed by distinguished teachers and associates of the Waikato Conservatorium of Music. Tickets.

Zines for Mana Motuhake | Wed 7th 2:30pm at Waikato Museum. Make a zine while learning about Maaori publishing and taonga in the Museum's collection. Tickets.

HaHaHamilton Presents The May Comedy Lounge | Wed 7th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. There will be a stella lineup of comedians coming across from the Bay of Plenty. Tickets.

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👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

PAK’nSAVE Te Rapa one step closer to a green light. Hamilton City Councillors approved a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 80km/h to 60km/h on a section of Wairere Drive. If now approved by NZTA, the speed limit reduction will enable a PAK’nSAVE supermarket to be developed in the area. Read.

Ex-Black Stick Brooke Hayde is opening a wellness hub in the CBD, with pilates, yoga, ice baths, meditation, and massage all in one place. O-Studio, at 18 London Street is being developed by Stark Property (the MADE people) and has a target opening date of June. Read.

In a weird and wild clash in Tauranga, the Gallagher Chiefs have piled on the points to crush the Western Force 56-22. Several lead changes, the ultimate case of being caught napping, flankers playing on the wing, and eleven tries made for a captivating Anzac Day contest. Read.

City’s Tagbusters have performed an Anzac Day miracle restoring the Nga Uri o Hinetuparimaunga sculpture at the Hamilton Gardens entrance. The sculpture was vandalised early Friday morning, with CCTV camera footage showing it took the culprit under 10 minutes to do the damage. Read.

Fonterra has announced a plan to close its canning and packaging facility in Hamilton at the end of July: 120 jobs on the line. The closure of Canpac, which blended and packaged milk powders, followed Fonterra’s decision to focus on "higher value" ingredients such as advanced proteins and medical nutrition. Read.

School breakfasts: 'A really great way to show our community that we care'. It's 8.30 in the morning and a crowd of students at Melville Primary School are at the breakfast table in the hall. On this Monday it's scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast, with sausages left over from Friday's lunch. Read.

🚧 Road closures this week

• The entry lane of Frost Place will be closed Thursday 1 May to Thursday 29 May, from 7am – 6pm for footpath and kerb renewals. Residents will continue to have access.

• The entry lane of Arthur Porter Drive (from Ruffel Road to the cul-de-sac) will be closed on Sunday 4 May from 8pm – 6am, for the infill of concrete islands. Residents will continue to have access.

• Heaphy Terrace (from Boundary Road to Stanley Street) remains closed until mid-May for the Ranfurly Gully wastewater upgrade and construction of the signalised crossing by Hamilton Jamia Mosque. Minor delays are expected on Boundary Road and Marshall Street. Businesses in the area remain open.

• One lane of the Shakespeare Avenue (from Keats Crescent to the east end of Mardon Road), Keats Crescent, and Blake Street (from Keats Crescent to Shakespeare Avenue) remains closed until Saturday 3 May from 7am – 5pm for footpath renewal work.

Thanks again for reading Hello Hamilton. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who needs a new rain jacket for the winter season ahead.

As always, reply to this email ([email protected]) if you have any suggestions for what you would like to see in future editions of Hello Hamilton. I always love hearing from you.

See you next Thursday.

— Ben

P.S. If you’re a local business doing great things, we’d love to hear from you. We’re open to thoughtful partnerships that bring value to our readers, support the Hamilton community, and keep Hello Hamilton free for all.