👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Have you been to Reggie’s in Made, Hamilton East yet? I’ve been a few times, and I’ve gotta say, and it’s delightful. Sauce that is saucy. Drinks that are cold. Cheese that is melted. Views that are nice. People that are friendly. Pizza. Pasta. Cocktails. An awful lot of wine. 🍕

That’s why I’m super stoked that Reggie’s are supporting Hello Hamilton this week, and giving YOU a chance to win a pizza party worth about $400! Read on to find out how to win.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today! I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton this week and news headlines you can’t miss. First time reading? Join 8,000+ Hamiltonians here.

🍕WIN: Reggie’s Pizza Party at your place

Our friends at Reggie's are shouting a pizza party (valued at about 400 bucks) for a lucky Hello Hamilton follower and their crew.

We're talking fresh, handmade, cheesy, saucy goodness delivered straight to your place. How good! 🍕

Keen to win? To enter the draw, simply head to the giveaway post on Instagram or Facebook and follow the simple instructions.

Not on social media? Refer a friend to Hello Hamilton to enter the draw. Already referred someone? You’re in the draw!

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Arbor Day Planting at Minogue Park | Thu 5th 10:00am-1:30pm. Hamilton City Council are aiming to plant over 10,000 native trees and can't do this alone. Also enjoy educational stands from their kids in nature programme, and learn about introduced predators, see real life bees, and learn about Aotearoa's native lizards. Register.

Simple Adult Raranga (weaving) | Fri 6th 10:30am at St Andrews Library. Staff will guide you step-by-step as you begin your raranga journey. You will learn about harakeke and how to weave simple items while following tikanga. Register.

Karaoke Friday | Fri 6th from 5:00pm at Still Working Bar. A night of music, laughs, and unforgettable performances! Bring your friends, grab a drink, and belt out your favorite hits under the spotlight (or watch others have a go…). Info.

The Meteor Quiz Night Fundraiser | Fri 6th 6:30pm at The Meteor. After last year’s Christmas success, The Meteor fam return for another night of brain baffling boffinry. Gather your team and test yourselves on a range of knowledge: from space, to animals, music, to history, and so much more. Book.

Comedy Hypnosis Show | Fri 6th 7:00pm at Clarence St Theatre. As seen on Seven Sharp & going viral on TikTok, Haiming Jiang combines hypnosis with comedy to entertain the audience while demonstrating the benefits of hypnosis through audience participation. Tickets.

CaliLou’s Tattoos Grand Opening | Sat 7th 10:00am-4:00pm at 318 Grey St. Celebrate the grand opening of the Barbie themed tattoo studio! They’re opening up the new shop for you to check out the space and enjoy good food, beverages, and even better company. There will be games to win prizes, a raffle to win a tattoo certificate, and a photo booth to take all the cute pictures in. Info.

Mid Winter Christmas Pop Up Market | Sat 7th 10:00am-2:00pm at Riverlea Theatre. Over 60 stalls that will feature artisans/crafters, home baking, taonga from bone carving/greenstone, giftware and more. There also will be live music, food and coffee, hangi, and face painting. Info.

Plant Sale | Sat 7th 10:00am-2:00pm at Hamilton Gardens. Friends of Hamilton Gardens' monthly plant sale - Great range of plants at great prices. Info.

Free Communication Workshop | Sat 7th 5:00-7:00pm at Trust Waikato. An exciting opportunity to boost your English language skills, professional development and digital skills, and community integration and cultural support. Register.

Gallagher Chiefs vs Blues - Qualifying Final | Sat 7th 7:05pm at FMG Stadium. The Gallagher Chiefs are at the top of the table. But will they make it to the semi-final? Tickets.

Winter Market | Sun 8th 10:00am-2:00pm at The Glenview Club. Join for food, crafts, car boot sale, fun and entertainment. Stalls both inside the function room and out on the grass court area. Info.

Concert: Where the World Signs as One | Sun 8th 4:30pm at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. Presented by the United Youth Orchestra and the Waikato Community School of Music, watch several performances, finished by a combined orchestra. Entry by donation. Info.

Tahatū Careers Expo | Sun and Mon from 10:00am at Claudelands. Connect directly with the people most qualified to help you explore your employment opportunities, gain career information and guidance, and see for yourself what today’s workplace has to offer. Info.

Beginners Salsa Dance Class | Mon 9th 11:30am at St James Church. Have you got the Monday morning blues? Are you looking for a fun way to get fit? Do you find going to the gym challenging? Why not try a Salsa dance class? No dance experience or partner is needed. Info.

CONZTRUCT: Construction Trade Show | Mon 9th 4:00-7:00pm at Claudelands. If you’re a builder, electrician, architect, plumber, or other trade professional - earn CPD or LBP points, catch up with your mates, and stay updated on new products and industry changes. Register.

Yoga at the Museum | Mon 9th 5:30pm at Waikato Museum. Held weekly through the winter months, this series is led by Katie Deare and other qualified yoga instructors from Sun Salute Yoga Centre. Book.

