👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Just so you get a bit less of a fright this weekend, I thought I’d let you know that the nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) system is happening this Sunday, between 6-7pm.

The alert will be broadcast from cell towers to over 5.5 million phones across NZ. If your phone is turned on, capable, and has up-to-date software, you should receive the test alert. The Emergency Mobile Alert is an extra channel that can help keep you safe in an emergency.

In other news, IT IS SO COLD! Really tryna channel my inner-Elsa this morning.

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. Join 8,000+ Hamiltonians here.

Let’s gooo!

🎟️ What’s on in the Tron this week?

Wintec Information Session | Thu 22nd 4:00pm at The Atrium. Join the Hamilton City Information Session and explore our range of study options available at the Wintec campus in Semester 2, 2025. Register.

Author Talk: Simply Veg with Amber Bremner | Thu 22nd 6:30pm at Rototuna Library. A conversation lead by the editor of Nourish magazine, Vicki Ravlich-Horan, with author Amber Bremner about her latest book Simply Veg, a book for vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians or those just looking to include a bit more veg in their life. Info.

Ecological Restoration Talk | Thu 22nd 7:30pm at The Link on 4 Te Aroha St. Tim Newton from Green Footprint Tree Care will talk on ecological restoration in gullies and improving biodiversity through planting. $8 entry, all welcome.

Digital Afterlives play | Thu 22nd to Sat 24th at The Meteor. Digital Afterlives offers an honest look at how we experience grief in today’s increasingly online world. Constructed word-for-word from interviews with everyday New Zealanders, the play explores how we connect, remember, and honour loved ones through social media. Tickets.

University of Waikato Open Day | Fri 23th 9:00am-2:00pm at the Hamilton Campus. Explore study options, take a campus tour, view the Halls of Residence, talk to staff and experience what it is like to be a student at Waikato Uni. Info.

Floating Meditation with Sound Bowls | Fri 23th 6:30pm at High Above. Relax and enjoy a 1 hour rejuvenating meditation suspended in an aerial hammock, while surrounded by the tranquil vibes of crystal sound bowls. Tickets.

NZ Highwaymen Tour | Fri 23th 7:30pm at Globox Arena. After two sold-out tours in 2023 and 2024, these legendary musicians are ready to once again captivate audiences with their timeless music. Tickets.

International Comedy All-Stars | Fri 23th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman are coming for a funny night. Tickets.

Friday Night Jazz | Fri 23th 8:30pm at Nivara Lounge. Grab some friends and come on down the stairs to a Jazz basement time for the Westcoast Jazz Band. Tickets.

Fundraising Concert for Special Olympics Waikato | Sat 24th 6:00pm at Agora Cafe. RMJF Music, Mike Conlon Music, Music Planet and NZ Music Month present an evening of live music, raffles, refreshments for purchase and a ton of fun for everyone. Tickets.

Kelvin Cruickshank psychic medium | Sat 24th 7:00pm at Claudelands. Throughout the night, you will witness first-hand the power of mediumship as Kelvin delivers messages filled with love, healing, and validation from the other side. Tickets.

Beginner West Coast Swing Workshop | Sat 24th 7:00pm at 145 London Street. Come learn the basics of West Coast Swing dancing at a beginner friendly workshop, followed by social dancing. No partner or prior dance experience necessary. Tickets.

Gallagher Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika | Sat 24th 7:05pm at FMG Stadium. It all comes down to this! The Gallagher Chiefs are set to light up FMG one last time this season in a massive final home game of the regular season. Tickets.

NZ Male Choir with Bel Suono Choir | Sat 24th 7:30pm at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. The choirs will perform separately and together so you get to hear the widest variety of sound - a wonderful opportunity to hear mixed choral singing at its best. Tickets.

The Bitter Brothers - Daddy Was An Outlaw Tour | Sat 24th 9:00pm at Last Place. The Bitter Brothers are a five-piece, Wellington based, southern gothic, old-time, alt-folk, alt-country musical experience that you won’t want to miss. Tickets.

Waikato Massive Theatre Workshop | Sat 24th and Sun 25th at Waikato University. A free two day workshop offering theatre training for young people aged 14-25 years, suitable for all levels of experience, and led by professional teaching artists. Enrol.

Africa Day at Made | Sun 25th 10:00am-3:00pm in Hamilton East. Enjoy a full program of interactive activities, family-friendly entertainment, and culinary experiences at Made this Africa Day. Info.

ANZ Premiership: Magic vs. Tactix | Sun 25th 4:00pm at Globox Arena. See your team, Avis Magic, live as they take on the VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix in Round 3 of the 2025 ANZ Premiership. Tickets.

