👋🏼 Hello Hamilton
Hope you’re doing well as we approach 🌱 Spring.
Anyone else’s hayfever playing up though? The yellow pollen from Pine trees is often the first sign of the pollen season - spotted it on your car this week? Pollination will really get going as the weather starts to warm up.
Congrats 🎉 to the winners of our recent Hamilton Farmers’ Market giveaway - Aria from Rototuna North, Kristyn from Nawton, Joseph from Fairview Downs, and Kim in Rototuna North! Lucky buggers.
Anyways, heaps happening around the Tron. See ya out there.
— Ben
P.S. If this edition ends abruptly, some of it may’ve been chopped off by your email provider! Read this full letter on the web instead >
Kirikiriroa business movements…
🧆 Henley’s Bar + Kitchen has opened on the first floor of the new luxury One Cook St development, bring a modern British & Kiwi style pub experience to Hamilton East. Meet the chef >
🍗 KFC and 🌮 Taco Bell will open in the rapidly expanding Te Rapa commercial precinct in November. Behind the scenes of the build >
🚣 Regatta is set to open in the former Ferrybank Reception Centre on Grantham St in early September. The restaurant sits on Hamilton’s riverbank under arch of the Victoria Bridge. Discover its story >
🐮 Fonterra have relocated from 80 London Street to their new premises at North Bloc on the corner of London & Tristram Streets. Photos >
💪 The Yard Gym, a boutique strength & conditioning space, has opened at 234 Tristram Street in the city.
🥐 La Promesse, local boutique bakehouse known for its handcrafted pastries, will soon open a second spot, in the Beca Lobby in Garden Place.
🏨 Accor will build two new Mantra hotels in Hamilton next year: a 52-room hotel on Pembroke Street near Waikato Hopsital, and a 40-room hotel on Karewa Place near The Base. This is additional to the 20-floor Ward St building that is being transformed into a premium Pullman hotel by Accor. What they’ll look like >
What did we miss? Reply and let me know. Cheers to Love the Centre and NAI Harcourts for many of these tips.
DING DING DING. Reservations close tomorrow night. I repeat, reservations for the next Dinner Club close shortly.
Come on out to Rototuna on Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00pm to meet some neighbours and make some friends. Out of your comfort zone? Why not try it with a mate!
How it works:
Take a quick quiz about interests, preferences, and what kinds of Hamiltonians you’d like to meet.
Get matched with five other Club members based on your answers.
Receive your invite a couple days before Club Night and discover which restaurant your group will be dining at. 👀
During dinner, everyone across Rototuna will receive a notification revealing the secret nearby location of an afterparty. This is completely optional, so if you’re in a food coma, you can head home and sleep it off.
What’s happening this weekend?
Friday, 21st August
🎓 Rotokauri Campus Open Day | Fri 21st 10:00am at Wintec.
Explore specialist learning spaces, meet tutors and current students, try hands-on activities, and get a feel for life at Wintec.
🥃 Whisky Night x Love Bites | Fri 21st 6:00pm at Banh Mi Caphe.
Join a Whisky and Canape pairing experience.
📘 Telling Our Own and Others' Stories | Fri 21st 6:30pm at Central Library.
Hear from award-winning journalists and former foreign correspondents Charlotte Glennie and Mike McRoberts in conversation discussing their memoirs.
🤰 Auction Fundraiser Supporting Pregnancy Choice | Fri 21st 7:30pm at Pregnancy Choice Op Shop.
Come along to a fundraising night supporting pregnancy choice.
🎵 The Wall Vol. 2 | Fri 21st 8:30pm at Last Place.
Featuring Raru, Out of It, Anklebreaker and Money Sock, a night of punk, rock and hardcore.
Saturday, 22nd August
🙋🏻♀️ Women's Lifestyle Expo 2026 | Saturday and Sunday 10:00am at Claudelands.
Browse, taste and treat yourself to the best in fashion, beauty and skincare, health and wellness, gourmet food and beverages and more!
📝 Adult Professional Development Writing Workshops | Sat 22nd 1:00 - 4:00pm at Gallagher Academy.
Speculative Fiction NZ presents three writing workshops.
🧑🏻🍳 Recipe Book Bites | Sat 22nd 2:00pm at Hamilton Central Library.
Join three published Waikato foodies and hear their different paths to getting a published cookbook.
📸 CBD Covered Lanes & Architecture Photography Walk | Sat 22nd 2:00pm at Hamilton Central Library.
Join the Waikato Photographic Society for their August field trip.
