👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

I hate to break it to you, but astronomical winter has officially begun - get ready for some coldness. On Saturday, we had the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. In terms of daylight, this day is 6 hours, 8 minutes shorter than the December solstice. The good news… our days are now slowly getting longer again!

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. First time? I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering the best things happening in Hamilton this week, news headlines you can’t miss, and more. Join 8,000+ Hamiltonians here.

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Let’s goooooo 🕺

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Shine Like a Star - Matariki Creations | Thu 26th 10:30am at Western Community Centre. There’ll be making flax stars and flowers, flying Manu Aute (kites), planting native trees, and more! Info.  

Make and Mend | Thu 26th 5:30pm at the Central Library. An evening of creativity and camaraderie. Gather your handcrafts, knitting needles, sewing kits, or projects that need attention. Info. 

Showquest Waikato | Thu 26th 6:30pm at Globox Arena. Showquest is a nationwide performing arts programme and a platform for youth voices to be heard. Original stage performances combining art, music, dance, drama, culture & technology. Tickets.  

Drag B-I-N-G-O with Anita Wigl'it | Thu 26th 7:00pm at Lucky Finns. Three competitive rounds of bingo, fantastic prizes, a whole lot of laughs and of course, a drag show. Tickets.  

Waikato Horticultural Society Monthly Meeting | Thu 26th 7:30pm at The Link. Britany Stembridge from Tomtit Organic Farm will share how they grow nourishing food and speak on soil health, biodiversity, and putting the ecosystem first. $8 koha.

Mums & Bubs Morning at the Museum | Fri 27th 10:00am at Waikato Museum. Get together at the Museum for this special event for parents, caregivers, and young ones. Info. 

Matariki Glow Show | Fri 27th 10:00am and 11:30am at Clarence St Theatre. An extraordinary experience that educates as it entertains, bringing the beautiful Matariki stories to life with its unique puppets, intriguing tamariki wherever it goes. Tickets. 

HOOLIGAN HEFS | Fri 27th 8:00pm at The Factory. Hooligan Hefs - Hamilton (only NZ Show) + DJ Sir-Vere and MC Romez. Tickets.  

Friday Night Latin Jazz Funk | Fri 27th 8:30pm at Nivara Lounge. Mr Bass Player extraordinaire Carlos Pla will put together a Jazz Combo. Tickets.  

Brown and Boujee Drag Show | Fri 27th 9:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. Come for an night full of sisterhood & sass, dedicated to celebrating the incredible brown talent we have in abundance here in Aotearoa. Tickets.  

Morning Photography at Taitua Arboretum | Sat 28th 8:00am at Taitua Arboretum. Come check out what should be a typical misty Waikato morning. The arboretum is full of brightly coloured paths from the fallen leaves and interesting foggy shapes. Info.

Intro to Dungeons and Dragons: Pride Edition | Sat 28th 12:00-4:00pm at Rainbow Hub Waikato. Are you interested in learning to play Dungeons & Dragons, but don’t know where to start? Come to Intro to D&D to learn the game with an experienced game master! Tickets.

Boogie Woogie - Hamilton Dance Champs | Sat 28th 11:00am at 21 Maui St. It’s the ultimate dance showdown in town! Whether you groove, spin, or freestyle, this is your chance to shine on the big stage. Tickets.    

Choir concert: Follow the Star | Sat 28th 7:00pm at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Hamilton Civic Choir presents an annual fundraising concert featuring international works inspired by the stars and the skies with premiere guest choir from the Young Women's Choral Projects of San Francisco. Tickets.

Wayne Gillespie And Famous Blue Raincoat Band | Sat 28th 7:00pm at Last Place. NZ Singer/Songwriter Wayne Gillespie returns from Sydney in June with the band celebrating his 40 year catalogue from his 80's albums 'Wayward Son' and 'New Locations' through to his recent album FRAZZ. Tickets.  

Carboot Market | Sun 29th 9:00am - 1:00pm next to Vege King. Come down and do a spot of treasure hunting and grab a bargain. Info.  

Sunday Blues | Sun 29th 3:00pm at Biddy Mulligans. Some talented musicians taking the stage. Come on down and support blues in Hamilton. Info.  

Winter Warmers: An Operatic Gala | Sun 29th 6:30pm at Gallagher Academy. The 2025 TANZOS Studio Artists will present an evening of astonishing vocal talent and beloved arias for opera fans and opera fans-to-be alike! Tickets.  

Hamilton Bird Club Show | Saturday noon-4:30 and and Sunday 9:00am-2:00pm at Matangi Hall. Hamilton Bird Club is a not-for-profit registered society, promoting breeding and showing exotic birds. Tickets.  

Continuous climbing wall for the kids | daily from Mon 30th 10:00am-5:00pm at Chartwell Shopping Centre. Inviting families to experience ‘Climbtopia’ - a free, first-of-its-kind climbing wall adventure. Located in Centre Court, this interactive activation lets kids climb, conquer, and reach new heights on New Zealand’s first continuous climbing wall.

HaHaHamilton Comedy Lounge | Wed 2nd 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Another fantastic lineup for this Comedy Lounge. MC Sam Barnes presenting Andre Hayden, Chase Bolton, Chey Johanson, Jesse Matthews, Katrina Clarke, Steve Henry, Tim Shipton & Jamie Thomas. 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.

📅 Looking ahead…

Theatre: The Mysterious Disappearance | from next week at Riverlea Theatre. Tickets.

Comedy: Ben Hurley and Josh Thomson | 4 July at Skycity. Tickets.

Market: Mid-Winter Edition of the Waikato Christmas Market | 5 & 6 July at Claudelands. Info.

Expo: Waikato Food Show | 5 & 6 July at Claudelands. Info.

Musical: The Toxic Avenger | from next week at the Meteor. Tickets.

Kids show: Peppa Pig’s Fun Day out LIVE | 12 July at Claudelands. Tickets.

Expo: Baby Expo | 19 & 20 July at Claudelands. Tickets.

Comedy: Chris Parker | 25 July at Claudelands. Tickets.

Comedy: Jimmy Carr | January 27, 2026 at Globox Arena. Tickets.  

👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

A Jetstar flight from Sydney had to circle in a holding pattern on Saturday because fog at Hamilton Airport prevented its landing. Jetstar said the flight made two go-arounds, and these are standard procedures. Read.

Ex-Hamilton Boys’ High principal Susan Hassall to become Waikato University boss, elected as Chancellor to lead the university from July 1. Her appointment comes as things remain quiet on the Waikato Medical School front, with the university, the Ministry of Health and the Government staying silent. Read.

Pak’nSave Mill Street has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading consumers with inaccurate pricing. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $600,000, potentially totalling millions of dollars. Read.

Less than a year after Hamilton City Council straightened the bus depot’s iconic but awkward sign, the tumbled bus is doing what it does best, leaning again. The bus symbol has long served as a sort of sideways mascot for the city’s public transport hub. It was straight in 2012, leaning by 2015, and nearly upright again in 2021, only to slump once more by 2022. Read.

⏳ From the archives: 100 years ago, Hamilton Lake

📍1925: A busy day for swimming at Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake).

I wouldn’t recommend swimming in there these days… Lake Rotoroa is currently at ‘Caution level’ - this means you should not drink the water, enter the water, or allow pets to enter the water.

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Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who should check out that bird show on the weekend! 🦅

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See you next Thursday!

— Ben