👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

I’m heading on holiday! But don’t worry - Hello Hamilton will continue while I’m away. My friend Sarah will be holding the fort while I’m getting my tan on in Europe. And I’ve got some big things planned for when I return at the end of September.

Thanks for reading again today. First time? 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.

Did you notice? I’ve moved from Hamilton East to Pukete! Hey neighbours!

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Paint and Wine Night: Goddess of the Night | Thu 21st 7:00pm at The Bank. The concept is simple - take a brush in one hand, a drink in the other and let’s paint a masterpiece! Tickets.  

Speed Dating | Thu 21st 7:00pm at Good Neighbour. Join for an exciting evening of speed dating! Speed Daters will be split into two age groups, 30-42 and 43-55, which will run simultaneously. The price includes a drink and delicious food at the break! Tickets.  

Cori Gonzalez-Macuer | Thu 21st 8:00pm at Last Place. As seen on Mean Mums, Wellington Paranormal, 7Days, Have You Been Paying Attention and cult Kiwi film, What We Do In The Shadows, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer has been one of the more unique comedy talents in NZ. Tickets.  

Crime Stories as Home Truths | Fri 22nd 6:00pm at Rototuna Library. In this panel discussion, Claire Baylis talks with Charity Norman and Michael Bennet about exploring social issues in fiction and how their backgrounds working in the legal system have shaped their crime novels. Info.  

80s Silent Disco | Fri 22nd 6:30pm and 9:30pm at Waikato Museum. After selling out over 100 shows across the world, Silent Discos in Incredible Places are heading to Hamilton! Expect 3 epic DJs playing all your favourite 80s tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of the Waikato Museum. Tickets. 

Best of the Bee Gees | Friday 22nd 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. The Best of the Bee Gees honours the legacy of the Saturday Night Fever disco album with chart busters from the Bee Gees, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, The Trammps and others, plus special guests Debora McLane (Bee Gees niece) and Roslyn Loxton. Tickets.  

Journey To Last Place | Fri 22nd 8:00pm at Last Place. Rock/punk band Somacaine is heading over the Kaimas to the far away land of Kirikiriroa with their mates Hoick to wow the locals. Joining them will be the Tron’s very own Static. Tickets.  

Friday Night Latin Jazz Funk | Fri 22nd 9:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Mr Bassman extraordinaire Carlos Pla is putting together another fantastic Co-Lab combo. Featuring special guest African Drummer Yaw Asamadu. Tickets.  

Daffodil Day Parkrun | Sat 23rd 8:00am at Innes Common. Come for a parkrun around Hamilton Lake in support of Daffodil Day. Please wear yellow and bring a gold coin donation. Info.  

Branches of Time: Discovering Your Ancestry | Sat 23rd 10:00am - 1:00pm at Central Library. Come for a morning of research using the library’s extensive family history resources. Members from the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Hamilton Branch and associated interest groups will be visiting to offer their expertise and guidance. Info.  

Hamilton Women's Lifestyle Expo 2025 | Saturday and Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm at Claudelands. The ultimate girls' day out awaits you, filled with shopping, pampering and mouth-watering indulgences, and the chance to win amazing prizes! Tickets.  

Taprobana Pulse | Sat 23rd 7:00pm at the Meteor. Get ready for an unforgettable night of rhythm, soul, and Sri Lankan sound as Taprobana lights up the stage this August. From electrifying drums to heartfelt melodies, this is your ticket out of the cold and into a world of music that moves. Tickets.  

Flights of Fancy: Taonga of the Sky | Sat 23rd 7:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Multidisciplinary scientist, Monica Peters, joins OCT Ensemble in an exploration of 'Taonga of the Sky'. A juxtaposition of famous baroque music inspired by birdsong and contemporary New Zealand works championing our own bird life and those lost to us. Tickets.  

Unfinished Business - Deathnir Returns | Sat 23rd 7:30pm at The Local Tavern. Deathnir is back in Hamilton performing songs from their latest album 'Where the Wicked Meet', with support from Teraset and Rise the Wicked. Tickets.  

Natassja Kelly + Band: Ep Release | Sat 23rd 8:00pm at Last Place. Natassja Kelly is performing at Last Place in Kirikiriroa to celebrate the release of her debut EP, 'canyoufeelitafterwards?'. Supported by local artist, Mia Downing, don't miss the chance to experience the EP alongside Natassja's past discography. Tickets.  

Musical Fairy Tales: ‘Mischief in the Meadow’ | Sun 24th 3:00pm at Gallagher Academy. A fun first introduction to the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra through the musical storytime adventures of Peter, the wolf, a lion and an elephant! Suitable for all ages! Tickets.

NRLW - One New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks | Sun 24th 3:45pm at FMG Stadium. Get set Waikato. The New Zealand Warriors Women are coming to Hamilton in Season 2025 with three NRLW fixtures to be played at FMG Stadium through August and September. Tickets.  

➡️ A peek at what’s on next week!

Creedence Clearwater Collective | Tue 26th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. Join for a night celebrating the music of one of the world’s most iconic brands, Creedence Clearwater Revival. Tickets.  

NZ’s Smallest Gallery Grand Opening | Wed 27th 11:00am at Arts for Health. Arts for Health excited to announce the official opening of their brand new space — NZ’s Smallest Gallery! Come take a look, connect with others, and see what big things can happen in a small space. Info.  

