👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

I’m back in Hamilton after my big Europe trip! While I recover from jetlag, my friend Sarah is picking up Hello Hamilton again this week.

We’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton and local news headlines you can’t miss. First time? Join 10,000+ Hamiltonians here.

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Hamilton City Mayoral Debate | Thu 25th 7:00pm at Settlement Centre Waikato. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend, your questions, and your passion for the community. Hosted by Tama Potaka and Ryan Hamilton. Info.  

Paint and Wine Night: Water Lilies | Thu 25th 7:00pm at The Bank. Join for a creative night of drinking and painting in the heart of Hamilton! No previous painting experience necessary. Tickets.  

MAMIL 2: GOMIL | Thursday and Friday 7:30pm at Clarence St Theatre. One of New Zealand’s most successful plays of all time, MAMIL (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) is hitting the road in a national tour of the long-awaited sequel GOMIL (Grumpy Old Man in Lycra). Tickets.  

Life Drawing | Fri 26th 12:20pm at St Peter’s Cathedral. Life drawing of the human figure every Friday afternoon. Tickets. 

The Rock Countdown Party | Fri 26th 3:00pm - 12:00am at the Factory. Join for Hamilton’s biggest Rock 2000 countdown party with a classic Beerfest twist. There’ll be limited one litre steins, free BBQ and spot prizes for those heading down early. Info.  

Community Breathwork Workshop | Fri 26th 5:45pm at Sun Salute Yoga. Come practice self-love and refill your cup through breathwork. Tickets.  

New Caledonia Festival | Fri 26th 6:00pm at Alliance Française. Discover the Spirit of New Caledonia in Hamilton! The evening will open with a delicious buffet inspired by the island’s unique flavours before the screening of five short films. Tickets.  

The Roast of Rita Menu | Fri 26th 9:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. Are you ready for another Rita Menu extravaganza?! This is something new and never before seen on stage for your viewing pleasure, a good old fashioned roast! Tickets.  

Plant Extravaganza | Sat 27th 9:00am - 2:00pm at The Barn, Claudelands. Join for a relaxed and fun day out enjoying all things plants & gardening. With heaps of stalls including indoor and outdoor plants, unique crafts, accessories, gifts, flowers, seedlings, and more. Info.

Spring Pop Up Market | Sat 27th 10:00am - 2:00pm at Riverlea Theatre. Spring on down to the Spring Pop Up Market happening in the Riverlea Theatre Car Park. Over 60 Stalls with art, craft, bone carving, greenstone, home-baking, plants, facepainting, food, live music and more! Info.  

Goals for Good Football Fundraiser | Sat 27th 10:30am at Porritt Stadium. Come together for a jam-packed day of football, fun, and fundraising. The day will consist of four epic football matches, live auction, raffles, food, drinks and entertainment! Info.

Music To Make Things To | Sat 27th 11:00am at The Meteor. Make Things to Music is all about providing a space for you to sit amongst the art of The NCG and make whatever you like to make to live music! This month there will also be a voting van on site! Info.   

Cricket’s Back! | Sat 27th 12:00pm at Seddon Park. Come to this free event to celebrate the return of the cricket season. Meet some of your favourite Northern Brave players, local clubs and enjoy a BBQ! Info.  

Author Talk with Donna Goodacre | Sat 27th 1:00pm at Rototuna Library. Join to hear author Donna Goodacre talk about her inspiration and writing methods behind her latest book, Of Greenstone and Violins. Info.  

Oktoberfest 2025 | Sat 27th 1:00 - 9:00pm at Good George Dining Hall. Oktoberfest is back at the home of Good George! Rally the crew, dust off the lederhosen or dirndl, and join for an afternoon packed with beer, food, music, and good times. Tickets.  

Heathen Combat presents... "One More Time" | Sat 27th 6:00pm at Zeal. After the main event of ‘Never Take Friendship Personal’, One Above All World Champion Kid Nova stood tall over Horus—only for his Nu Blood partner Zac Hayle to cash in his Hand of Fate axe for another shot at the title. Now the two will clash in a thirty-minute Iron Man Match. Tickets.  

Lest Fest | Sat 27th 7:00pm at Mesoverse. A spin-off from the Rangatahi led Lester’s garage series, it’s Lest Fest featuring local youth bands. All ages welcome. Tickets. 

The Break In EP Release | Sat 27th 8:00pm at Last Place. NZ hardcore heavyweights The Break In are back with new music. Supported by their friends, local legends Drop Off Point and Martial Law as well as Auckland’s Heavy Step. Tickets.  

Harrowfield Market & Carboot Sale | Sun 28th 9:00am - 1:00pm at Harrowfield Park. You’ll find plenty of stocking fillers — think scrunchies, toys, plants, food, candles, crafts, coffee, and even a local photographer selling prints — plus the thrill of a car boot sale for those who love a bargain hunt. Info.  

Te Rapa Fitstop Re-Launch Open Day | Sun 28th 10:00am - 1:00pm at Fitstop Te Rapa. Join to celebrate the re-launch of Fitstop Te Rapa. It’s going to be a fun day for all ages, and a great chance to connect with our community. Includes fitness demos for all levels and special membership offers. Info.  

