👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Have you entered our Chartwell Shopping Centre giveaway yet? Head to our Instagram or Facebook and tag a mate to go in the draw for some huge vouchers. Don’t have social media? Reply to this email and tell me one thing you love about Hello Hamilton, and I’ll put you in the draw. 🛍️

I was up at Free FM (FB, IG) in the city recording this week’s Hello Hamilton Event Guide, and it was exciting to see the developments there. The team are rebuilding their main production space, meaning their unique multilingual podcasts will start including visuals. They’ve offered me their space to use - Hello Hamilton Podcast coming soon? 👀

Thanks for reading again today. First time? I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton and local news headlines you can’t miss. Join 10,000+ Hamiltonians here.

Let’s get to it!

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

RAW Beauty exhibition | Thu 24th - Wed 30th at Central Library. Step inside a compelling visual narrative that challenges society’s assumptions and celebrates the power of change. A transformative photographic exhibition curated by Annah Stretton. Info. 

Paint and Wine Night - a Night In Paris | Thu 24th 7:00 pm at The Bank. Join for a creative night of drinking and painting in the heart of Hamilton! Tickets.  

Just Kidding Stand-Up Comedy Night | Thu 24th 7:30pm at Patrons Brewing Co. Eight hilarious ladies are ready to bring down the house. Tickets.  

Page Turners Book Club | Fri 25th 10:00am at St Andrews Library. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just looking to make new connections, join the Page Turners Book Club. Share your great reads that make for good conversations. Info.  

July Party with Hamilton Salsa | Fri 25th 7:00pm at Puu Toi. Enjoy a night of social dancing with Cuban Sala, Cha Cha Cha and more. Info.  

Comedy: Chris Parker - Stop Being So Dramatic | Fri 25th 7:30pm at Claudelands. Join Chris Parker for an hour of high-intensity, feverishly paced, and dizzyingly expressive comedy. Tickets.  

Jazmine Mary: I Want To Rock And Roll Tour | Fri 25th 8:00pm at Last Place. Jazmine Mary releases Third Studio Album ‘I Want To Rock And Roll’ and will celebrate with a live show to mesmerise. Tickets.  

Cats The Musical | Sat 26th - Sat 9th at Clarence St Theatre. Step into the magical world of CATS – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical phenomenon! Tickets.  

Board Games by The Bay | Sat 26th and Sun 27th at Distinction Hamilton Hotel & Conference Centre. Two days of board gaming at a brand new venue. There will be a games library stocked with heaps of games, but feel free to bring yours along to share too! Tickets.  

Waikato Mid-Winter Retro Fair 2025 | Sat 26th 9:00am-2:00pm at The Barn, Claudelands. This fair’s stall holders will have a huge range of genuine retro (1950's-1980's) items for sale. Furniture, clothing, homewares, collectables and more! Info.  

Fibretron 2025 | Sat 26th 10:00am - 4:00pm at Mystery Creek. Fibretron is the ultimate destination for yarn and fibre enthusiasts. You'll find independent yarn dyers, knitwear designers, and raw material producers, all under one roof. Info.  

Plantathon | Sat 26th 11:00am - 1:00pm at Caernarvon Park. Hamilton City Council has set a goal to increase Hamilton's less than 2% native vegetation to 10% by 2050! Be prepared to come down with a spade and some gloves (if you have them). Register.  

Bed By 10 | Sat 26th 4:00 - 9:00pm at The Factory. Bed By 10 is a chance for ravers over 30 to relive the peak of the 80s, 90s & early 2000s clubbing scene! Expect crazy visuals, confetti showers, CO2 cannons and more! Tickets.  

Heathen Combat: "Never Take Friendship Personal" | Sat 26th 6:00pm at Zeal. Heathen Combat has defeated every holder of the Hand of Date. So who's next for the Navigator of Heathen Combat, Kid Nova? The Ace. The Duke of Death. Tickets.  

Dead Sexy: A Tribute to Tease | Sat 26th 7:30pm at Biddy Mulligans. Step into the celestial spotlight for Dead Sexy: A Tribute to Tease—a show-stopping burlesque séance where rhinestones meet the grave in the most glamorous way imaginable. Tickets.  

Dally's Bday Bash 2 | Sat 26th 7:30pm at Last Place. The hardcore show of the year brought to you by Dallas and Brick by Brick Production. Tickets.  

Giggly Jiggly's | Sat 26th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. It will be a night of Comedy, Live Music and DJ Goldfinger, with your headline host Chase Bolton. Your 1st drink is on Chase. Tickets.  

Mid-Winter Creative Market | Sun 27th 8:00am - 12:00pm at Claudelands. This Creative Market is focused on locally created items, sold by their creator. You'll enjoy our vibrant farmers' market environment and be inspired by local makers from our region that love to create. Info.  

Winter Orchid Show and Plant Sale | Sun 27th 9:00am - 3:00pm at Hamilton Gardens. Waikato Orchid Society presents: Judged Orchid Show and Display, as well as plant sales including orchids, bromeliads, perennials, succulents and more! Raffles to be won. Info. 

Beginner’s Photography Class | Sun 27th 12:00-3:00pm at Hamilton Zoo. Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Join the Hamilton Photographer Group as they break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Tickets.  

Mandarin Storytelling | Sun 27th 2:00pm at Rototuna Library. Mandarin storytelling is a free storytelling and activity session for children of all ages and their families. Info. 

☕️ Cheap coffee for our Hello Hamilton community?

The Meteor Theatre is launching a new initiative to bring our local creatives in from the cold weather! During gallery opening hours (Wednesday to Saturday 11am – 2pm) they now have a café and community hub open!

