Explore

Music floated through the air, mixing with the gentle hum of laptops and casual conversations.

Some people tapped away at emails under the shade of umbrellas, while others took in a massage, stretched out with breathwork exercises, or soaked up the scorching sun with a coffee in hand.

Instead of rigid schedules and deadlines, attendees were free to take the day at their own pace.

‍

Resonate Health, New Zealand’s newest and most transparent hearing healthcare company, redefining healthy ageing with a holistic approach that goes far beyond traditional hearing aids.  Visit Angitha Nair/Aimee Kipara at the Resonate Health-Hamilton Central studio to learn more about your hearing health and Resonate Unlimited, New Zealand’s only hearing aid subscription service available for $90 per month.

Resonate is changing the game for New Zealanders looking for hearing health solutions.

How healthy are your ears, really? Ear360 by Resonate is an advanced hearing health map, analysing 10 points of hearing health, and their impact on you.

Call 0800737662 or bookonline to drop by for a cozy cup of coffee and some wonderful conversation.

‍

The newly restored neoclassical façade of the 102-year-old Hamilton Hotel building - now the frontage of the Waikato Regional Theatre - has been unveiled with the removal of the first section of a scaffolding shelter surrounding the building.

The long-awaited appearance of the pristine plaster of the old hotel frontage is another visible milestone in the ongoing construction of the 1300-seat theatre that promises to revolutionise entertainment in the city.

Hamilton's Rocket Coffee Roasters has been listed in the top 100 coffee shops around the world, ranking at 62nd on the list.

The Hamilton coffee shop is the only one in New Zealand to make the prestigious list.

The store has been around for 30 years and has been a key player in New Zealand's coffee culture through its crafted beverages, friendly atmosphere and strong community ties.

The list is complied by a panel of coffee experts, enthusiasts and industry leaders who rank a variety of factors including dedication to experience, bean sourcing and roasting.

‍

Wooden Spoon, 169 London St, Hamilton

It was a seven-year-old coeliac’s dream to open a cafe where she could eat everything.

Less than two decades later, Hannah Alley opened a 100% gluten-free cafe - Wooden Spoon, in Hamilton. Possibly the first of it’s kind in the Tron.

And since opening in November 2023, it has attracted coeliacs from across the country.

Why? Because it is a pretty big deal getting a full gluten-free menu, says Alley.

‍

A partnership between FMG Stadium Waikato and the One New Zealand Warriors has opened the way for the club to play three stand-alone NRLW matches in Hamilton this season.

The deal follows another landmark rugby league+ occasion at the stadium on Saturday when a crowd 23,344 – a record for a Warriors trial match – attended the club’s final Preseason Challenge clash against the Melbourne Storm.

In their return to the competition after a five-year absence the Warriors will make FMG Stadium Waikato their base for the last three of their five regular season home games.

The first is their round seven fixture against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday, August 16 followed a week later by their eighth-round contest against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Sunday, August 24, and the round 10 encounter with the powerful Brisbane Broncos on Sunday, September 7.

‍

‍

Come and enjoy art, culture, sport or a ‘weird’ mix of all three! Here are some Love the Centre highlight events.

‍

‍Circus in the Centre

‍Garden Place, until April 5, noon-2.30pm

Turn your summer afternoons into a circus extravaganza! Garden Place green space transforms into a lively circus zone where kids and whānau can explore juggling, hula hooping, spinning plates, and more. All equipment is provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and get ready for some free, family-friendly fun.

‍

Live Music

Garden Place, until March 28, 12.30-1.30pm

Enjoy an electrifying mix of DJs, singers, and saxophonists bringing vibrant tunes to the heart of the city.

‍

Stories in the Garden

Garden Place, until March 29, 10am-11am

Join us under the trees for a magical hour of storytelling and games with characters from Enchanted Entertainment. Dress up in the story theme and spend a delightful hour under the trees taking your mind to a faraway land.

‍

Chinese Lantern Festival

Garden Place, February 22, 6pm-9pm

Experience the magic of the Chinese Lantern Festival in the Year of the Snake with a Dragon & Lion Dance, a mesmerising magic show, live cultural performances, and delicious food stalls. The festivities start at 6pm but come early to enjoy the food from 4pm.

‍

Children’s Day

Garden Place and beyond, March 1-2, 10am-3pm

Let’s come together to celebrate our children and whānau. This event is packed with activities and fun for the whole family with entertainment across the central city public spaces.

‍

Festival of Weird

Garden Place, March 5-12 10am-5pm

Embrace the wacky and weird at the Festival of Weird. This week-long celebration is more cringe than fringe, with a lineup of bizarre and entertaining activities that will leave you laughing and amazed.

‍

Boon Street Art Festival

Central City, March 13-16

Watch the city come alive with stunning murals and cultural events during the Boon Street Art Festival. Enjoy four days of art, culture, and community with an incredible artist lineup and an interactive community mural.

