How good was Dinner Club last night! Just shy of 100 Hamiltonians met some new friends in personality-matched dinner groups last night. Keen to join the next one? Keep an eye out for an invite - we’ve got something cool in the works.

As always, there is so much happening in Hamilton this week. ZURU Nightglow and the associated Hot Air Balloon events will be a hit. I’ll let you get to it, and I’ll see ya out there! 🤝

First time here? I’m Ben from Pukete 👋🏼 Join 10,000+ Hamiltonians here. Want more? Check us out on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Join our Dinner Club. Contribute to keep this thriving. Partner with us.

I’ve begun delivering the first of the Hamilton Map orders to you beautiful Hamiltonians. And the early feedback has been great. I reckon it’s time for you to join the party and grab your truly Hamiltonian piece of artwork!

It’s kiwi designed and locally printed, only sold through Hello Hamilton to our community, and we’re planting a tree for every five maps sold. And all proceeds directly contribute to keeping Hello Hamilton free for everyone and thriving! ❤️

I’ve always loved my friend Kate’s parents’ home.

It’s one of those places that’s so full of character, with a striking feature staircase, elegant French doors, native timber accents, and a big farmhouse-style kitchen at its heart. There’s double garaging, multiple living areas, and beautiful backyard gully planted with native trees.

And the location is hard to beat. Right in the heart of Chartwell - an short walk to the shopping centre and cafes, the library, Hukanui School, and river walks and parks, yet somehow still private and peaceful, set on a sprawling 6,000sqm+ section with established gardens.

Well, yesterday I found out it’s on the market! I thought it was too good not to share, because if I were in the market for a new home (which I’m definitely not 😅), I’d be taking a look. Know someone looking for a new crib? Share it on.

Check out the video here > and photos here >

🎵 Jennifer Reid - In Concert | Thu 19th 7:00pm at 149 Seddon Road. Folk music has lost its way, and people have lost track of their geographical heritage. Jennifer is a performer of nineteenth century Lancashire dialect and Victorian broadside ballads. Info.   

The Harmonic Resonators | Fri 20th 7:00pm at Clarence St Theatre. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music, laughter, and heartwarming connection with Aotearoa’s favourite whānau band The Harmonic Resonators. Tickets.  

💖 Hamilton Speed Dating | Fri 20th 7:00pm at Biddy Mulligan’s. Get ready for a night of fun and connection at Hamilton's hottest speed dating event! For ages 26 - 44. Tickets. 

🎶 Snake Oil Peddlers | Fri 20th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Snake Oil Peddlers are stoked to announce a night of loud, riff-heavy live music at Nivara Lounge! Info. 

Amanaki and Shuv-it (Release Shows) | Fri 20th 8:00pm at Last Place. Both unique hardcore forces are teaming up for two shows in the North Island to celebrate their respective releases. Tickets. 

🎈 Hamilton City Council Opening Fiesta | Sat 21st 7:00am at Innes Common. There is nowhere better to see the balloons up close, inflate and fly off and then enjoy the fun. Info.  

🌈 International Colour Day | Sat 21st 8:00am at Matariki Terrace, Te Awa River Ride. Come to the Te Awa parkrun wearing as much colour as possible. Info.  

Massive Theatre Company Free Foundations Workshop | Saturday and Sunday 10:00am at Gallagher Academy. This free two-day workshop offers theatre training for young people aged 15-25 years. Suitable for all levels of experience. Info.  

👶🏻 Lenny’s Toddler Techno Tour 2026 | Sat 21st 11:00am at Claudelands Event Centre. In 2026, Lenny Pearce is bringing his globally renowned Toddler Techno Tour back home! Tickets.  

✨ ZURU Nightglow | Sat 21st 4:00pm at Waikato University. Come experience the glowing hot air balloons, live entertainment, and the iconic Nightglow finale that lights up the Hamilton sky. Tickets.  

Wellathlon | Saturday and Sunday at Hamilton Gardens. Wellathlon at Hamilton Gardens is a fresh take on wellness – a relaxed “triathlon” of movement, music and mindfulness set within the beautiful surroundings of Hamilton Gardens. Tickets.  

Bic Runga: Red Sunset Tour | Sat 21st 7:00pm at BNZ Theatre. New Zealand music icon Bic Runga announces the release date of her much-anticipated new album, Red Sunset. Tickets.  

F*ck ICE: A Protest Party | Sat 21st 8:00pm - 12:00am at Last Place. Help fight authoritarianism at Last Place Bar in Hamilton. All proceeds will be split between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Immigrant Defense Project. Tickets. 

💵 Cash Grab and Flying Morning | Sun 22nd 7:00am at Innes Common. Watch as pilots put their skills to the test, navigating their balloons to snatch a prize from a pole mid-flight. Can they pull it off? Come see for yourself. Info. 

Talk about Lake Rotoroa with Jeff Taylor | Sun 22nd 2:00pm at Central Library. Jeff wrote “Hamilton Lake – City Playground” covering the lake’s history from its natural formation 20,000 years ago to recreational events, the first house at the lake, and the walkway. Info.  

🌋 Volcano: A Science Comedy Show | Sun 22nd 7:00pm at Waikato Museum. Join scientist-turned-comedian Ben Miller for a hilarious hour exploring volcanoes, Hawaiian history, and more. Tickets.  

Hot Air Balloon Morning Flights and Competitive Flying | Mon 23rd - Thu 26th 7:00am at Innes Common. Get up early to join in the fun and see the balloons up close. Info. 

🌎 Hamilton Public Lecture | Tue 24th 5:30pm at Gallagher Academy. 'Can we educate our way out of the climate crisis?' by Professor Chris Eames. Climate change is happening and we are not doing enough to address it, so can education make the difference we need? Register.  

