👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

I’ve missed you! I’m glad to be back, refreshed, and ready to go! If you sent me a message over September, I’m sorry for the delay in replying your messages while I was overseas.

A huge thank you to Sarah for keeping Hello Hamilton publishing while I was away. We received less complaints than I usually get - great work Sarah! 😉 Sarah will stay on to help me curate these newsletters going forward, giving me more time to focus on building our awesome community. Watch this space.

First time? Kia ora! I’m Ben from Pukete and today we’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton and local news headlines you can’t miss. Join 10,000+ Hamiltonians here.

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Looking to refresh your home or garden this season? The Waikato Home & Garden Show is your one-stop destination for fresh ideas and must-see trends. It’s on this week at Claudelands.

Use code HELLOHAMILTON at checkout to get your ticket for just $12 - that’s 25% off the door price. Get your tickets here >

🕺 What’s on in the Tron this week?

Waikato Home & Garden Show 2025 | Thu 2nd - Sun 5th 10:00am onwards at Claudelands. Looking to refresh your home or garden this season? Discover the latest products, innovations and designs from 320+ exhibitors all under one roof. Enjoy expert-led seminars, wander through stunning landscape designs and enjoy activities for the entire family. Tickets.  

Pool Party at Waterworld | Thu 2nd 12:00pm at Waterworld. Celebrate the school holidays at Waterworld with lots of fun such as a special visit from Spiderman and Batman, great music, beach balls and lots more! Info.  

Lilburn Trust - Student Composition Awards | Thu 2nd 7:30pm at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. This concert will feature an exciting selection of the finest compositions the university's students have to offer. Experience the cutting-edge of today's youngest and brightest musical talent. Tickets.  

Comedy Zone | Fri 3rd 7:30pm at Skycity. Hamilton's premiere regular comedy show returns with Jeremy Corbett. Known as the Godfather of NZ Stand Up as the host of New Zealand's longest running and most popular comedy show, 7 Days. Supported by the superb Courtney Dawson. Tickets.  

Cowboy Dan Album Tour | Fri 3rd 8:00pm at Last Place. Tāmaki Makaurau jangle rockers Cowboy Dan are releasing their debut full length album; Dreams That Feel Like Falling. Tickets.  

Lachie Hayes - Subsatellite Tour | Fri 3rd 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. From the heart of the Southland, alt-country troubadour Lachie Hayes brings his soul-stirring sound to town to promote the release of his debut album - Subsatellite. Tickets. 

Love Your Bike Day | Sat 4th 10:00am at Innes Common. Ride your bike or scooter along the new paths from either the Western Rail Trail or Lake Domain Drive. Enjoy free activities such as helmet decorating, face painting, scavenger hunts, games and more! Info.  

Tattoo Flash Day Fundraiser | Sat 4th 10:00am at Paradiso Tattoos. Young Workers Resource Centre has teamed up with Paradiso Tattoos for an awesome fundraiser. Drop by, pick your design, and let the talented artists at Paradiso give you some fresh ink! Info.  

Hamilton Festive Mela | Sat 4th 11:00am at Whitiora School. Shopping and food stalls, kids activities, hina and nail art, DJ, cultural performances, and more! All welcome to this vibrant multicultural celebration. Info.  

Bunnings NPC: Waikato v Northland | Sat 4th 4:35pm at FMG Stadium. It’s the final round and they’re bringing it home. Don’t miss your last chance to see Waikato on home turf before finals footy kicks in. Tickets.  

Waikato Dussehra & Garba Night'25 | Sat 4th 5:30 - 10:00pm at Maui Street Event Centre. Join for an unforgettable evening for Dussehra and Bollywood Garba Night. Enjoy live music and thrilling spot prizes, and immerse yourself in rich cultural activities. Tickets.  

Last Place 4th B-day | Sat 4th 8:00pm at Last Place. Come and celebrate four whole years of Last Place with performances from Grown Downz, Memory Foam, Jeannie and Mooring. Tickets.

Hamilton Farmers' Market at the Lake | Sun 5th 8:00am - 12:00pm at Innes Common. Same great fresh food, flowers and plant stalls, just in an outside venue. Great parking, public toilets and a kids playground onsite. Info.  

☀️ A peek at what’s on next week!

Watercolour Paint and Wine Night - Midnight Kitty | Tue 7th 7:00pm at Good Neighbour. Turn wine into watercolour! Take a brush in one hand, a drink in the other, and paint a watercolour masterpiece! Tickets.  

Downtown Musicals - Cinematic Showstoppers | Tue 7th 7:30pm at Nivara Lounge. Join the Hamilton Operatic Society at Nivara Lounge to get your musical theatre fix and support local performers! Tickets.  

Kaleidoscope | Wed 8th - Sat 18th 11:00am at the Meteor. Kaleidoscope is an exhibition of creative pieces from those with lived experience of mental illness. It shows their stories, passion and the importance of creativity and art in the journey towards recovery. Info. 

