Toro atu ki ngaa tinitakunetanga.
Our city centre comes alive with a year-round calendar of exciting events. From cultural festivals to live performances, from food fairs to sporting events, there's always something happening in Hamilton Central.
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Jimmy Carr is coming back to Kirikiriroa!
If you like fast-paced, edgy one-liners then get ready to be happy. Jimmy Carr is back on tour with his brand-new show ‘Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny’.
Jimmy tells jokes, and jokes are like magnets.
Jokes attract people, but they can also repel.
Some people are repelled by Jimmy's dark brand of comedy. This show is not for them.
But if it's the kind of thing you like, then this is the kind of thing you’ll like.
Hurry, this will definitely sell out!
“A comedy hero for our times” The Guardian
“Jimmy Carr is a world-class comedian” The Independent
Recommended age is 16+
The Morning Tea screenings return with the wonderful film The Choral.
This smash hit is finally released after sold out festival screenings.
$14.50 ticket includes a coffee/tea and a sweet treat.
Go on bring a friend and enjoy a great morning with us.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Starring Simon Russell Beale, Roger Allam, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, Ralph Fiennes, Mark Addy
1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together.

Summer in the city is here! ☀️
We’re partnering with community groups across Hamilton Kirikiriroa to bring the central city to life with a vibrant lineup of activities for all ages.
Events run until 8 March and include:
- Pop up skate park
For the full list of events, visit hamilton.govt.nz/summerinthecity

Friday, 6th February, 10:00 am - Friday, 3rd April, 10:00 am
A new drop-in theatre group for our youngest actors! Learn how to roar like a dragon, pounce like a cat and whinny like a unicorn! We’ll practice using our voice, faces and bodies to explore emotions and have fun! Anyone from 18 months to 5 years is welcome to join us with their caregiver.
$10 per session or book for the whole term for $80.
Exact dates coming soon!

You’re Invited! 🌈
Join us for the Annual Celebration of our Tamariki – Hamilton Children’s Day
Bring the whole whānau along for two days of fun, connection, and celebration, honouring our tamariki and the joy they bring to our communities.
📅 Saturday 7 March | 10am – 2pm
🎉 Garden Place, Civic Place & Central Library, Hamilton
📅 Sunday 8 March | 12pm – 3pm
💦 BONUS Event at Fairfield Pools
✨ Two weekend events. Completely FREE.
A welcoming, safe space for families to play, laugh, and celebrate together.
Bring a picnic and thanks to Busit for providing FREE Hamilton service bus rides to our events.

Thursday, 12th February, 11:00 am - Saturday, 21st February, 2:00 pm
Presence, Vibrance, Resonance
An exhibition in the NCG by Kana Sakai
Presence, Vibrance, Resonance is a portrait series that brings together oil paintings, each representing individuals from the artist’s world. Executed in a classical oil painting style, the works are characterised by nuanced flesh tones, subtle colour harmonies, and timelessness.
This exhibition explores the expressive potential of traditional portraiture in our daily life context. Each painting captures more than a likeness—it conveys the person’s presence, and vibrance of their inner worlds. Together, the portraits form a resonance of human individuality, and quiet warmness of human network.
The Nancy Caiger Gallery is open 11am-2pm from Wednesday to Saturday. If you’d like to visit this exhibition outside of these opening hours, please email kiaora@themeteor.co.nz

Cheeky Events New Zealand host Hamilton Speed Dating - Find your perfect match in a friendly relaxed social environment.
7 - 9pm Biddy's Back Bar

Celebrate the Return of Riff Raff!
Join RICHARD O'BRIEN as he re-unveils the Riff Raff Statue in the new Embassy Park, on the evening of Valentines Day, Saturday 14 February.
Come along in Rocky Horror costume and be ready to jump to the left and step to the right!
ALSO CELEBRATING…
50 YEARS OF THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!
21 YEARS OF THE RIFF RAFF STATUE!
FREE EVENT! LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!
7.30pm-11.00pm, Saturday 14 February 2026.
Embassy Park, now the plaza for the new Waikato Regional Theatre, south end of Victoria Street, Kirikiriroa-Hamilton.
7.30pm One Man Hit Squad plays a few tunes to warm us up.
8.00pm Sambatron brings the carnival.
8.30pm RICHARD O’BRIEN arrives and re-unveils the Riff Raff Statue, and we all DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!
9.00pm The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens, with Hot and Flustered shadow cast.
All welcome, though event may not be suitable for children.
WHY IS RIFF RAFF RETURNING, WHERE HAS HE BEEN?
The Riff Raff Statue left Embassy Park when it closed in October 2021 to allow the building of the new Waikato Regional Theatre next door. He was outside the Waikato Museum from March 2022 to July 2024, but has been in hiding since then.
Riff Raff will be re-installed in December and the Park will re-open in time for the opening of the new Theatre on 19 January 2026 (it is not possible to keep him under cover from then until this celebration, but we all know what he looks like anyway).
The statue will be positioned further back from the street than previously, will now be left of centre at the back of the upper square.
Riff Raff Cam will be re-activated at the event, for the first time since Embassy Park closed in 2021.

