👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

Congratulations to Aleyah from Ngāruawāhia and Samantha from Flagstaff for winning the Chartwell giveaway! 🎉 And thank you to everyone else who got in the draw to win - we received over 3,000 entries. Keep a look out for our next opportunity to win 👀

By the way, are you enrolled to vote? I am! Voting is an important way to keep local Hamilton things alive, and local elections are coming! Enrol to vote by the end of today and you'll get your voting papers via mail in September/October. This election includes a Maaori Ward Poll for Hamilton, where our community will vote to decide whether we want Maaori Wards. Make sure your voice is heard!

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.

🎟️ What’s happening in Hamilton this week?

Speed Friending | Thu 31st 12:30pm at Chartwell Cooperating Church. A fun event in which you will get a limited amount of time to talk to each person, get to know them, and start new friendships. Info.  

Waikato Music Collective | Thu 31st 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. D'feks, Pet Project and The Hamilton Blues Workshop Octet. Info.  

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.  

Quixotic Minds and Friends | Fri 1st 7:00pm at Nivara Lounge. 70s/80s themed dress, awesome live funk, rock and hard rock music. 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 Claudelands 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. 

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.  

DEVILSKIN Live Acoustic Set | Sat 2nd 1:00pm at JB Hi-Fi Te Awa. Fresh off their recent tour, the band is bringing the energy in a raw, acoustic set you won’t want to miss. Come down enjoy the music, grab the new album and get it signed in-store! Info.

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. 

Self-Care and Connect Fundraiser | Sat 2nd 6:00pm at The Link. A cozy evening of wellness experiences, warm drinks, and wholesome grazing platters. Enjoy mini treatments like massage, reflexology, and holistic consults, plus raffles and community connection, all in support of Insight Endometriosis. 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.  

Stevie Ray Vaughan with Friends Tribute | Sat 2nd 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Tony Paintng Bristish ex-pat guitarist/vocalist is now playing “The Stevie Ray Vaughan with Friends” with songs from the great man himself. Tickets.  

Floating Meditation with Sound Bowls | Sun 3rd 12:00pm at High Above. Relax and enjoy a 1 hour rejuvenating meditation suspended in an aerial hammock, while surrounded by the tranquil vibes of crystal sound bowls. Tickets.  

➡️ A peek at what’s on next week!

Grief Cafe | Mon 4th 10:30am at Hillcrest Library. This peer support group is designed to provide a safe space to normalise conversations surrounding the various emotions and challenges that accompany loss. Info.  

16th Annual Cheesecake Festival | Tue 5th 12:00noon at Smith & Mckenzie Steak House. The Annual Cheesecake Festival is back — where local schools and groups compete to create the ultimate cheesecake and win $500! Info.

Waikato Irish Society Quiz Night | Tue 5th 6:00pm at The Cook. Entry is just $20 per person for a team of 4-6 players. Come along, test your knowledge and win great prizes all for a great cause - the Kevin Bell Trust.

Film Night: ‘The House Within’ | Tue 5th 6:30pm at Lido Cinema. Premiere screening of a feature length documentary on the internationally renowned author Dame Fiona Kidman, The House Within followed by a Q&A session after the film with the film director. Tickets.

Francesca Khalifa: Intimations | Wed 6th 1:00pm at Gallagher Academy. Join acclaimed pianist Francesca Khalifa, as she explores inspirations and allusions in some of the masterworks of Western music. Tickets.  

Try Irish Gaelic Football | Wed 6th 6:45pm at Marist Rugby Club. Naomh Críostóir GAA Club are kicking off the new season - try a new sport in a friendly, social environment at their 'Intro to Gaelic Football' session.' Info.

Girls Night: FREAKIER FRIDAY | Wed 6th 7:00pm at Hoyts Te Awa. Mark your calendars, call your besties, and channel your inner chaos queen. Tickets. 

Wednesday Night Poker–Texas Hold'em | Wed 6th 7:00pm at Frankton Hotel. Enjoy an evening of poker at Arkwright’s poker rooms, all levels of poker players welcome! Info. 

HaHaHamilton: Comedy Lounge | Wed 6th 7:30pm at Nivara Lounge. HaHaHamilton presents the August Comedy Lounge for another evening of laughs, from local and national Comedians.  Tickets.  

Paint and Wine Night: Luminescent Waterfall | Thu 7th 7:00pm at The Bank. Prepare to experience Paintvine like you’ve never experienced it before - in the dark! Paintvine After Dark is New Zealand’s first glow in the dark paint party! Tickets.  

Comedy Zone | Fri 8th 7:30pm at SkyCity. The Headline act is the amazing Hayley Sproull. Star of the ZM Morning show, Taskmaster, 7 Days and host of this year's Comedy Gala. Support from Paul Douglas and hosted by Ben Hurley. Tickets.  

