👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Did anyone else enjoy that little bit of rain we had this week? It was a nice break from the boiling days we’ve been having. 🌦️

A quick bit of housekeeping: I’ve heard some Hamiltonian’s may have missed part of the newsletter last week. If this email cuts off or seems incomplete, your email provider may have clipped part of it. To read the full newsletter, look for a 'View full email' or 'Read more' button at the bottom of this email.

I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering things to do in the Tron this week, the live music lineup over the long weekend, and news headlines you can’t miss. First time reading Hello Hamilton? Join over 3,495 Hamiltonians here.

Don’t keep Hello Hamilton a secret. Share the email with friends (copy URL here)​. And, as always, please send me feedback on the newsletter at [email protected].

🎟️ Events on in the Tron this week

Book Chat | Thursday 2:00-3:00pm at Hillcrest Library. Come and share your passion for reading with library staff and fellow book lovers. Info.

Yarn On Thursday Knit Night | Thursday 5:30pm in Frankton. Any fibre-craft welcome (not just knitting). Just an excuse to hang out with other yarn enthusiasts. Info.

Pekapeka Bat Tour | Thursday from 8:30pm at Hamilton Gardens. Get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure to search for these fascinating creatures and explore the enchanting nocturnal world they inhabit. Tickets.

Lunar New Year Snake Weaving | Friday 10:30am-12:00pm at Rototuna Library. Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake, including weaving a harakeke/flax snake. There is no experience needed. Info.

Murder At The Party | Friday 6:00pm at Sisterfields. You and your colleagues decided it would be good to meet for drinks and canapes, and then hear "A body has been near the bathroom and it is clear a murder has just been committed". Together, you and your friends must hunt for clues, solve all the puzzles, and see if you can identify who the killer is! Tickets.

Salsa Party at The Gardens | Friday from 6:00pm in the Victorian Flower Garden Glasshouse. BYO picnic, take part in a dance class, and party! Info.

High School Musical Party | Friday 10:00pm at The Bank Bar. Your favourite tunes from High School Musical + the best of the classic Disney movies. Tickets.

Hamilton Lake Parkrun Pacer Event | Saturday 8:00am at Lake Rotoroa. Chase your parkrun goals for 2025! A range of pacers available, both walkers and runners to keep you on track and get you to the finish. Info.

Fiji Hamilton Sevens NZ | Saturday, 9:00am kick off at FMG Stadium. Experience the energy and spirit with an action-packed weekend of thrilling matches, exciting competitions, and unforgettable moments. Info.

Opening of Hamilton’s newest thrift boutique | Saturday from 9:30am at Littlethriftersclub. A new mini thrift store is coming to town! Come and be one of the first to experience timeless preloved fashion and snap up a bargain on some beautifully restored clothing and books. Info.

Stories in the Garden: Batman and Wonder Women | Saturday 10:00-11:00am in Garden Place. Enjoy an hour of storytelling and games with characters from Enchanted Entertainment. Free entry. Info.

Pongal / Sankaranthi Festival | Saturday from 10:30am at Hamilton Gardens. Showcase the diversity and richness of Tamil / Indian culture from different states, regions, languages and countries, with food stalls, Mehndi, traditional Indian clothes, dance, and performances. Info.

Multicultural Lunar New Year | Saturday 2:00-4:00pm at Chartwell Cooperating Church. Celebrate the year of the snake with curated dance performances, learn from food demonstrations and bring food to share. Info.

MX Mooloo Drag Pageant | Saturday 7:00pm at The Meteor. Byy the Haus of Blasterand supported by the Hamilton City Council Creative communities grant. Consisting of 3 rounds: a performance, a question & answer, and best drag fashion runway. Info.

Manu World Champs | Saturday and Sunday at Waterworld. We’re set to find 20 finalists across both the Manu and Freestyle divisions who will go head-to-head at the Grand Final in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Info.

Fun and Games | Monday 3:30pm-5:00pm at Hillcrest Library. Card games, board games, dice games, sneaky games, tricky games, and laugh-out-loud games! Suitable for tamariki (children) and whaanau (family) aged 5-105. Info.

Waikato Rivertones Acappella Open Night | Monday 6:45-9:30pm in Marian School Hall. Learn the basics of the a cappella singing with a friendly, uplifting group of women. Participation is encouraged but optional. No music-reading ability necessary. Info.

Quiz Night at Good George | Tuesday from 6:30pm at Good George in Frankton. Gather your brainy bunch of 2–8 people, and get ready for a night of good fun, alongside some friendly competition, tasty eats, and awesome prizes. Book.

HaHaHamilton Comedy Lounge | Wednesday 8:00-10:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Featuring MC Kat introducing a group of funnies named Hiren Khatri, Sam Barnes, Shelley Ann Moore, Nathan Bond, Kevin Passman, Chase Bolton & Steve Henry. Tickets.