🎭 Oliver | Thu 26th - Sat 28th at Clarence St Theatre. St John’s College and Sacred Heart College proudly present Oliver!, the classic musical by Lionel Bart — boldly reimagined with a distinctly 1990s Aotearoa twist. Tickets.  

🎵 Shayne P. Carter | Thu 26th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Shayne P Carter, subject of last year’s five star documentary Life In One Chord, completes an Australasian solo tour with a series of regional shows. Tickets.  

Wine & Cheese Night | Fri 27th 5:00 - 8:00pm at The Sculpture Park. Enjoy a twilight walk in the tranquil setting of the Sculpture Park with friends or family. Sit at the Artist shelter and listen to the bird life while enjoying some local refreshments. Tickets.

🔥 The Base Basket Burn | Fri 27th 6:00pm at The Base. The Base have teamed up with Balloons Over Waikato again to bring the Basket Burn to The Base. What’s a ‘basket burn’ you ask? It’s a light show using hot air balloon gas burners choreographed to music! Info.  

The Rising Tide - Deathwish Release Tour | Fri 27th 8:00pm at Last Place. The Rising Tide are celebrating the release of their new single Deathwish. Joining them are Aussie Heavy Hitters Nicolas Cage Fighter and local legends Brawler & Crown the Heathen. Tickets. 

The Amazing Race - S.O.S | Sat 28th 9:00am - 4:00pm at Potters House. Grab your mates and take on an action-packed Amazing Race around Hamilton! Teams will solve clues, complete challenges, and race across the city to be the first to finish. Tickets.  

Forest Lake School 100th Birthday Celebration | Sat 28th 10:00am - 2:00pm at Forest Lake School. Reconnect with old classmates, take a tour of the school grounds, and reminisce about days gone by and see the changes from your time at Forest Lake School. Tickets.  

A Japanese Weaving Experience | Sat 28th 10:30am - 4:00pm at The Sculpture Park. Saori is a contemporary hand weaving method founded by Misao Jo in 1969. Come to this exclusive workshop learning the unique Zen weaving tradition. Tickets.

😲 Love the Centre Walk-Thru Balloon | Sat 28th 1:00 - 4:00pm at Garden Place. Head into the heart of the city and step inside a real hot air balloon at Garden Place. This free, family-friendly experience is packed with colour, fun, music and entertainment. Info.  

Five Films For Freedom | Sat 28th 3:00pm at Waikato Museum. Celebrate diverse LGBTQIA+ voices from around the world through this free screening of Five Films For Freedom. Info.  

Soweto Gospel Choir | Sat 28th 6:30pm at BNZ Theatre. A new concert by 3-time Grammy winning Soweto Gospel Choir celebrates songs and anthems of Nelson Mandela’s Freedom Movement in South Africa and the Civil Rights Movement of Dr Martin Luther King’s America. Tickets.  

🎸 Battle of the Bands 2026 - Waikato Heat 1 | Sat 28th 8:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. The 2026 events are running through March, April and May with the National Finals held on 29th & 30th of May at Valhalla in Wellington. Tickets.  

AW - The Nerve Album Tour | Sat 28th 8:00pm at Mesoverse. See AW for their album tour with special guests Moorings. Tickets.  

Soundscape Sirens - Summer Tour | Sat 28th 8:00pm at Last Place. After months of silence, the collective returns with their Summer Tour 2026, promising even deeper sonic storytelling from this trio of eclectic kiwi beatmakers. Tickets. 

💜 Purple Walk For Epilepsy | Sun 29th 9:30am at Innes Common. This free, feel-good, family-friendly event is your chance to come together, show your support, and celebrate Purple Day and 70 years of Epilepsy NZ. Info.  

Kids’ Flea Market | Sun 29th 10:00am - 12:00pm at Endeavour School. Join for a fun and heartwarming morning where children become “little business owners” for the day. Come along and explore stalls run by kids featuring toys,  pre-loved treasures, handmade crafts, books and creative finds with big confidence and proud little smiles. Info.  

🚙 Hamilton’s two hours free parking scheme could return to the central city, with details expected by the end of the week. Mayor Tim Macindoe said the move responds to community feedback that the current system “isn’t working”. Read.

🙌 As many as 25,000 music lovers rocked out at Hamilton’s Homegrown on Saturday, and event organiser Andrew Tuck said he’s already eyeing expansion plans for next year’s event. The festival featured performances from LAB, Sons of Zion, Devilskin, Six60, Katchafire, Supergroove and more. Read.

🛍️ Waikato shoppers outspent those in Wellington for the fifth straight month in February, with retail card spending reaching $307 million compared to $303 million. The growth is being driven in part by the hospitality sector, with wider economic factors like healthy farmgate milk prices also contributing to the region’s spending boost. Read.

🏨 Plans for a 25-storey “iconic” waterfront hotel in Hamilton have hit delays, with no resource consent application yet lodged and doubts raised about the project’s future. However, the developer says they remain “fully confident in and committed to the project”. Read.

♻️ A new section of footpath at Hamilton’s Lake Domain Drive is using recycled truck tyres to create an eco-friendly, permeable surface. The path, following the naturally worn route between Rotoroa Drive and Ruakiwi Road, makes the walkway easier to use while protecting nearby mature trees. Read.

🏢 Matt Stark says he is in no rush to secure a tenant for one of Hamilton’s largest remaining CBD development sites, as he looks for a major occupier for the former Federated Farmers block. The Stark Property director outlined plans for the Tristram and London St site, a major central city landholding that includes existing tenanted buildings, car-parks, and vacant land, during a behind-the-fence tour this week. Read.

A huge week in the Tron! See you out there.

— Ben and Sarah