👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Happy Fieldays week! It’s the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural event, and this year it has a record number of exhibitors. More than 100,000 people are expected to come through the gates at Mystery Creek. Are you heading along?

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.

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🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

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

Spill The Beans Stand-Up Comedy Show | Thu 12th 7:30pm at Patrons Brewing Co. You're in for a treat with this delightful line-up of nine women stand-up comedians from near and far. Tickets.

Men’s Health Awareness Poker Night | Fri 13th 7:00pm at Hamilton Cosmopolitan Club. Whether you're a poker pro or just in it for the banter and bar specials, come join for a night that’s about fun, mateship, and putting men’s health on the radar. Info.

Fieldaze gig | Fri 13th 8:00pm at Last Place. On the last weekday of Fieldays Last Place’s got bands, beers, and good times Featuring Job Site (Kirikiriroa), Commodore 65 (Hauraki), Threat Meet Protocol (Tauranga), and Amanaki (Tamaki Makaurau). Tickets.

Tainui Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Festival 2025 | Friday and Saturday at Globox Arena. This major event promises an even more spectacular experience than its 2023 debut, uniting international street food, music, and 28 haka performances. A spectacular display of cultural pride, power, and vibrant storytelling. Info.

Hamilton Road Runners Open Day | Sat 14th 8:00am at Hamilton Lake Yacht Club. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, walker, or just starting out, come experience the parkrun magic. After parkrun, the festivities continue at the clubhouse, Hamilton Yacht Club - enjoy complimentary tea and coffee, and don’t miss out on a post parkrun sausage sizzle! Info.

Artisan Market | Sat 14th 9:00am-1:00pm at Tamahere Community Hall. Over 30 indoor and outdoor stalls selling food, coffee, art, craft, gifts, wood and garden items, some produce and more. Proceeds go to local, national and international community causes. Info.

Matariki Tree Planting | Sat 14th 10:00am-3:00pm at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. Restoring native habitats for a healthy planet and bringing diverse communities together in honour of Matariki. Info.

Good Vibes Concert | Sat 14th 7:00pm at Te Whare O Te Ata Community House. Come out and hear some epic beats, have a free feed and win some prizes. A free suicide prevention community event for all ages. Info.

Gallagher Chiefs vs Brumbies - Semi Final | Sat 14th 7:05pm at FMG Stadium. After a loss last week, will the Chiefs beat the Brumbies and secure their place in the final? Bring your flag and enjoy giveaways, food trucks, live music and half time karaoke light show. Tickets.

Kare Tao - Theatre Show | Sat 14th 7:30pm at The Meteor. The carved karetao have stirred from their taonga puoro slumber—siblings with a story to share, each with their own version of how it all began. Inspired by the ancient whakapapa of karetao, this powerful new theatre work explores themes of family, belonging, and identity through a uniquely Māori lens. Tickets.

Swallow the Rat - Face Unpopular EP Release Tour | Sat 14th 8:00pm at Last Place. Auckland post-punk outfit Swallow the Rat return with a new EP. Featuring 3 new songs including a title track which has been doing the rounds on student radio. Tickets.

Matariki ki Waikato Market Day | Sun 15th 10:00am-3:00pm at Hamilton Gardens. Support local Maaori businesses, enjoy delicious Maaori kai, experience LIVE entertainment, explore the Tamariki Zone, and be in to win spot prizes throughout the day. Info.

Little Eco Market | Sun 15th 9:00am-noon at Littlethirftersclub. Preloved fashion, sustainable finds, and local treasures come together under one roof. Info.

International Yoga Day Celebration | Sun 15th 4:00pm at Chartwell Cooperating Church. A free rejuvenating yoga and meditation session led by expert instructors. Info.

Downtown Musicals Jr | Sun 15th 4:00pm at The Meteor. Hamilton Operatic Society presents the Downtown Musicals Jr. Sessions, aiming to provide a platform for up-and-coming theatre performers aged 9 to 17 to gain experience and confidence singing in front of audiences. Book.