Hamilton City Council Waitangi Day Festival | Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm at Waikato Museum. Food trucks, live music, kapa haka performances, weaving workshops, and puppet shows and crafts for the kids, guided riverside history tours to learn about paa sites, gallery tours focused on Te Tiriti, and after-hours activities including exhibition talks and films. Free entry. Info.

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

Want to stay up to speed on the world beyond Hamilton?

I've subscribed plenty of email newsletters, but 1440 is hands down the best. Every morning, they deliver a fast, unbiased news digest covering everything I need to know—politics, business, science, sports, and more—all in one quick read.

Sometimes, it’s hard to keep up with what’s happening outside of Hamilton, but 1440 makes it easy to stay informed without spending hours reading. It keeps me in the know, so I always have something interesting to add to the conversation—whether it’s at work, with friends, or just staying ahead of the game.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Join for free today!

Supported by 1440.

🎶 Live music lineup across Hamilton

Cafe Fresca | Glenn Carley | Thursday 5:30-7:30pm.

Nivara Lounge | Remembering Chris Thompson | Thursday 7:00pm. Info.

Biddy Mulligan's | Tim Armstrong & Campbell Hapi | Thursday from 8:00pm.

The Helm | Roy | Friday 5:00pm.

The Meteor | West Meets East | Friday 7:00pm. Info.

Nivara Lounge | South For Winter - Of Sea And Sky | Friday doors 7:00pm. Info.

Biddy Mulligan's | The Tarps | Friday from 8:45pm.

Nivara Lounge | Wize Red | Saturday from 9:00pm. Info.

Missing a show? Email me so I can get my act together!

👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

Speed limit changes to State Highways running through Hamilton will see a handful of roads in the city revert back to 60kph or 80kph. Minister of Transport Chris Bishop announced the reversal of the Labour Government’s blanket speed limit reductions which should all be in place by July 1, with some in place even earlier. Read.

Brian Gray’s is swimming 150km of the Waikato River in one go. The 53-year-old ultra-endurance swimmer expects to spend 25 to 28 hours getting from Karāpiro Dam to Port Waikato in togs, googles and a swim cap next month. Read.

Hamilton’s daily water use is continuing to climb most days with the volume used in January hitting 80,0000 litres each day. This is a 15% increase and far more than the average summer figure of 69 megalitres per day. Hamilton’s water comes from the Waikato River which relies on rainfall in the Taupo region. There are limits to how much water can be taken from the Waikato River. Read.

Waikato’s new regional theatre, due to open later this year, is rapidly taking shape. The roof will be being installed over the top of the auditorium, and the building will soon be deemed weather-tight for interior work can begin quickly. Global entertainment titan Live Nation have signed a 15-year deal with theatre owners the Waikato Property Trust to manage it. Read.

Ruakura Berry Farm’s real fruit ice cream’s are a must-try this summer. As well as Ruakura Berry Farm where you can pick your own berries, they also have their restaurant Camarosa. They see 1500-2000 people a day coming through their doors in peak season, and have been voted ‘best real fruit ice creams in Waikato.’ Read.

🗣️ Have your say: Lower speed limit for a new Te Rapa PAK’nSAVE

Foodstuffs are planning to build a new 6358m2 PAK'nSAVE in Te Rapa that will provide residents with better access to essential goods, create jobs, and support local businesses. They have been given resource consent to develop the supermarket on the corner of Te Rapa Road and Eagle Way.

But for these changes to happen, the speed limit on a section of Wairere Drive (between Te Rapa Road and Pukete Road) must be permanently reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h.

The speed reduction is expected to have little impact on travel times, as the current average speed is 62-68km/h. The new PAK’nSAVE would bring economic benefits, including job creation, and will serve an area of 80,000 people, attracting customers from nearby regions like Ngaaruawahia and Rototuna.

What do you think? The community can submit feedback until March 7, 2025, at haveyoursay.hamilton.govt.nz.

🚧 Roadworks

• Wairere Drive (from Pardoa Boulevard to Fifth Avenue) will be closed from 7pm- 6am for resurfacing until Friday 7 February.

• The entire length of Highland Drive remains closed from 7am – 6pm for a watermain renewal until Friday 31 January.

• Heaphy Terrace (from Boundary Road to Claude Street) remains closed until late-February for wastewater upgrades and watermain renewal work.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who needs to spice up their life with a bit of live music this week.

By the way… many email newsletters often end up in the "spam" or "promotions" folders. The best way to ensure Hello Hamilton lands safely in your inbox? Send a quick reply to this email—it doesn’t matter what it says, just say hey! Also add us to your email contacts, and drag us out of spam if we ever end up there (give that "Not Spam" button a little tap).

See you next Thursday.

— Ben

P.S. Hello Hamilton is looking to partner with good local businesses to keep the newsletter free to all. Keen to get in front of our smart, engaged audience of over 3,495 Hamiltonians? Reach out at [email protected].