Stories

A recent deal between Tainui and a big US investor shows how Hamilton and its surrounds are on an economic roll say business and political leaders.

And others from outside the region are also knocking on the door, says the mayor.

Tainui Group Holdings’ agreement with major international asset manager Brookfield Asset Management is set to provide $1 billion-plus benefits for developing the Ruakura Superhub in a major boost for Hamilton, the Waikato and the wider country.

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As vacancy across the CBD rises, a new kind of workplace is taking shape - softer, more flexible, and built around how people actually want to work.

Over the second half of 2024, office vacancy in Hamilton’s CBD rose from 7.2% to 9.0%.

While the numbers point to contraction - with occupied space falling by 9,300m2 in just six months - they also reflect a transformation in how and where people want to work.

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Hot shot Hamilton property developer Matt Stark has scooped up the old Fed Farmers building in London Street.

Stark Property has bought all of the Waikato Farmer Trust’s property assets for sale on the site, a sizeable chunk on the west end of London Street opposite Seddon Park.

The Trust announced on Tuesday that they’ve sold their commercial properties which included parking lots, commercial properties and the 6-storey office building on London Street to Stark Property.

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The revelation comes from Sanjil Mistry and Pienaar Piso, who own the city’s current tallest building, the Mistry Centre in Ward St which towers over Centre Place.

It’s currently being transformed into a 191-bed Pullman hotel operation with beds over 12 floors, with several floors of office and retail space as well. Hotel opening is scheduled by the end of next year.

The revelation is the latest in what is rapidly becoming a hotel boom for the city.

Mistry’s and Piso’s comments on them looking at a second hotel came on Thursday in an interview arranged long before the announcement the same day that Auckland’s Templeton Group had gone unconditional on a deal with the city council.

Passersby on Hamilton’s Victoria Street got the first look at another section of the Regional Theatre’s new façade after scaffolding was removed on Wednesday.

The appearance of a fresh section of the restored plaster façade of the old hotel frontage is another visible milestone for locals and visitors in the ongoing construction of the 1300-seat theatre that promises to revolutionise entertainment in the city.

The decision to preserve the building’s neoclassical façade is getting the tick from people seeing it for the first time, who say it blends old and new.

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The new hotel development from the Templeton Group will be a few shops down from Riverbank Lane on Victoria Street.

At around 100m high, it’ll be nearly twice the height of the Mistry building which is currently the tallest building in the CBD.

Riverbank Lane’s Kopi Cafe owner Dave Tourelle had a visit from the mayor and Templeton founder Nigel McKenna on Wednesday when they came for a coffee, and says he thinks McKenna will do a “really good job”.

Auckland-headquartered Templeton and the city council announced on Thursday they’ve struck an unconditional deal with the city for the land next to Victoria on the River and promised to create an Auckland Viaduct-style hospitality precinct linking to the river.

The deal sees Templeton pay $6 million for council property at 242-254 Victoria St, Adjoining property at 260-266 Victoria St will be retained by the council and used to expand public space.

The new building’s still-to-be-finalised 25-storeys could be nearly double that of the current highest city building, the 13-storey Mistry Centre towering above Centre Place.

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The Waikato Local

Opinion: Vanessa Williams

Hamilton's central city is buzzing with activity, making it a prime spot for businesses and events to flourish.

Recently, Love the Centre and NAI Harcourts showcased the exciting growth happening in the area, with a development tour for the central city business community.

The tour kicked off at the south end of town with the impressive Waikato Regional Theatre.

This project is really taking shape, and attendees got a unique perspective from the rooftop of the newly refurbished Subway building at 159 Victoria Street.

The theatre, which is set to be completed this year, reached a milestone on March 3 with the removal of the last crane, dramatically altering the city's skyline.

For a striking view of the Hinuera stone- clad walls, auditorium structure, and the crowning Fly Tower, the theatre team recommends visiting Victoria on the River and looking upstream.

Next, the tour visited the redeveloped Westpac House at 426 Victoria Street, where attendees admired the state-of-the-art 'end of trip' facilities, including a fully equipped gym for Westpac House tenants, Tompkins Wake.

The tour continued to 500 Victoria St, across from Centre Place, where Prime Property highlighted their substantial investment in modernising this iconic seven-story building, enhancing its prominent status and offering stunning views.

The final stop on the tour was the tallest tower in the central city, where attendees learned about the Pullman Hotel development,which is set to be completed next year and incorporating a variety of unique offering for guests.

This exciting project promises to significantly contribute to the revitalisation of Hamilton's central city area.

These substantial developments give even more reason to Love the Centre.

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Vanessa Williams is the general manager of the Hamilton Central Business Association

The popular bakery has opened a new production kitchen next door to its original location, marking a major milestone in just four years of business.

The added space will help streamline operations and support the growing demand, allowing the team to focus on speciality products without the constraints of the main bakery.

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Centuries ago, Genghis Khan’s warriors cooked their meals over fire on their shields as they journeyed to conquer the world.

Fast forward nearly a thousand years, and Hamiltonians are hooked on the sizzling flavours of Mongolian cuisine - minus the battle gear.

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Love the Centre are proud to be a sponsor of the iconic @boonartshamilton Street Art Festival and yesterday we took a group along for a tour with Boon guide Anne Marie!

We visited two artists in action where our group had the opportunity to view their murals and talk with the artists to find out more about the inspiration behind their artworks. After the tour we headed to Waikato Society of Arts @artwaikato for refreshments and to view more amazing art!

Congratulations to Boon Street Art Festival who are celebrating 10 years and 100 murals in our city!

Artists we visited on our tour.

Flox & Sweats

320-324 Victoria Street (SkyCity car park wall opposite Garden Place).

Flox aka Hayley Kings distinct vibrant murals and art celebrate Aotearoa’s unique flora and fauna. In this collab she is painting with SWEATS aka Pierre Hadlow, an Auckland-based multidisciplinary artist. Their unique creative fusion is on a ‘Hero’ wall in Kirikiriroa.

@floxnz

@sweats___

Alison Mooney

Behind ArtsPost - 100 Victoria Street

Alison Mooney is an Australian artist “exploring colour, movement and curiosity” from her studio on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

@alison__mooney . Alison is creating a playful and colourful mural on a large grey wall below ArtsPost.

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Festival runs 13-16 March

Get amongst it! To find out more about the fantastic line up of events, mural locations and artist's.

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The Festival of Weird has, since Wednesday, enlivened the usually not-too-lively environs of central Hamilton with a cavalcade of quirky characters and activities.

While the lunchtime crowds may not have been huge, those who have passed through will have been entertained and intrigued by the part-man-part-fish happily chilling out on the park benches, watching the passers-by passing by; or, perhaps, the pair of extendible eyeballs of possible extraterrestrial origin moving about of their own free will.

The Alma Street restaurant has built a loyal following, including a couple of original diners who keep coming back for the same dish, the owners say.

Since taking over in 2007, owner Marco Scarpa has preserved the essence of traditional Italian cuisine, sending out dozens of the top-selling dishes each week.

Those behind the restaurant put its success down to quality ingredients and time-honoured recipes.

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