‍

Love the Centre Walk Thru Balloon

Garden Place, March 15, 1pm-4pm & March 20, 4pm-7pm

Experience the thrill of walking inside a real hot air balloon. For a koha, you can enjoy this unique adventure along with fun, music, and entertainment to kick off the Balloons Over Waikato event week.

‍

Inside the Waikato Regional Theatre

The Waikato’s new regional theatre is about to become a theatre of mystery - or, to describe it a little more eloquently, a masterpiece mystery theatre.

The Waikato Times was this week granted a tour of the building’s interior - a guided visit that provides more than a few hints of the sheer magnitude of splendour the Waikato Regional Theatre - due to open later this year - will provide the people of Kirikiriroa.

‍

CBD retailers have endured tough economic times but a senior business leader is seeing more optimistic signals, while shop owners have mixed views about 2025.

Concerns include the impact on shopper numbers of having just one hour free parking in the CBD, introduced last year. Customers have reported being resistant to paying for more time.

‍

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams said on Wednesday that she’d been chatting to about half a dozen retailers this year about how things were going over January.

‍

Jeremy Mayall almost got a proper job once. Fresh out of school, he figured doing law at university would be the way to go.

The application included writing a page about why he wanted to be a lawyer.

As easy as that sounds - hey, just lie if you have to - he couldn’t do it. A fateful decision was made, he changed to a BA, majoring in music, screen studies and theatre.

These days the flamboyantly bearded Mayall is chief executive of Creative Waikato, a musician and composer, and a consummate proponent for the arts.

‍

Dumplings are one of the most common dishes ordered from a Chinese restaurant on any given day.

They’re not hard to make from scratch, as anyone from northern China will tell you. Growing up, dumpling making was the ultimate family activity - there’s no such thing as “too many cooks in the kitchen”.

With Lunar New Year approaching, why not give this dish a go? Trust me, as someone who is a terrible cook, it’s not as hard as it looks.

‍

Renting with SB owner Storm Benson started the business out of her university flat and now has a shop in central Hamilton.

When Storm Benson was a struggling student and couldn’t afford a different dress every week despite her desire to look good, the idea for a business was born.

Seven years later, she’s rented clothing to others more than 16,000 times, moved her side hustle from a Hamilton flat to a CBD shop and sends out 80-100 people into the world in a new dress each week.

The 27-year-old came up with the idea while at Waikato University.

‍

Try riding with Flex for only $2 per ride!

The New Zealand-built buses are smaller and have comfortable seats that are fitted with seatbelts and can carry 13 passengers, or 10 people and a wheelchair user.

Bookings can be made up to a week in advance of travel, or just 15 minutes before you’re ready to go. The buses are GPS tracked in real time, so you can track your ride in the Flex app.

‍

“For people wanting to get to and from the CBD, we’re really excited to be able to provide an affordable option for people wanting a corner-to-corner service rather than only stopping at bus stops,” said Regional Connections Committee Chair and Waikato regional councillor Angela Strange.

“The service will take people with a mobility impairment driveway-to-driveway – all you have to do is let us know when registering on the Flex app.

‍

Book now in three easy steps:

Download the FREE Flex app

Set up your rider profile with your preferred payment method

Select your preferred location, time and the best pick up and drop off points for your journey into the city - and return!

Easy! Group bookings are available (up to 13 seats) and Flex vehicles are wheelchair friendly too!

Flex operates every Friday and Saturday from 6pm-4am.

‍

Find out what's on in the central city in July!

‍

The Comedy Zone at Skycity Hamilton will host the best comedians from New Zealand and the rest of the world every single month starting this July!

Big 2 hour show on a Friday night featuring the best in professional comedy. The stars of 7Days, Taskmaster, The New Zealand Comedy Gala, Spelling Bee to name a fewWe kick off in July featuring international TV, Movie and Comedy star Josh Thomson.Josh has been a mainstay on local comedy shows like 7Days, Have You Been Paying Attention, was the regular comedian on The Project and was the champion of Season 3 of TaskMaster NZ. As an actor he’s appeared internationally in Prime’s The Office Australia, Netflix’s The New Legends Of Monkey, NBC’s Young Rock and local hits Good Grief, Creamerie, Wellington Paranormal, Educators, Time Bandits and the Emmy winning INSiDE.

Joining Josh will be 2024 Billy T Award winner, Lana Walters!Lana Walters is a comedian and writer whose standup has been called 'masterful mum comedy'. She has appeared on TV shows like 7 Days, The Project, The Comedy gala and The Great Comedy debate.Comedy Zone will be hosted each month by most recognisable hairy face in NZ Comedy, Ben Hurley.

Tickets from just $39 (+ $4.28 booking fee).

Step into the magical world of CATS – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical phenomenon!

Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Hamilton Operatic Society’s production will dazzle audiences with a spellbinding fusion of music, dance, and poetry.On one extraordinary night each year, the Jellicle cats gather for the Jellicle Ball. Under the watchful eye of their wise leader, Old Deuteronomy, one special cat will be chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer—and be reborn into a new Jellicle life.Don’t miss your chance to experience the show that has captivated the world. CATS – a night of magic, mystery, and unforgettable music awaits.