Chartwell Night Market | Sun 25th 5:00-11:00pm in the ANZ Carpark under Farmers. Skip cooking and heating up—you can enjoy an affordable, feast-worthy dinner under cover! Info.

3 Tenors & A Soprano | Mon 26th 11:00am at Hamilton Central Baptist Church. An elegant concert of famous ballads, opera, classical and music theatre songs passionately presented by this supremely talented quartet. Tickets.

Yoga at the Museum | Mon 26th 5:30pm at Waikato Museum. Held weekly through the winter months, this series is led by Katie Deare and other qualified yoga instructors from Sun Salute Yoga Centre. Tickets.

Waikato Rivertones Open Night | Mon 26th 6:45pm in Marian School Hall. If singing brings you joy and you're looking for a fun, supportive, empowering community of women who share the same passion, be sure to head along. Info.

Canva Workshop | Tue 27th 1:00pm at Wintec. The hands-on workshop and Q&A with a marketing expert, accessible to all skill levels, demonstrates how you and your teams can immediately leverage free AI tools like Canva to strengthen your brand. Register.

Soda Women in Business Expo | Wed 28th 12:00pm at The Atrium. Join for lunch and a business expo, showcasing some of the support options available for women in business in Aotearoa New Zealand. Register.

Waikato Museum Open Late | Wed 28th 5:00-9:00pm. With drinks and nibbles available to purchase from the bar, you can get in the groove with live music. Dive into Ripples with Sasha from He Koniahi Story Circle for a floor talk to get ideas sparking as you check out the galleries. Info.

The Big Go Eco Quiz Night | Wed 28th 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.

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

As always, please double-check event details haven’t changed since you received this email… orrr that I haven’t accidentally listed it as the wrong day.

👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

Hamilton City Council staff want the 60kph speed limit to remain on the surface-flooding prone section of Cobham Dr. Meanwhile, 58% of the community want the limit to go back to 80kph, saying that many people went that fast anyway and it would improve traffic flow and travel times. Read.

Waterworld, Hamilton’s largest aquatic and fitness facility, is closing for four weeks from mid-June for maintenance and upgrades. The facility receives around 400,000 visits annually and the $7.5 million refurb “is about looking after what we have and meeting the growing community demand and expectations”. Read.

Gallagher Chief and All Black Wallace Sititi has committed for another two years with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs, signing a new contract until the end of 2027. Considered one of the most exciting young players in world rugby, Sititi made his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Chiefs last year and earned an All Blacks call-up a few months later. Read.

Barber on Barton owner Gini Berggren has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition calling for the return of two hours free parking in Hamilton’s CBD. The issue’s been back in the spotlight in recent weeks after mayoral contender Councillor Tim Macindoe called for the two hours free to be reinstated, after it was chopped to one-hour free last October. Read.

Hamilton’s new $167 million bridges earn global acclaim. The Te Ara Pekapeka and the Taurapa pedestrian bridge, which connect Hillcrest and the future Peacocke development, got a special mention at the Architizer A+ Awards, placing them among the top 5% of global entries. Read.

The National Fieldays Society is voluntarily disclosing its indirect emissions, known as Scope 3 emissions. The report details the society’s indirect greenhouse gas emissions, offering a clearer understanding of its supply chain impact. Across New Zealand, a growing number of businesses recognise the crucial role of Scope 3 reporting in their decision-making processes to better account for climate impact. Read.

A prominent Kiingitanga figure is stepping down from his position. The Venerable Ngira Simmonds served as chief of staff and private secretary to Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII and recently Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. He now “wishes to spend time now focusing on his family”. Read.

🚧 Local road closures this week

• A series of streets around FMG Stadium Waikato will be closed from 2pm or 6pm until 11pm on Saturday 24 May for the Gallagher Chiefs game.  

• Fifth Avenue (from Peachgrove Road to Spencer Road) will be closed Sunday 25 May to Tuesday 27 May from 7pm – 5am, for the installation of a new traffic light pole. Pedestrians and people on bikes should follow the instructions of traffic management. 

• Masefield Drive will have one lane closed in a single direction until Wednesday 4 June, from 7am – 6pm for a footpath renewal.  

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. I really appreciate your support. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who needs to get their winter wardrobe ready!

As always, please reply to this email ([email protected]) if you have any suggestions for what you would like to see in future editions of Hello Hamilton.

See you next Thursday!

— Ben

P.S. Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton here.

P.P.S. Local business? We’re open to thoughtful partnerships that bring value to our readers, support the Hamilton community, and keep Hello Hamilton free for all. Reply to this email and let’s chat.