Business Networking Eventing | Mon 9th 5:30pm at Waikato Innovation Park. Come and join the Fairfield Rotary club for a hour of networking. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and collaborate for mutual benefit. In difficult economic times, it is who you know that counts. Info.

The Big Bike Film Night #2 | Mon 9th 6:00pm at Lido Cinema. Bringing the best short cycling films from around the world together for you. Showcasing 2.5 hours of riveting bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration. Book.

Fieldays | Starting Wed 11th at Mystery Creek. The Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event and the ultimate launch platform for cutting-edge technology and innovation. Tickets.

Knit Together | Wed 11th 10:00am at St Andrews Library. The perfect get together for all knitters and crafters. Tea and coffee provided so come along to create and have a cuppa. Info.

3D Printing for Beginners | Wed 11th 4:00pm at Rototuna Library. Have you been interested in learning more about 3D Printing but don’t know where to start? Now is your chance to learn! Info.

Girls Night at the Movies - Materialists | Wed 11th 7:00pm at HOYTS te Awa. Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans find themselves in a love triangle for the next girls night out movie. Be the first to see it at the Advance Screening & Girls Night Out event. Each ticket comes with a free glass of bubbles. Book.

The Eagles Greatest Hits | Wed 11th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. A two hour performance of songs that defined an era. A six-piece band lead by Whalen Hughes and David Thompson as Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Book.

Weber Bros 'The Circus' | All week at The Base. Some of the most extraordinary and world class acts are to present in what is an Adrenaline pumping 2-hour show. From comedians to FMX Rider’s, aerialists and the show stopping human cannon ball. Tickets.

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

Always double-check event details haven’t changed since you received this email. Did I forget anything? Flick me an email.

👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

Te Huia rail service is one step closer to launching a Sunday return service to Auckland, which could be rolling out of Frankton by July 20. Waikato Regional councillors cleared the way for the proposal to expand Te Huia’s service to seven-days-a-week, now there’s just one more obstacle to clear - the KiwiRail’s National Timetable Committee, which is expected to give its final decision in the next few weeks. Read.

Roofs were ripped off homes, fences were blown over, trees were uprooted and trampolines were flung onto powerlines after a tornado in Hamilton last Thursday. Civil Defence Waikato controller Kelvin Powell said a small tornado accompanied by heavy rain moved through parts of Nawton at around 8pm. Read.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says National hasn’t come close to proving that a proposal for a medical school at the University of Waikato is a good use of taxpayers’ money. “If this community has concluded that the path to salvation is the construction of a medical school at the university then there may actually be bigger and deep-seated problems here than the lack of a medical school,” Seymour said. Read.

A $300 million four-lane freight corridor at Ruakura Inland Port hear Waikato Uni has passed a major milestone, with the NZ Transport Agency Board endorsing the business case for the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor work. Once complete, the four-lane corridor will enable the completion of the Ruakura Inland Port while also unlocking residential and commercial land for the Ruakura Superhub. Read.

Gallagher Chiefs player Shaun Stevenson has confirmed his move to Japanese club Kubota Spears at the end of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season. And, Stephen Donald’s slip of the tongue appears to confirm Jono Gibbes as new Chiefs coach. Read here and here.

Nearly 50,000 people attended one of the events at the iconic Hamilton Arts Festival in February and March, reinforcing organisers’ decision to go ahead despite a $150,000 deficit after last year’s event. Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival Foundation director Geoff Turkington said attendance was up 40 per cent and broke all earlier records since the arts event started in 1988. Read.

City councillors have unanimously agreed to Hamilton joining forces with their neighbours Waikato District on water. The two councils will form a joint water services council-controlled organisation (CCO) in response to the Government’s nationwide reforms. The CCO will hold and run drinking and wastewater assets, and also operate stormwater services under contract to the councils. Read.

A fixture of Fieldays, Peter Nation, is being made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit - one of a number of Waikato residents named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours. And, after more than six decades of involvement with Hamilton Gardens, Marilyn Yeoman has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Read here and here.

🚧 Road closures this week

• The entry lane of Lancewood Avenue remains closed until Friday 6 June, from 7am – 6pm, for a footpath and kerb renewal.

• Wairere Drive (from Hukanui Road to Gordonton Road) remains closed from 7pm – 6am until Tuesday 10 June, for road resurfacing. The shared path remains open.

• Pukete Road (from Millthorpe Crescent to Maui Street) remains closed until Saturday 14 June for the repair of a damaged pipe and road. The boat ramp and equestrian centre can only be accessed via Maui Street.

• The entire length of Maui Street will be closed from 7pm – 6am until Wednesday 18 June, for road resurfacing. Residents, buses and businesses will continue to have access.

• Masefield Drive continues to have one lane closed in a single direction from 7am – 6pm until Monday 30 June , for a footpath renewal.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who would love a Reggie’s pizza party!

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.

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See you next Thursday.

— Ben