🎷 Movie Magic with Hamilton City Brass | Sat 22nd 7:30pm at Gallagher Academy.
Celebrating some of the greatest film music ever written.
🤣 Tofiga - Fresh Since Ages Ago | Sat 22nd 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre.
A collection of hilarious skits bringing back Tofiga’s family characters like Aunty Tala, Uncle Sam, and Kung Fu Master Tavita.
🎵 Skonk, Mooring And Scene Beef | Sat 22nd 8:00pm at Last Place.
Hopping over the Kaimai Ranges from their local pond of Tauranga.
Sunday, 23rd August
🤩 BEN’S PICK
Hamilton Farmers' Market | Sun 23rd 8:00am - 12:00pm at Gate 3, Claudelands. A Sunday classic. Support local. 🥬
🏉 NPC - Waikato vs Counties Manukau | Sun 23rd 2:05pm at FMG Stadium.
Back the boys as they take on Counties Manukau on home turf.
🎸 Amplify Aotearoa | Sun 23rd 6:30pm at Clarence St Theatre.
A one-of-a-kind intergenerational music event bringing rangatahi bands together with iconic Aotearoa musicians for a live collaborative performance.
Hello Hamilton East, I’m your Member of Parliament 👋🏼
Hello Hamilton costs hundreds of dollar to produce every week.
This sponsored spot helps keep Hamilton free for all.
What’s on next week?
Tuesday, 25th August
🎨 Paint and Wine Night - Piwakawaka | Tue 25th 7:00pm at The Backyard Bar.
The perfect excuse to switch off, get creative, and try something a little different.
🍿 Movie Night Fundraiser | Tue 25th 7:30pm at Lido Cinema.
See new comedy, Spa Weekend, and help give a voice to kids with Down Syndrome.
Wednesday, 26th August
🧱 LEGO Club | Wed 26th 3:30pm at Glenview Library.
For children. All LEGO will be provided - bring your creative thinking hat!
🍤 Open Late at the Museum: Art Bites | Wed 26th 6:00pm at Waikato Museum.
Enjoy a bite sized treat, drink and foodie museum tour!
🎥 NZ Mountain Film Festival Screening | Wed 26th 6:30pm at Gallagher Academy.
A night of inspiration, breathtaking visuals, and some passion for the outdoors.
📕 Antique Books Roadshow | Wed 26th 6:30pm at Browsers Books.
Come and hear Browsers Bookshop owner Rachel Pope talk about what makes books valuable and collectible.
🎭 Keep That Smile | Wednesday and Thursday 6:30pm at Clarence St Theatre.
A dramatic love story with twists and turns involving music, cultural dancing, singing, and creative acting presented by Fairfield College.
Thursday, 27th August
☕️ Winter Tea and Talk Series | Thu 27th 3:00pm at Hamilton Gardens.
Join Hamilton Gardens’ expert gardening team for an afternoon of insight, conversation and connection.
🎬 NZ International Film Festival | Thu 27th August - Wed 9th September at Lido Cinema.
It returns for two weeks, featuring a wide range of films.
Friday, 28th August
📚 Book Battle | Fri 28th 9:30am - 2:30pm at Central Library.
An exciting competition designed to foster a love of reading among our tamariki.
💪 New Zealand CrossFit Championship | Fri 28th - Sat 30th at Claudelands Arena.
Watch New Zealand’s fittest battle for championship titles.
🎶 Kirikiriroa Hardcore Vol. 10 | Fri 28th 6:30pm at Mesoverse.
Featuring Cease and Desist, Home Invasion, Anklebreaker, and Rawflesh.
Saturday, 29th August
🐟 NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am at Mystery Creek.
Now NZ's largest marine event with over 40+ NZ Boat brands.
🌈 Boon Street Art Walking Tour plus Love Bite | Sat 29th 10:00am at Central Library.
This walking tour reveals stories behind the work, and the role public art plays in transforming our city.
🎸 Big Jam | Sat 29th 1:00pm at Gallagher Academy.
An annual combined showcase featuring the young musicians of the Waikato: Youth Orchestra Waikato.
🎼 Pulse of Life | Sat 29th 7:00pm at Gallagher Academy.
From the beating heart to the frozen south, Pulse of Life is a concert that spans the full breadth of human experience.
🎵 Dancing In The Shadows of Motown | Sat 29th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre.
10 piece powerhouse band recreating the dynamic live performances of: The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and many more Motown Legends.
Thanks for your support and talk next week,
— Ben Woodgates and Sarah Blake