Bring Your Bub | Thu 28th 9:30am at The Meteor. Parents, this one's for you. Bring your little ones (4 & under) for a relaxed morning of coffee, toys and connection. Thanks to Bear & Moo, toys are sorted. Info.  

Author Talk with Catherine Knight | Thu 28th 6:00pm at Rototuna Library. Join for a conversation with Catherine Knight, author of An Uncommon Land. In this latest book, Catherine interweaves the stories of her ancestors, who settled in Whangamarino, Waikato, with the wider social history that shaped New Zealand. Info.  

Wairere – Te Tatau Pounamu “The Peace Child” | Thu 28th - Sat 30th 7:00pm at The Meteor. Wairere is a Maori Musical and high end art and sensory experience sharing ancient stories, songs and experiences from within the tribal lands of Ngati Wairere. Tickets.  

The Amber Temple | Thu 28th 8:00pm at Last Place. An original music and interpretive dance collaboration between singer-songwriter Julian Temple and contemporary dancer Amber Stephens. Tickets. 

Wintec Open Day 2025 | Fri 29th 9:00am-1:00pm at Wintec Hamilton City and Rotokauri Campus. Come along to Wintec Open Day, a whānau-friendly event where you can explore study options, meet tutors, tour the Kirikiriroa Hamilton campuses, and discover how you can be supported in your learning journey. Register.

Filipino Community Evening | Fri 29th 6:00pm at Hamilton East Electorate Office. Join MP Paulo Garcia, the first New Zealand MP of Filipino descent, and Ryan Hamilton for a special Filipino community evening. Info.

Erase Everything Single Release Show | Fri 29th 8:00pm at Last Place. Fresh after signing to Sunreturn Records, Erase Everything graces the Waikato for the first time in support of their second single “New year new idea”. Erase Everything brings a fresh sound combining elements of 90’s alternative, Shoegaze and post hardcore. Tickets.  

King Fling Drag Show | Fri 29th 9:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. Twisted Coven brings you a stunning line up of Drag Kings that will amaze and captivate you. The Kings are ready to ascend to their thrones and entertain like never before! Tickets.  

NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am at Mystery Creek Events Centre. Come for an epic array of the NZ Marine Industry showcasing the latest products, boats, fishing and diving equipment, seafood and water-sport based gear that NZ has to offer. Tickets.  

Waikato Southeast Asia Festival 2025 | Sat 30th 10:00am - 6:00pm at Claudelands Events Centre. Experience the wonder and diversity of Southeast Asia through music, dance, cuisine and more at the 2025 festival. Info.  

The Bruce Springsteen Experience | Sat 30th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. The Bruce Springsteen Experience is an international-level show dedicated to honouring the timeless music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Tickets.  

Synth Obscura: Return To Planet Earth | Sat 30th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Synth Obscura presents Return to Planet Earth featuring 4 artists, a DJ and a VJ! Tickets.  

Open Mic and Jam | Sun 31st 1:00-4:00pm at Hamilton Workingmen's Club. Join in a fun afternoon, let your creativity free. All styles of music welcomed. Tickets.

Farah Palmer Cup: Waikato Women v Canterbury | Sun 31st 2:05pm at FMG Stadium. Get Ready to cheer on our Waikato Women! Come to FMG Stadium for an exciting day of rugby as the Waikato FPC take on Canterbury in the thrilling Farah Palmer Cup! Tickets.  

Waikato Aria Competition - 2025 Grand Final | Sun 31st 7:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Join for a Sunday evening of operatic drama, as the University of Waikato’s most promising voices compete for a prestigious prize. Tickets.  

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👀 Local news you may have missed

The new Waikato Regional Theatre is shaping up to be one of New Zealand’s top venues and the view from the top promises an unforgettable experience. Waikato Times were given a rare chance to climb stairwells and ladders to the building’s uppermost level: the fly tower, offering a perspective usually reserved for those closely involved in the $80 million project. Read.  

Films shown at the Cannes Film Festival will headline a huge range of movies showing in Hamilton as part of the upcoming New Zealand International Film Festival. The packed programme also includes the highly anticipated Jacinda Ardern documentary, and eight of the most acclaimed films from this year’s Cannes festival. Read.  

Accommodation choices for Waikato’s burgeoning elderly population could soon get wider, with three applications for big new developments referred to the Government’s Fast-track programme. However, a demographer has warned that simply having more retirement villages is not a silver bullet for the coming “tsunami” of elderly - and what is particularly needed in the region are more “hospital level” facilities and the people to staff them. Read. 

New Zealand’s most successful school first XV owes its success to the intense dedication of its players. While most peers lie snoozing on freezing winter mornings, the Hamilton Boys’ High XV runs a near–semi-professional program with three 6:15 am trainings each week. Read. 

A unique concert of music inspired by birdsong will likely have orchestral aficionados flocking to the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. Flights of Fancy: Taonga of the Sky is part of a weekend-long mini-festival of music being staged by Orchestras Central at the academy, inviting the audience into the world of birds re-imagined through the ears of composers past and present. Read. 

It’s not yet possible to travel back in time, and for many of us a big European OE is well outside the bounds of reality, however, the next best thing will soon be achievable at Hamilton’s Welcome Swallow Gallery. The Grand Tour exhibition features 39 works by 30 mostly European artists, including striking scenes of the past captured in oils, pastels and watercolours. Read. 

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who should enjoy a girl’s day out!

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See you next week!

— Ben