👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

It’s been a week of fireworks and sun here in the mighty Waikato! ☀️🎆 

I’ve been starting to dig through the nearly 800 responses I received to my recent survey, and wow - how cool! It has been so valuable to hear what you’ve been enjoying and what we can do even better here at Hello Hamilton. I really appreciate your support.

Those who completed the survey are probablyyy wondering about the prize draw…

First time here? 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. Check us out on Instagram and Facebook.

🎟️ What’s on in the Tron this week?

Interactionz Gumboot Friday Fundraiser | Thu 6th 12:30pm at Chartwell Cooperating Church. Come along dressed in your best for a Gumboot Rally Scavenger Hunt! Drinks and nibbles provided. Please bring a donation for the Gumboot Friday fundraiser. Info.

RMHC Charity Quiz Night | Thu 6th 7:30pm at Biddy Mulligan’s. All entry proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Presented by the Parry Group of Restaurants - 5 Cross Roads, Hamilton East & Chartwell. Register.

🚤 Bridge 2 Bridge Water Ski Classic | Fri 7th - Sun 9th at Grantham Street. The legendary Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge 2 Bridge Water Ski Classic is racing back to the mighty Waikato River this November, promising an unforgettable weekend of high-speed action and world-class competition! Info.  

Twilight Market | Fri 7th 5:00 - 8:00pm at Forest Lake Gardens Village. Join the fun with lots of local stalls, food trucks and entertainment! Info.  

🤣 Comedy Zone - Irish & Scottish | Fri 7th 7:30pm at SkyCity. Hamilton's premiere regular comedy show returns in November with the legendary Booze & Craic shows. A night of Irish & Scottish comedy hosted by Dubliner, Alan McElroy and featuring Samantha Hannah, David Stuart and Shane Mulvey. Tickets.  

Paul Douglas Live | Fri 7th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Join Award winning comedian and Hamilton's own Paul Douglas for an hour (or so) of epic yarns, sh*t talk and a fresh batch of jokes never heard south of the Bombays. Tickets. 

🎶 Indica - Is It Summer Yet | Fri 7th 8:00 - 11:30pm at Last Place. Waikato based five-piece Indica brings a bit of rootsy reggae, a bit of rock energy, and a bit of ska bounce to the stage. They’ll be joined by bass-heavy fusion duo Tipas, and indie/rock/reggae band Rèver for a night of good vibes music and good company. Tickets. 

Gypsy Fair | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am at Claudelands Park. The Gypsy Fair is a nationwide travelling event, bringing family fun, live music and an unbeatable vibe. Info.  

Shama SuperSHEro Financial Literacy | Sat 8th 10:00am at Settlement Centre. Empowering women with money skills and confidence in all aspects of life. No prior knowledge needed – just come as you are! Let’s learn, laugh, and grow together! Register.  

Armistice at the Museum | Sat 8th 10:00am - 4:00pm at Classic Museum. Join in commemorating the end of World War 1 and see the large range of military vehicle displays and militaria displays. Info.  

🎭 Peter and The Wolf | Sat 8th 12:00pm at The Meteor. Hamilton City Brass presents Peter and the Wolf, an interactive musical adventure about a brave boy, a cunning wolf, and a few surprising animal friends. Tickets. 

Dhyana Tea Ceremony | Sat 8th 2:00pm at Rototuna Library. Join for a special Hamilton Dhyana Tea Ceremony, where the calming practice of Zen meditation is combined with the artful preparation of tea. Register.  

👗 Fashion For A Cause | Sat 8th 6:00pm at The Atrium, Wintec. Join for an unforgettable evening of fashion with heart at Fashion For a Cause, proudly presented by Rudra Entertainment and Rupal Solanki in support of St. John New Zealand. Tickets.  

Burlesque Royale: Monarchs of Music | Sat 8th 6:00 - 9:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. Step into a glittering palace of sequins, rhinestones, and seduction as Burlesque Royale: Monarchs of Music takes the stage! This alluring revue pays tribute to the crowned legends of popular music. Tickets.

🕺Learn to Swing Dance Workshop | Sun 9th 9:30am - 12:30pm at 55 Victoria Street. Amy and Jet have been dancing and teaching for years and they're coming to Hamilton. Try Lindy Hope, a style of swing dancing that is a fun, social, partnered dance. Info.  

🚗 Motors 4 MS | Sun 9th 9:00am - 3:00pm at Jukebox Diner and Tamahere Reserve. Car meet to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis Waikato, starting with breakfast at the Jukebox Diner and ending with auctions, live music & face painting at Tamahere Reserve. Info.  

👀 A peek at what’s on next week!

University of Waikato Professorial Lecture | Tue 11th 5:30pm at Gallagher Academy. In his professorial lecture, Professor Fei Yang will discuss hydrogen storage challenges from a materials perspective and talk about his new research area in developing high entropy alloys for safe and solid-state hydrogen storage technology. Info.

Ethno Chronicles: Stories of Culture and Belonging | Wed 12th - Sat 29th 11:00am at The Meteor. Ethno Chronicles is a collection of seven short documentaries exploring the rich tapestry of cultures, identities, and creative expression that shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse communities. Info.  