Champagne Weather | Fri 8th 8:00pm at Nivara Lounge. Songwriting x sound sculpture. Strange and beautiful music for strange and beautiful times. This duo is a blend of music that links maritime Canadian fiddle to Manhattan minimalism. Tickets. 

The Hamilton Brick Show | Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm at Claudelands Event Centre. Come to the biggest exhibition of LEGO creations in the Waikato and check out the incredible creations and collections from members of the Hamilton Lego Users Group. Tickets.  

Community E-waste Drop Off Day | Sat 9th 10:00am - 1:00pm at Waikato University. A FREE E-Waste Drop-Off event to encourage responsible recycling and disposal of electronic waste. This initiative is open to ALL members of the community. Info.  

Larry Abreno: Live Painting demo | Sat 9th and Sat 16th 11:00am at The Meteor. Experience the coffee magic through a live demonstration by Larry Abreno in The Meteor’s Nancy Caiger Gallery. Info.  

Plant and Ride | Sat 9th 11:00am - 2:00pm at Hammond Park. Join for a Nature in the City planting event along the scenic river path where participants can enjoy the beauty of nature while contributing to restoring nature in the city. Register.  

Bunnings NPC: Waikato v Wellington | Sat 9th 2:05pm at FMG Stadium. Cheer on the Mooloo Men! Come to the FMG Stadium Waikato as Waikato NPC face off against Wellington. Tickets.  

TMT Fight Night | Sat 9th 4:00pm at Globox Arena. Tag Team – WBC Championship – 4 Man Karp Kun Cup. Witness Aotearoa’s finest fighting athletes go to battle. Tickets.  

Hip Hop Musical: In the Heights | Sat 9th - Sat 23rd  7:30pm at Riverlea Theatre. From the musical mind that brought you Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighbourhood. Tickets.  

Corrella Skeletons Winter Tour | Sat 9th 8:00pm at The Factory. After a massive summer of festivals and touring alongside L.A.B across Aotearoa and Australia, Corrella are hitting the road this August for their biggest headline tour yet — bringing their new album Skeletons to the stage for the very first time. 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

With nominations closing for seats around the Waikato’s district and city council tables soon, few councils could fill their chambers. People keen to make their mark in local government, and help shape the future of the region for the next three years, must have their nominations in before noon on Friday, August 1. More.

Tens of thousands more people visited Hamilton Gardens than city bosses expected in the last financial year, despite a new gate charge. Visitor numbers were almost a quarter ahead of targets, with 389,218 through the gate of the city’s biggest attraction in the 2024-25 year. Read.

Around 500 nurses swapped their scrubs for the picket line in Hamilton on Wednesday as nurses walked off the job, calling for safer working conditions and better pay. More than 36,000 nurses across the country went on strike amid concerns from the nurse’s union about Health NZ’s plans for safer staffing levels. Read.

An unexpected boost from the Air New Zealand in the form of a big flights, sponsorship and marketing deal has given a boost to the crew behind the Hamilton Arts Festival. While neither Air New Zealand nor the arts festival team are saying what the arrangement is worth, the annual event held - mostly - at the Hamilton Gardens each February and March is set to be one of the initial beneficiaries of a new Regional Event Sponsorship programme. Read.

Council offers free tyre disposal amid dumping glut. Hamilton City Council staff have found nearly 250 illegally dumped tyres city-wide in the past month. To combat this, Hamilton residents can throw away their old, clean rimless tyres at Lincoln Street Resource Recovery Centre. Read.

Juice Up Hamilton East opened its doors a month ago, offering a bold twist on the traditional Brazilian acai bowl. Instead of a smoothie base, customers are handed a cup or bowl of smooth, icy acai soft serve - straight from the Amazon - shaped like ice cream and customisable with a dizzying range of toppings and sauces. Read.

A dedicated van delivering medicinal cannabis directly to Hamilton homes has been launched by a supplier in response to rising demand for legal cannabis products. "We're getting so many people from the region," said Dr Waseem Alzaher, co-founder and CEO of Cannabis Clinic. "We don’t want people running out of their medicines." Read.

A new play space is being planned for central Hamilton, in the same park where Founders Theatre once stood. Hamilton City Council is asking residents what they want in the proposed Boyes Park play space. More.

The battle for Hamilton’s top job is underway, and the first public forum of the campaign has revealed clear divisions among the frontrunners on how to fix the city’s finances and shape its future. Four leading mayoral contenders — sitting councillors Maria Huata, Sarah Thomson, and Tim Macindoe, along with newcomer Rachel Karalus — appeared together at a candidates’ evening hosted by Te Whānau Pūtahi community centre in Fairfield on Sunday night. Watch.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who should run for Mayor 😎

See you next week!

— Ben

p.s. I wrote a piece about the Waikato medical school which explores the long-awaited approval of the school, and raises concerns about transparency, lobbying, and the implications for public trust in our institutions. Have a read here.