Sat 9th August 2.00pm show will have sign language interpreters at the front of the auditorium.

‍

Dates: 26th July - 9th August

Produced by: Hamilton Operatic Society

Get ready to celebrate Bastille Day in style at SkyCity Hamilton! Join us a night filled with French flair and festivities.

Indulge in a delicious dinner inspired by French cuisine, followed by a spectacular show featuring live music, Cabaret entertainment, and more!

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of France. Book your tickets now and join us for a night to remember at SkyCity Hamilton.

‍

Step into a world of wonder with Illusionist Anthony Street, in a thrilling magic show crafted to captivate audiences of all ages! Anthony, renowned as the creator and star of the world-famous Celtic Illusion, brings his unique blend of breathtaking illusions, mind-bending magic, and boundless charisma to the stage. Prepare to be amazed as he conjures impossible feats before your eyes, blending traditional magic with modern spectacle, creating an experience that’s both heart-pounding and heartwarming.

From larger-than-life illusions to mind tricks that will leave you questioning reality, Anthony’s show is packed with surprises and interactive moments. Watch as the audiencebecomes part of the magic, as you gasp in disbelief, and everyone shares in the laughter, suspense, and pure joy that Anthony brings to every performance. Don’t miss the chance to see this truly wonderful spectacle this July and August across New Zealand!

‍

An exhibition by Alberta Harmer, Edward Riwai, and Darren Wise.

He rangi tā matawhāiti, he rangi tā matawhānui

A person with narrow vision has a restricted horizon; a person with wide vision has plentiful opportunities.

‍

Find out what's on in the central city in June!

‍

After selling out over 100 shows across the world, the team from 'Silent Discos in Incredible Places' is now coming to Aotearoa New Zealand.

As international promoters, they have thrown parties and held silent discos in, well, some pretty incredible places! Come along and be part of the global phenomenon right here in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

Expect three epic DJs playing all your favourite 80s tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of Te Whare Taonga like you've never seen it before.

100's of like-minded 80's fans singing their hearts out whilst wearing state of the art LED headphones where you can select between 3 different channels of music.

‍

22nd August 2025 - First session 6.30pm to 9pm, Second session 9.30pm to 12am

This is strictly a 18+ event. Valid photographic I.D. may be requested on entry. Please take it as a compliment if you're asked to prove your age!

There will be a fully stocked bar on site for the entire event.

Tickets from $55.44

‍

Monthly Open Late sessions.

Instead of closing at 5pm, Te Whare Taonga will be open until 9pm so that you can enjoy the exhibitions after-hours.

With drinks and nibbles available to purchase from our bar, you can get in the groove with a DJ or live music. Each month we'll have a new floor talk or panel discussion to get ideas sparking as you check out the galleries.Come by and make a night of it with Open Late at the Museum!

Schedule

Wednesday 28th May: Dive into Ripples with Sasha from He Koniahi Story Circle.

Wednesday 25th June: A Matariki spectacular featuring a panel discussion on Toi Maaori.

Wednesday 30th July: Winter chill special.

Wednesday 27th August: The insider's guide to the National Contemporary Art Award.

Free entry.

‍

Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult film and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan. The Toxic Avenger is a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all: an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor (Courteney Mayall) and two guys who play… well, everyone else … bullies, mobsters, old ladies and stiletto-wearing back up singers.
Enter Melvin Ferd the Third (Alex Pelham Waerea), an aspiring earth scientist. Who wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the mayor’s bullies, (Bailey Lindsey and Marangai Wainohu-Savage)

‍

Peppa Pig is back touring New Zealand for the first time since 2018 in her oink tastic stage show, Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out LIVE! Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea! Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out LIVE! guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans and is a perfect introduction to theatre.

‍

Join Professor Penfold in his race against time to create a fantastical solution to the city’s rubbish problem!

With an impatient mayor breathing down his neck, an enthusiastic but clumsy nephew causing havoc in the lab, what more could possibly go wrong for the professor?

The Perfectly Peculiar Practice of Professor Penfold is a wonderfully wacky, and joyful experience for people of all ages – kids and parents alike!

Written by Scott Granville and Courteney Mayall

‍

1st July -Saturday, 5thJuly, 10:30 am & 1 pm (10:30 am only on Sat 5^thJuly)

For the first time ever, the All Blacks face France in Hamilton. Let’s make FMG Stadium a fortress! Get your tickets now before they’re gone.

The battle ends here. The final Test of the Lipovitan-D Series against France is more than just a game—it’s a statement.

For the first time ever, the All Blacks face France in Hamilton, so don’t miss the chance to witness history.

Wear the black jersey. Bring the noise. Make FMG Stadium Waikato a fortress.

Tickets from just $40.

‍

‍