Floating Mediation with Sound Bowls | Wed 8th 12:00pm at High Above. Relax and enjoy a 45mins lunchtime rejuvenating, suspended in an aerial hammock while surrounded by the tranquil vibes of crystal sound bowls. Tickets.  

LEGO Club | Wed 8th 3:30pm at Glenview Library. LEGO Club encourages children to learn while having fun! Creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork are skills that "playing" with LEGO can teach children. Info.  

Woodstock School Twilight Gala | Fri 10th 4:00 - 7:00pm at Woodstock School. Supported by Reggie's Pizza, there’ll be delicious food, fun stalls and lots of fun for all such as a petting zoo, pony rides, bouncy castle, car boot sale and more! Info.  

Disney’s Frozen JR | Fri 10th - Sun 12th at Clarence St Theatre. National Youth Theatre proudly presents Disney’s Frozen JR., the much-loved classic based on the 2018 Broadway musical. Tickets.  

Hamilton Night Market at the University | Fri 10th 5:00-11:00pm at Waikato University. The Hamilton Night Market is moving! From Friday, they’ll be at a new home at Gate 2B, Knighton Road. Make sure to check out the new space! Info.  

Poetry on Vinyl | Fri 10th 9:15pm at Gallagher Academy. Come along and enjoy some poetry and maybe share your own work. Featuring live music, guest poets, and spot prizes. Info.  

Hamilton Bonsai Club Annual Show | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm at Hamilton Garden Pavilion. High quality bonsai on display, informal demonstrations, trade stands to cater for all your bonsai needs and an opportunity for you to get help with your own bonsai. Info.  

Cake and Coffee | Sat 11th 9:00am at The Crate Coffee. Come decorate your own cake while enjoying a complimentary barista-made coffee. Use your creativity to make something special to take home. Tickets.  

Street Squad Show – Chrysalis | Sat 11th 2:00 & 7:00pm at The Meteor. The 2025 Street Squad dancers explore the journey of personal transformation. From darkness and confusion to navigating finding ourselves, our passion and who we want to be. Tickets.  

Waikato Multicultural Evening | Sat 11th 6:00pm at Maungakotukutuku College Hall. Join for a spectacular celebration of culture, dance, and community spirit! Watch performers from across the region showcase the beauty and diversity of cultures through vibrant dance, music, and traditional dress. Info.  

Date Night: Piece of You | Sat 11th 6:00pm at 12 Pembroke Street. Join for an intimate evening of painting, collage & creativity, paired with personal grazing platters for two and a selection of drinks. Tickets.  

Sub-Tribe Red Earth Tour | Sat 11th 7:00pm at Last Place. Following from their hit EP 'Midnite Sun', SUB-TRIBE are back in Aotearoa with a mixture of fresh and classic tunes. Tickets. 

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

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🧐 Local news you may have missed

Hamilton’s Night Market is on the move again with organisers revealing they will set up shop at the University of Waikato from next Friday. Night Market director Paul de Jonge told the Waikato Times that the market, which has shifted location four times, has “found our stop”. Read.

Save the date: the Waikato Regional Theatre will officially open its doors on Monday, January 19. The opening week will close out with one of Aotearoa’s most beloved and awarded artists, Sir Dave Dobbyn, who will bring his Selected Songs Tour to the Waikato. Read.

Waikato is in for a warm and unsettled lead-up to Christmas, with forecasters pointing to a likely La Niña weather pattern bringing a mix of heavy rain and summer heat. October is forecast to start off “active”, with increased storminess and bursts of heavy rain. Temperatures in the region are most likely to sit above average over the next three months, with a 50% chance of hotter-than-usual conditions. Read.

Dozens of people gathered on Thursday evening to debate and discuss the future of Garden Place, with experts, architects, and civic leaders offering ideas for Hamilton’s most contested public space. Suggestions ranged from selling part of the square to private investment to reshaping it with more events and bold designs. Read.  

Hamilton Zoo has a new panda, but this one’s ceramic and a little more colourful than you might expect. Gifted by sister-city Chengdu, the sculpture was unveiled on Sunday to mark 10 years of relations and is designed to reflect the flora and fauna of both cities. Read. 

Thrifty Threads event-goers helped raise $28,500 for Hospice Waikato and divert 24,000kg of clothing from landfill, proving that fashion can be both fun and meaningful. More than 1,700 people attended Thirty Threads across the three-days. Read. 

Hamilton’s Centre Place is turning 40 but in the world of ever-evolving shopping habits, the only constant is change. When the mall opened in 1985, Hamiltonians poured in for traditional retail shopping, grabbing a bite at the bustling food court, and even visiting a basement nightclub with purple walls. Read.  

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who needs some new ink this weekend!

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

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See you next week!

— Ben and Sarah