🌹 Pacific Rose Bowl Festival | Thu 13th - Sun 16th at Hamilton Gardens. The Pacific Rose Festival, held each November under the Pacific Accord of Friendship, invites the public to vote for their favourite introduced and New Zealand bred roses, the only public-voted rose trial in the world, with winners receiving the prestigious New Zealand Rose of the Year award. Info.  

🏠 First-time Buyers Information Evening | Thu 13th 5:30pm at 1 Victor Way. Join at Jack’s Landing Show Home in central Hamilton for an exclusive evening designed to guide you through the NZ buying process — perfect for first-time buyers, including those new to the New Zealand housing market. Info.  

Unconscious | Thu 13th - Sat 15th 7:30pm at The Meteor. Fast-paced, funny, surprising, and just a little bit strange, Unconscious is a brand-new play premiering at The Meteor. Think Inside Out (for adults) meets Severance. Tickets.  

Coast Arcade Home Run | Fri 14th 8:00pm at Last Place. After carving out a name with high-energy support slots across the city and shows around the country, the shoegaze four-piece are finally returning to Hamilton. Coast Arcade are set to make their Hamilton show one to remember. Tickets. 

Tronpost 2025 | Sat 15th 8:00am - 12:00pm at Hamilton Organic Centre. Grab a bucket and roll up to the Hamilton Organic Centre for some free compost made from our kerbside food scraps. Info.  

🧚 Stories in the Garden | Sat 15th 10:00am at Garden Place. Come on a magical adventure under the trees in Garden Place for an hour of storytelling and games with characters from Enchanted Entertainment. Info.  

🎅 Santa Arrives at Chartwell | Sat 15th 12:00 - 3:30pm at Chartwell Shopping Centre. Enjoy a joyful afternoon including free face painting, balloon twisting, live entertainment, and plenty of festive activities to keep little ones smiling. And of course — the highlight of the day — Santa’s grand entrance at 1:30pm! Info.  

Urban Wine Walk | Sat 15th 12:00 - 4:00pm at The Local Taphouse. The streets and laneways of Kirikiriroa Hamilton are set to come alive this spring as a line-up of venues each play host to an incredible winemaker, who'll be there ready to pour and chat you through an unforgettable afternoon. Tickets.  

Narnia: Dance & Drama Showcase | Sat 15th 6:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Narnia: The Hidden Kingdom follows three modern sisters - Lucia, Edmina, and Susanna - who uncover a mysterious book in an old house. This enchanted book pulls them into the magical world of Narnia, where the White Queen's shadow has begun to reawaken. Tickets.  

🎵 Versailles - With Sahara | Sat 15th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Versailles is bringing their electrifying mix of reggae, dub, and funk—seasoned with tasteful jazz influences—for a high-energy set that will keep you moving. Tickets. 

🏃‍♂️ Lugtons Round the Bridges | Sun 16th 8:00am - 2:00pm at Garden Place. Every year thousands of runners and walkers descend upon Hamilton City Centre for one of NZ's oldest and most beloved annually contested events, Lugtons Round the Bridges, and this year it celebrates its 80th birthday! Tickets.

Writers of Impact | Sun 16th 1:30pm at Trust Waikato Building. This session is about honouring the contributions of two writers to the Waikato writing community followed by the PEN International Event. Info. 

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

📰 Local news you may have missed!

🛝 Explore the city’s newest neighbourhood playground. Get outdoors and burn off some energy at the newly reopened Wiltshire Drive Reserve playground in Huntington. It’s just been given a refresh, with its new design paying tribute to the Kirikiriroa gully system.

📚 Hillcrest Library is making a return. While the Masters Avenue site undergoes repairs after a fire, a temporary Hillcrest Library at Hamilton Gardens opens Monday 10 November. Read.

🌭 Gourmet in the Gardens celebrates 10 years. What started on the Hamilton Gardens’ Turtle Lake hillside, with just 14 food stalls under gazebos and a handful of food trucks, has now grown into a roster of 26 food trucks, offering a range of cuisines. Read.

⚽️ Kick for a Cause returns to Waikato to raise funds for Salvation Army. 44 athletes, business leaders, and community advocates (and Ben from Hello Hamilton!) will go head-to-head in charity football event Kick for a Cause in Cambridge on Sunday. Read.

🚦 Hamilton City Council is proposing new traffic signals at the intersection of Ulster Street and Maeroa Road to reduce crashes and near misses. The preferred design, now open for public feedback, includes signalising the Ulster Street/Maeroa Road intersection, pedestrian crossing signals, and relocating some bus stops. Read.

💰 Hamilton’s new council will hold its first official meeting this week. Councillors are set to decide how to divide the $1.57 million of ratepayer funds among themselves. Read.

🏆 Waikato Management School continues to nurture top young innovators – and last month’s Case Competition for Pic’s Peanut Butter was proof. Four standout teams pitched bold business strategies, with one emerging victorious.

As always, thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today legend! 

If you found something useful, please share it with someone who should come cheer me on at Kick for a Cause!

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 - feedback, complaints, conversations are welcomed. I’d love to hear from you.

See you next week!

— Ben and Sarah