Create your own Monster Mug!

He’s possibly best known for establishing a store that for decades has helped many Hamilton youngsters find material for their school art projects.

Now David Lloyd is taking that role one step further with the establishment of a philanthropic fund that will help supply the city’s schools with money to foster their pupils’ creativity.

Managed by Momentum Waikato, the D Lloyds' Art Fund is named after both David and his son Dax, who died last year in Sydney following a cardiac arrest.

But before he gets into the specifics of explaining why he is doing what he is doing, there is one thing Lloyd wants to make clear:

“The apostrophe in the fund’s name comes after the S. That’s because it’s for Dax as well as myself. I realise the placement of that apostrophe is going to wind people up, but that’s tradition. I did leave the apostrophe out of Davids Emporium and that drove some people mad.”

It would be fair to say Lloyd, 83, has long been known for his cheeky sense of humour. He is also well known as an arts patron, and since he was 60 he has been making grants to Waikato schools to support their arts programmes.

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Both the developer behind grandiose hotel plans and Hamilton City Council say they expect ‘positive’ progress as they prepare for crunch talks this week.

On Thursday, Auckland-based Templeton Group is due to update city leaders on its plans to build a 25-storey luxury hotel complex, which have been in the works since the council entered an unconditional agreement to sell Templeton Group land and property at Victoria Street in April, 2025.

The properties at 242 – 254 Victoria Street cost the council $3.75m in 2018.

Under terms of the land deal, HCC will sell these properties to Templeton Group for $6m, plus a share in the development profits.

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Escapist is back with a Speed Puzzling night, this time we will be doing an easy-ish 500 PCS puzzles.

This event is perfect for beginner groups to cut your teeth - seasoned pros are also welcomed to join and spice up the competition.

Your entry ticket includes one drink per person, spot prizes and major prize for the winner.

Your group will be able to take home your finished puzzles as well.

Your visit to Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery just took an unexpected turn.
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Suddenly you are tasked with a mission to find the secrets hidden within the museum.  The clock is ticking, the stakes are high, and the clues are hidden in plain sight.
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How it works

Working as team, you’ll move through the galleries of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, finding stations and solving clues that get you closer to pulling off the ultimate discovery.
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This is a collaboration between Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery and Confinement Hamilton, the escape room experts behind some of the Waikato’s most devious puzzles.
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Good to know

This event is open to all ages but is best suited to people aged 16 and over.

Teams must be between 2 and 6 people.

The museum closes to the public at 5pm. Please arrive before this time as latecomers will not be admitted after the doors close.

Food and drinks will not be available within the museum for this event.

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