To celebrate this new project, they are holding a launch party this Saturday, 26th July from 11am. Jeremy Mayall will be reviving his wonderful Music to Make Things To, they’ll have other entertainment from our local community, and spot prizes will be drawn throughout the day. There will be free coffees for the first 50 people! ☕️

And as a special offer for Hello Hamilton community members, if you tell Meteor staff Hello Hamilton sent you in the first week of opening (26th July-1st Aug) you can claim a $3.00 coffee of your choice (discounted from $4.50).

➡️ A peek at what’s on next week!

Emma Pearson: Theater & Kurhaus, Life in Wiesbaden | Wed 30th 1:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Emma Pearson, soprano, presents "Theater & Kurhaus, Life in Wiesbaden". Tickets. 

Panel: Public Faces, Private Stories | Fri 1st 6:30pm at Wintec Event Room 1. Come and join panellists Alison Mau, Susie Ferguson and Diana Wichtel in conversation with chair Venetia Sherson to hear these newswomen tell their stories. Info.  

Fur Patrol | Fri 1st 8:00pm at Last Place. From the moment their debut EP Starlifter landed in 1998 until their swansong album Local Kid arrived in 2008, Pōneke’s Fur Patrol left an unforgettable legacy behind them. Don't miss your chance to hear your favourite Fur Patrol anthems live in this special one-off show! Tickets.  

Hamilton Lake parkrun - Pacer Event | Sat 2nd 8:00am at Hamilton Lake. Chase your parkrun goals for 2025! There will be a range of pacers available, both walkers and runners, to keep you on track and get you to the finish. Info. 

Hamilton Record Fair | Sat 2nd 11:00am - 3:00pm at Glenview Community Centre. There will be records, tapes and CDs in all sorts, sizes and styles. Vendors from Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington , Waikato and BOP.  Info. 

Filipino Market | Sat 2nd 11:00am-3:00pm at The Barn. Filipino Market NZ is passionate about showcasing the best Filipino food and products across New Zealand. Get your fix of Filipino cuisine from food trucks, hot food merchants, bakers, ice cream, coffee and bubble tea merchants. Info. 

Catvideofest 2025 | Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd 12:30pm at Event Cinema Chartwell. Coming to Hamilton for one special weekend only. Get ready for the cutest, funniest, most heartwarming cat videos, plus, a portion of proceeds from every ticket goes to local cat charities. Tickets.

The Waikato Wedding Affair | Sat 2nd 12:30-5:00pm at 132 Tristam Street. The Waikato Wedding Affair brings together everything you need to plan your big day. Come along and chat with friendly local wedding experts, from dresses and florals to venues, cakes, photographers, entertainment and more. Tickets.  

Escapist Singles Night | Sat 2nd 6:00-10:00pm at Escapist Escape Rooms. Speed dating meets board gaming. Tired of swiping right but still haven't found the right person?? Come for a night of speed dating with a twist. Tickets. 

Amigo The Devil | Sat 2nd 7:00pm at Last Place. In the vast realm of modern folk and alternative rock, Amigo The Devil is an artist who channels a voice of unsettling beauty and raw truth. Tickets.  

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

Always double-check event details haven’t changed since you received this email. Did I forget anything? Flick me an email.

👀 Local news you may have missed

Waikato Medical School approved with $83m from Government, but $150m needed from donors and Waikato University. A memorandum of understanding states that the medical school should focus on training GPs and rural doctors, provide a graduate degree and aim for an initial intake of 120 students for the academic year beginning January 2028. Read.

Meanwhile, the University of Waikato is riding a wave of international enrolments, with new data revealing surging student numbers and a return to financial strength. International student numbers are up 60% year-on-year, and domestic enrolments are also up 8%. They are currently on track to achieve an operating surplus of $20 million. Read.

A Hamilton mayoral candidate has suggested Hamilton’s population could grow to around 500,000 over the next 35 years, even though city council data suggests a much lower estimate. Political newcomer Rachel Karalus said in an interview that the city was now close to a population of 200,000 after significant growth over the past 35 years. Read.

Gallagher Chiefs confirmed that Assistant Coach Jono Gibbes will take charge as Head Coach for the 2026 season, replacing Clayton McMillan, who is off to Irish club Munster. The 48-year-old brings a wealth of coaching experience, having had roles with Leinster, Ulster, La Rochelle and Clermont. Read.

Top musical Cats returns to Hamilton 17 years later with ‘next generation’ cast. It’s the same director, the same choreographer and several of the same crew as the last production in 2008 - but there’s a brand new litter of kitties for this year’s staging of Cats. Read.

The All Blacks swept France in on a chilly Saturday night in Hamilton but were given an almighty scare. Changes galore from coach Scott Robertson led to a disjointed, messy display, albeit ending with a 29-19 victory in front of a packed house of 24,162 at FMG Stadium. Read.

The big Union Square development in the CBD has kicked off its new $20 million Building B multi-storey office block project, the latest step in its expected $200 million overall spend at the site. It’s the fourth of six Union Square buildings to begin construction - a sod turning ceremony for Building B was held on Tuesday at the site between Anglesea and Alexandra streets. Read.

Hamilton Māori ward representative Maria Huata has become the third sitting councillor to announce she’ll be throwing her figurative pootae (hat) into the ring for the city’s mayoralty. Huata said that once she’d heard current mayor Paula Southgate was standing down “that lit a fire within and I felt a sense of urgency” to accelerate her existing long-term goal of being mayor. Read.

Kākā, rare native parrots, have been spotted across Hamilton. Four noisy, charismatic kākā were photographed at Taitua Arboretum by a Waikato Times photographer. Read.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who would love a cheap coffee at The Meteor!

See you next week!

— Ben