Thursday already?! These weeks are flying by.

Congrats to Nawton local Alison, who won our double pass to see the Black Ferns absolutely smash France 81–12 at Waikato Stadium over the weekend! 🏉

There’s so much happening in Hamilton right now. Too much to fit it all in this letter! We're having to get pickier about what makes the cut. Not a bad problem to have!

By the way, I’m looking for some teammates to help me with is thing. Keen? Apply here >

Anyway, enjoy, and see you out there.

— Ben

P.S. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe for free >

LAST CHANCE: Keen to meet some new people next week? We've got two Hello Hamilton events coming up! Social Badminton 🏸 on Tuesday and Dinner Club 🍽️ on Wednesday. Two great excuses to get out the couch and try something new. Bookings close very soon.

INTERNATIONAL STARS: British drum and bass superstars Chase & Status are coming to Claudelands Oval on 6 March 2027! 🔥

Hello Hamilton followers got the first hint the night before, when we sent out a mystery invitation encouraging everyone to head into the city and look up. The big reveal? A massive banner hanging from the Pullman Hotel construction crane!

Homegrown CEO Andrew Tuck, who's helping bring the show to Hamilton, tells us he expects a crowd of up to 20,000 people.

“We haven’t had an international artist of this size in Hamilton before, so to have Homegrown here, Chase & Status coming, and more international acts looking at Hamilton as well… we’re starting to turn Hamilton into a cool destination for major events,” Andrew said.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY TIME: Our last three-day weekend before Christmas. Monday is Labour Day, marking the fight for the eight-hour working day.

Most Hamilton shops, cafés and restaurants will still be open, and rubbish and recycling collections are running as normal. But for many of us, it's a day off. Enjoy if that’s you. 🎉☀️

THE BALLERS ARE VISITING: The BNZ Breakers are coming to the Tron! 🏀 Yesterday, it was announced they'll play their only two games outside Auckland this season at Claudelands Arena, on 18 December and 4 February.

Hello Hamilton caught up with some of the players, who can't wait to put on a show for us. Mayor Tim Macindoe also reckons it'll be a great night, even if you don't know much about basketball. "There's nothing like being right there in the thick of it. I would say, don't miss it."

Fancy putting your ninja skills to the test? The Ninja Run is bringing NZ’s epic inflatable obstacle challenge to Hamilton from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th November, with a massive 2.5km course featuring 14 giant inflatable obstacles, unlimited laps and as many rides as you like down a 13m-high waterslide!

Everyone who takes part gets a finisher’s medal and free race timing. And if you're feeling competitive, the fastest participants will be invited to the City Finals on 8th November, with a chance to represent Hamilton at the Ninja Nationals in April 2027!

🎉 We're giving away a family pass! Head over to @hellohamiltonnz on Instagram or Facebook to enter. Good luck!

💡 Beyond The Business Card | Tue 27th 5:30pm at Waikato Innovation Park. Bringing together business owners, innovators, and community voices to explore how personal brand, reputation, and meaningful connections can open doors.

🕯️Open Late: He Raa Maumahara | Wed 28th 6:00pm at Waikato Museum. Hear from descendants of Te Rongopāmamao about her extraordinary life during the New Zealand Wars.

♠️ Opinionation Game Night | Wed 28th 6:30pm at The Keg Room. Think Family Feud for grown-ups! Guess the most popular answers, score points and have a laugh.

💵 Make Your Super Go Further | Thu 29th 10:00am at Pukete Community Centre. A four-week course covering financial support, cutting everyday costs and local services for seniors.

🩷 Pink Walk & Run | Thu 29th 5:00pm at Innes Common. Get moving for a good cause, supporting the Waikato-based Breast Cancer Research Trust.

🎃 Tales and Taniwha | Thu 29th 6:00pm at Central Library. Spooky stories, puzzles and challenges for kids aged 8–12.

🎶 Beatlemania on Tour | Thu 29th 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. Relive the Beatles' greatest hits with authentic costumes, replica instruments and plenty of nostalgia.

🦇 Night-time Discovery Walk | Thu 29th 7:50pm at Hamilton Gardens. Encounter some of Aotearoa's most fascinating night-time creatures, including pekapeka, ruru and glowworms, while learning how native wildlife thrives alongside the city.

🏠 NZ Tiny House Expo | Fri 30th - Sun 1st at Mystery Creek. Step inside tiny homes, cabins and granny flats. Open the cupboards, check the bathrooms and see how small you could go!

🤓 Nerdfest | Fri 30th 3:00 - 6:30pm at Waikato University. Get hands-on with fun, interactive activities inspired by the university’s cutting-edge research and innovative projects.

🧵 Sip & Sew: House Warming | Fri 30th 4:00pm at 401 Anglesea Street. Check out Sip & Sew's new studio, with sewing demos, music, nibbles and a community project. Bring your own sewing too!

🎵 Halloween Hardcore - Night 1 | Fri 30th 6:00pm at Mesoverse. A big night of hardcore music featuring Martial Law, Run it Straight, Heavy Step and more.

🧟 Zombie Walk | Fri 30th 7:00pm at Garden Place. The undead take over central Hamilton!

🐑 Waikato A&P Show | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm at Claudelands. Farm animals, entertainment, trade displays and plenty for the whole family.

🪩 Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Disco | Sat 31st 3:00pm at Chartwell Shopping Centre. Dress up for an afternoon of dancing, face painting and Halloween fun!

🎻 New Zealand String Quartet presents: Legend | Sat 31st 7:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Join for an evening exploring a rich cross-section of compositional voices and celebrating the art of storytelling through music.

🎤 Home Brew | Sat 31st 8:00pm at BNZ Theatre. Their legendary EP Last Week live in full, alongside fan favourites from across their celebrated catalogue.

🍅 Hamilton Farmers' Market | Sun 1st 8:00am - 12:00pm at Claudelands Park. Out of the barn next week, but still nearby. Support local.

🐦‍⬛ Scarecrow Festival | Sun 1st 11:00am at Kitchen Garden, Hamilton Gardens. Get creative and enter a scarecrow to be put on display in the Kitchen Garden, and come along to see them all displayed and vote for your favourite!

Thanks for reading again this week! I really appreciate your support.

I'm looking for people who love Hamilton and are keen to help support Hello Hamilton's next phase of growth. Express your interest >

— Ben Woodgates and Sarah Blake