Shaun Kirk - NZ Tour 2025 | Sun 28th 5:00pm at Last Place. Hailing from the music-filled streets of Melbourne, Australia, Shaun Kirk is an award-winning blues and soul troubadour recognized for his exceptional talent as a born entertainer. Tickets. 

➡️ A peek at what’s on next week!

Multicultural Children Holiday Programme | Mon 29th - Fri 3rd 8:30am - 3:30pm at St Peter’s Scout Hall.  Activities include arts and crafts from around the world, sports, fun games and an outdoor trip! Tickets.  

Outside In | Tue 30th - Sat 4th 7:30pm at The Meteor. Wing Valley Productions brings Outside In. Seven women navigate their lives and themselves inside prison, trying to manage how much the outside seeps in. Tickets.  

HaHaHamilton Comedy Lounge | Wed 1st 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Time for the monthly HaHaHamilton Comedy Lounge. Another great lineup featuring MC Shaun O'Neill, and comedians such as Lance “The T Man” Taylor, Flynn Beetham, Mihir Roy and more! Tickets.  

Waikato Home & Garden Show 2025 | Thu 2nd - Sun 5th 10:00am at Claudelands. On a mission to create your dream home, or renovate to sell? Don’t miss the annual Waikato Home & Garden Show, where you’ll find everything you need to renovate, build, decorate and landscape your home under one roof. Tickets.  

Pool Party at Waterworld | Thu 2nd 12:00pm at Waterworld. Celebrate the school holidays at Waterworld with lots of fun such as a special visit from Spiderman and Bateman, great music, beach balls and lots more! Info.  

Hamilton Night Market at the University | Fri 3rd 5:00 - 11:00pm at Waikato University. The Hamilton Night Market is moving! From Friday, they’ll be at a new home at Gate 2B, Knighton Road. Make sure to check out the new space! Info.  

Comedy Zone | Fri 3rd 7:30pm at Skycity. Hamilton's premiere regular comedy show returns with Jeremy Corbett. Known as the Godfather of NZ Stand Up as the host of New Zealand's longest running and most popular comedy show, 7 Days. Supported by the superb Courtney Dawson. Tickets.  

Cowboy Dan Album Tour | Fri 3rd 8:00pm at Last Place. Tāmaki Makaurau jangle rockers Cowboy Dan are releasing their debut full length album; Dreams That Feel Like Falling. Tickets.  

Lachie Hayes - Subsatellite Tour | Fri 3rd 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. From the heart of the Southland, alt-country troubadour Lachie Hayes brings his soul-stirring sound to town to promote the release of his debut album - Subsatellite. Tickets. 

Love Your Bike Day | Sat 4th 10:00am at Innes Common. Ride your bike or scooter along the new paths from either the Western Rail Trail or Lake Domain Drive. Enjoy free activities such as helmet decorating, face painting, scavenger hunts, games and more! Info.  

Bunnings NPC: Waikato v Northland | Sat 4th 4:35pm at FMG Stadium. It’s the final round and they’re bringing it home. Don’t miss your last chance to see Waikato on home turf before finals footy starts. Tickets.  

Waikato Dussehra & Garba Night'25 | Sat 4th 5:30 - 10:00pm at Maui Street Event Centre. Join for an unforgettable evening for Dussehra and Bollywood Garba Night. Enjoy live music and thrilling spot prizes, and immerse yourself in rich cultural activities. Tickets.  

Last Place 4th B-day | Sat 4th 8:00pm at Last Place. Come and celebrate four whole years of Last Place with performances from Grown Downz, Memory Foam, Jeannie and Mooring. Tickets.

Hamilton Farmers' Market at the Lake | Sun 5th 8:00am - 12:00pm at Innes Common. Same great fresh food, flowers and plant stalls, just in an outside venue. Great parking, public toilets and a kids playground onsite, come check it out! Info.  

Event organiser? Submit your event to Hello Hamilton.

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👀 Local news you may have missed

Hamilton City Council has released its second climate change disclosure report, outlining progress towards reducing emissions and preparing the city for a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Highlights include solar panels at St Andrews Library, an electric vehicle fleet, and flood mapping, though overall emissions rose slightly this year mainly due to changes in the national electricity supply. Read. 

Mystery Creek’s cavernous hall will transform into Megaland, the country’s biggest bouncy castle meets obstacle course, over the first five days of October. The 345-metre, six-lane inflatable includes slides, tunnels, and even a make-believe rugby and football field. Read.

Garden Place has been a car park, a garden, a plaza and a political headache. Now Hamilton’s most contested public space is once again up for debate. Hamilton’s Central Business Association is organising a fun event - in conjunction with the NZ Institute of Architects - to discuss the much derided location’s future. Read. 

Some gave it six months. Two years later, The Green is fully booked until January and now carries two Cuisine hats. Chef-owner Karl Martin-Boulton’s one-group-a-night concept is now one of just 32 two-hatted restaurants nationwide. Read. 

Three more concerts have been added to a rapidly growing calendar of events at the Waikato Regional Theatre. International acoustic guitar supremo Tommy Emmanuel and two shows by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in May and August next year are the latest confirmed dates. Read. 

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who needs more houseplants!

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See you next week!

— Ben