I’m writing to you from the frosty suburb of Pukete this morning. Yesterday, it got all the way down to -1° overnight. From the clear visability of my breath, I’d say it’s about the same this morning! It’s mornings like these when I feel mighty lucky to have a well-insulated roof over my head. ❄️

Remember that secret local election I was telling you about a few weeks ago? Well the preliminary results are in and show yours truly placed 9th of 28. The top 7 will become Trustees of the WEL Energy Trust when final results are confirmed tomorrow.

Pretty proud to be the highest polling independent candidate after the previous Hamilton Mayor, and to poll higher than some candidates who spent a big buck for billboards. Appreciate the support. 🤝

It’s another big week in Hamilton. And exciting times here at Hello Hamilton too. We’ve just opened ticketing for our upcoming social strangers experience - check it out below. And on Monday, I shared my plan to expand Hello Hamilton to include original local reporting. Missed my letter?

Have a great week, and I’ll see ya out there.

— Ben

👗 Rosey Boutique’s 3rd Birthday Sale | Until Sat 4th at 169 London St.
Rosy is having 50% off everything in their store of preloved women's clothing.

🎤 Bb and The Bullets | Thu 2nd 7:00pm at Biddys Bar.
High-energy blues rock trio from Whanganui.

🎶 Andy Dickson (The Narcs) Solo Tour | Thu 2nd 7:30pm at Nivara Lounge.
Frontman/guitarist Andy with kiwi legends The Narcs playing some of favourite AU and NZ songs.

📚 Children's Book Club | Fri 3rd 3:30pm at St Andrews Library.
For Year 4-6 students - library sets the reading challenges and they pick the books.

🎶 The Veils - Fragile World w/ Jazmine Mary | Fri 3rd 8:00pm at Last Place.
The Veils quickly return with a bold and invigorated new album.

🩸 Annual Blood Drive | Sat 4th 8:00am at Al Rasool Foundation of Waikato.
Great ambiance, free food trucks and entertainment. Hosted by the charitable organisation Who Is Hussain.

🤝 Lego Buy, Sell & Swap Day | Sat 4th 10:00am - 2:00pm at Glenview Club.
Time to clear some shelf space and maybe come home with something even better! 

🌱 Plantathon | Sat 4th 11:00am - 1:00pm at Wake Park.
The City Council has set a goal to increase Hamilton's vegetation to 10% by 2050!  

🍸 Cocktails in the Canopy | Sat 4th 12:30 - 2:00pm at The Helm.
An all-American themed afternoon of cocktails, good vibes & shared bites.

🎵 Borderline | Sat 4th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre.
A collection of pop, rock and funk - music you can groove to.

🥖 Hamilton Farmers’ Market | Sun 5th 8:00am - 12:00pm at Gate 3, Claudelands.
Your local authentic farmers' market - fresh seasonal fruit & vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, bread, honey, condiments - buy local, support local.

🪄 Circus of Illusion Magic Show | Sun 5th 2:00pm at Clarence St Theatre.
An all-new show, featuring magic, audience participation and comedy.

🏉 One NZ Warriors v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Sun 5th 3:45pm at FMG Stadium.
Warriors Waahine are starting the season at home!
Use code HELLOHAMILTON to unlock 10% off tickets for the One NZ Warriors v Bulldogs game this weekend, and also One NZ Warriors vs Knights on Saturday 8 August.

SOCIAL STRANGERS: Keen to meet some new people in a fun, unique way? Tackle an escape room and board gaming with a personality-matched group of Hamiltonians. A requested spinoff to the Hamilton-famous Hello Hamilton Dinner Club! Grab your ticket >

WANTED: Have you heard? Hello Hamilton is building on it’s mission to help locals feel more connected to this place, and beginning to experiment with original reporting. I’m looking for curious people who love Hamilton and enjoy discovering what's happening here. Become a Hello Hamilton reporter >

DISCOUNT: Use code HELLOHAMILTON to unlock 10% off tickets for the One NZ Warriors v Bulldogs game this weekend, and also One NZ Warriors vs Knights on Saturday 8 August. How good!

HAMILTON MAP: Grabbed yours yet? Now’s your chance >

📚 Te Paataka Open Day | Mon 6th 10:00am at Hamilton Central Library.
Interactive Maaori art installation that celebrates local narratives and deepens our connection with this land.

🧑‍🔬 Free School Holiday Science Fun | Mon 6th - Fri 17th 10:00am - 4:00pm at Chartwell Shopping Centre.
Transforming into a hub of discovery, learning and hands-on fun. 

🧠 Monday Quiz | Mon 6th 7:00pm at The Cook Bar.
Hamilton's longest running quiz night, really wide range of questions. Free to enter and teams of any size. 

🫧 The Bubble Spectacular | Tue 7th 11:00am at Clarence St Theatre.
Dr Hubble presents a fun-filled, out of this world, bubble-riffic show!

🏞️ School Holiday Programme: Celebrating our Eels | Wed 8th 9:00am at Waikato Museum.
Tamariki will learn about the lifecycle of eels, play with the eel projection, and create their own soft-sculpture eel to take home. 

🤖 Human Connection in an AI World | Wed 8th 5:30pm at Waikato Innovation Park.
As AI rapidly changes how we work and live, one thing matters more than ever.

🎵 Delaney Davidson - Baby Heavyweight Album Tour | Wed 8th 7:00pm at Last Place. Delaney Davidson is a New Zealand singer songwriter, musician, and visual artist.

🖼️ The Painter and the Glassmaker - Exhibition Opening | Thu 9th 5:30pm at Artspost.
Anyone who enjoys seeing where creativity can lead is warmly invited.

🧩 Escapist Speed Puzzling | Thu 9th 6:00pm at Escapist.
Puzzle fast and puzzle good - this beginner friendly event with test your speed and accuracy!

🥵 Magic Men Takeover Hamilton | Thu 9th 7:00 - 10:30pm at The Factory. Australia’s most talented performers, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and cheeky crowd interaction. 

✨ Maanawatia a Matariki | Fri 10th 3:00 - 7:00pm at Hamilton Lake.
Rally your whaanau and friends together and enjoy a night of rekareka (fun) and entertainment.

🗿 Matariki at Sculpture Park | Fri 10th - Sun 12th at Waitakaruru Arboretum.
Special Matariki experience - Matariki inspired crafts and guided evening walks. 

🥟 Waikato Food Show 2026 | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am at Claudelands Events Centre.
Wide range of exhibitors serving up the latest products, knowledge and ingredients.

🎄 Mid-Winter Edition Christmas Market | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am at Claudelands Events Centre.
From cozy winter warmers to delectable treats, find the perfect gifts to warm hearts and homes alike.

🎶 One Voice, Many Journeys | Sat 11th 3:00pm at St Peter’s Cathedral.
Bringing together young singers from across the Waikato region, the programme celebrates the power of music to unite cultures, inspire hope, and foster community. 

🕺 Live Rock 'n' Roll | Sat 11th 7:00pm at Nivara Lounge.
Featuring Go Go Johnny, The Bobby Holidays and Pet & Ali. 

It currently costs me around $1,000 a month to produce Hello Hamilton - from online hosting fees and the tech behind the scenes, to paying young local talent.

To keep Hello Hamilton human-written, independent, and ad-minimal, please consider becoming a paid member (or the price of about two coffees a month).

Your support helps keep this free for everyone, and also makes it possible to soon grow a team of local contributors covering the stories, people, and ideas that mainstream media overlook.

Talk next week!

— Ben Woodgates and Sarah Blake