Concert By La Sorellanza Choir From Hawaii | Mon 16th 7:00pm at St Paul’s. Experience Honolulu’s premiere community-based treble choir performing alongside Cantando Choir - an unforgettable musical celebration for all. Info.

Pop Up French Patisserie | Wed 18th 9:00am-noon at Brown Lightening Bros. Looking for a little something sweet to accompany your coffee or a delicious French treat to brighten your lunch break? Bloom Pâtisserie is popping up every Wednesday at Brown Lightning Bros, Raglan Roast Te Rapa! Info.

Matariki Silent Disco | Wed 18th 5:30pm at Hayes Common. Join a community of like-minded misfits; share a glass of mulled wine; warm yourself with a bowl of soup; and dance like no one's watching! Tickets.

Boozehound Society Dog Talks - Dogs at the Vets | Wed 18th 5:30pm at Brewaucracy. All about dog behaviour, communication with vet professionals, general health, cooperative care, and how to help your dog and the staff - with Dr Taryn van Meygaarden, Branch Manager and Veterinary at Hamilton Small Animal Veterinary Centre. Info.

The Big Go Eco Quiz Night | Wed 18th 6:00pm at The Cook. Test your knowledge of kai, biodiversity, zero waste and Te Tiriti, while helping to bring Go Eco’s vision of healthy environments supported by thriving communities to life. Tickets.

KŌKĀ film Q&A screening | Wed 18th 6:30pm at Lido Cinema. A very special Q&A session with the talent behind the film. This Kiwi film is the first to use the original dialect of East Cape iwi Ngāti Porou. Tickets.

Italian Wine Tasting | Wed 18th 6:30pm at Vetro Hamilton. Presented by Red+White Cellars. Tickets $30 available from Vetro Hamilton or Ph 07-9740415 to reserve your place.

Fish & Fizz | Wed 18th 7:00pm at The Keg Room. A tasting event that breaks the rules, pairing crispy, golden fish & chips with the crisp elegance of chilled champagne in a bold celebration of contrast. Book.

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

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👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

Duck Island celebrates 10 years of scooping ice cream this June. In 2015, three chefs from Hamilton decided they wanted more family-friendly hours. What they didn’t foresee was that their solution, an ice cream shop, would snowball into a 200-person operation, seven stores across the North Island and a production kitchen (located under MADE) churning out 10,000 litres a week. Read.

Quinn Tupaea ready to fire on return from nasty eye gash for Super Rugby Pacific semifinal. The in-form second-five returns to the Chiefs’ lineup for Saturday night’s Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Brumbies in Hamilton after recovering from a nasty eye gash, and concussion, that kept him as an anxious sideline spectator for last weekend’s qualifying final defeat to the Blues. Read.

A Bucket List banquet raised a record $623,000 for Hospice Waikato last month. The event at Claudelands attracted over 1000 guests. Read.

Fieldays is getting so big it’s got it’s own supermarket for the first time. The Four Square pop-up store will bring convenience, great coffee, and classic Kiwi favourites to the more than 100,000 people who will descend on Fieldays over four days. Read.

A speed reduction to a section of Wairere Drive in Te Rapa has been given the tick of approval to enable a new Pak’nSave to be built in the area. The speed on Wairere Drive, between Arthur Porter Drive and Pukete Rd, will reduce from 80kph to 60kph to meet the traffic conditions in a resource consent for the new supermarket. Read.

Industrial zone land prices in Hamilton have shot up by about 250% in the past decade and there are fears of big supply shortfalls ahead. Hamilton City Council’s strategic growth and district plan chairperson Sarah Thomson said: “A healthy supply of industrial land is vital to our local economy. When supply is constrained, prices rise — reducing what businesses can spend on wages, research and development, or equipment — and risks driving them outside our city.” Read.

It’s still months away from its February 2026 opening, but things are coming together for the latest addition to Hamilton Gardens’ enclosed gardens. There won’t be blood-letting, but everything else about the Medieval apothecary garden coming to Hamilton will be true to history. Read.

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See you next Thursday.

— Ben