DANNY BHOY
DEAR WORLD…
The sequel to Danny's favourite ever show, the 2015 hit ‘Dear Epson…’ DEAR WORLD is a hybrid of stand up and theatre, but really that just means Danny gets to sit down for bits of it.
“Unsurpassed storytelling” The Age
“One of the most sparkling wits in the world” The Montreal Gazette

NRL Harvey Norman All Stars returns to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026.
Celebrate culture and pride as the best Māori and Indigenous talent unite for an unforgettable showcase!
Experience an event like no other on Sunday 15 February at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. With Men’s, Women’s, plus a mixed touch football match taking place, there is no better way to kickstart the NRL season.
Tickets are now on sale for NRL Harvey Norman All Stars.
Tickets on sale now: http://spr.ly/6183CBljU
Event Day Timings
Touch Football
⌚ 2:25pm NZT / 12:25pm AEDT
Māori All Stars vs Indigenous All Stars
Harvey Norman Women's All Stars
⌚ 3:30pm NZT / 1:30pm AEDT
Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Wahine Toa All Stars vs Australian Indigenous Women’s All Stars
Harvey Norman All Stars
⌚ 5:45pm NZT / 3:45pm AEDT
Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Tane All Stars vs Australian Indigenous Men’s All Stars

After racking up over a million followers online and making audiences across the globe laugh until they cry, Blake Pavey is hitting New Zealand with his brand new hour of stand-up! Fresh off two national tours and a YouTube comedy special, Blake’s bringing plenty of cheeky stories, sharp punchlines, and his signature charm across the ditch!
“Pavey’s stand-up delicately weaves elements of darkness and light, moving the audience to the brink of tears, before landing a hefty punchline that leaves them in (metaphorical) stitches.” – The Age
Get your tickets and come see why he’s more than just “that guy off TikTok!”.
Running time: 70 mins
Content warning: 18+, adult themes, coarse language

Saturday, 21st February, 7:00 pm - Sunday, 22nd February, 4:00 pm
ADHD – it’s so hot right now! Pōneke’s creative powerhouse Jo Randerson (ONZM) unpacks their diagnosis, neurodivergent parenting, sad songs, men taking their time, and so much more in this highly lauded “funny as hell” theatre extravaganza. This incredible mahi is so much more than a performance – it’s a revelation.
Jo Randerson has a brain that never stops and a fountain of restless energy fuelling their fiercely funny artistic voice. Who knew?! that this fountain was fed by something they had diagnosed in their 40s alongside their son: ADHD.
Jo has always lived life at high voltage. A true arts polymath, they have accumulated achievements, accolades, and acclaim as a PerformerComedianWriterActivistDirectorCuratorTheatremakerFilmmakerWitchClown, recently receiving the 2023 Topp Prize for comedy.
In Speed is Emotional Jo bares their soul, sharing the exhilaration, exhaustion, joy, and absurdity of living and parenting with neurodivergence. Jo weaves their punk poetic magic into a beautiful comedy about transcending labels and living with a voltage so high it’s going to blow the mains.
If anyone in your life likes to do things at 4x speed, do not miss this transformative comedy theatre event.
From the artistic voice behind Soft ‘n’ Hard and Banging Cymbal, Clanging Gong.
Sat 21 Feb, 7pm
Sun 22 Feb, 4pm – this show is NZSL interpreted
Running time: 75 mins
Content warning: The show briefly addresses mental distress.
All performances are relaxed, and audiences may enter or leave at any time.
Suitable for all ages.

Movies at The Meteor is here!
Gather the whānau together, BYO blankets or bean bags and get comfy!
Door sales will be available on the night for individual movies:
Sione’s Wedding: $10pp
Eagle vs Shark: $10pp
Or, click ‘book now’ below to buy a general admission ticket to see both films for $18pp!
SIONE’S WEDDING
FROM 6:30PM
Meet best friends Michael, Albert, Stanley and Sefa; the ladies’ man, the good boy, the weird one and the party boy. They’re staring down the barrel of their thirtieth birthdays, but still act as if they’re sixteen; they get drunk, they chase the wrong women and they have a remarkable record of misbehaving and causing chaos at every wedding they attend. But now Michael’s younger brother Sione is getting married, and everything is about to change. Sione is their boy, the kid they used to look after, who grew up while they were still partying. And to ensure his big day isn’t spoiled by his boys and their idiot antics, Sione has issued an ultimatum; the guys all have to bring dates to the wedding. And not just any dates; real girlfriends, someone they’ve made a commitment to. They have one month. So just how hard can it be to get a date for your best boy’s wedding?
Year: 2006
Director: Chris Graham
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: M
EAGLE VS SHARK
FROM 8:15PM
Love blossoms for Lily over double Meaty Boy burgers at mid-day when uber-computer nerd Jarrod comes in and leaves with free extra large fries. After gatecrashing Jarrod’s party and proving her skills on the game console, Lily goes down to Jarrod’s home town with him so he can settle an old score with a past school bully.
Year: 2007
Director: Taika Waititi
Runtime: 86 min
Rating: M
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