Hamilton Explorer

All about Hamilton, New Zealand

Waikato’s exciting events: A guide to Sports and Adventure

Here are just a few sporting events to either participate in or watch in Hamilton New Zealand during the Summer of 2023

Waipa Stockcar Championship

Date: 9th December

Time:2:30 Gates open 4:30 Racing begins

Venue: McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway

Horsepower heaven! Turning up the dial Saturday 9th December is Waipa’s own McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway with an absolute ripsnorting event!

Weetbix Tryathlon

Date: 10 December

Time: 7:00 AM

Venue: University of Waikato

Join us at your local Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon™! Open to Kiwi kids aged 6 to 15 years. It’s a fun and rewarding day out for everyone.

Kids of all sporting abilities swim, cycle, and run their way around age-appropriate courses, either as an individual or as a team of two.

Cricket helmet on the ground in the middle of a pitch with player in background

Blackcaps vs Pakistan

Date: 14 December

Time: 7:10 PM

Venue: Seddon Park

Test series against South Africa and Australia for the BLACKCAPS, white ball series against Pakistan and England for the WHITE FERNS: these are just some of the highlights of an action-packed 2023-24 home international summer for Kiwi cricket fans.

Historical Cycle Tour

Date: 19 January

Time: 9:00 AM

Venue: Taupo Lakefront

Cycle the Taupō Lakefront and learn the maōri history of taupō and significant historical sites with taupō museum programmes and engagement coordinator Jeffery Addison. All you need is a bike, helmet and basic bike handling skills.

Sika Foundation Hike

Date: 20/21 January

Time: 8:30 AM

Venue: Heliska Hangar

On this guided day trip, you will start by taking a scenic helicopter flight to the Kaipo River Swing Bridge, in the Kaimanawa Forest Park!

Hiking approx. 7km along the Kaipo River terraces to the Oamaru Hut, you will then hear from experienced members about the ‘big picture’ initiatives, and what the Sika Foundation are aiming to achieve through various hunter-led conservation projects.

Manu World Champs

Date: 3-4 February

Time: 9:00 AM

Venue: Waterworld

The Z Manu World Champs will hit Kirikiriroa Hamilton with an official qualification event at Waterworld from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 February.

Get ready to make a splash at Waterworld, the ultimate venue for our Hamilton heats of the Z Manu World Champs.
The event will kick off on Friday 2 February with the free Push Play Manu Sessions followed by two action-packed days of qualification heats to find our 14 finalists.

Blackcaps vs South Africa

Date: 13 February

Time: 11:00 AM

Venue: Seddon Park

Test series against South Africa and Australia for the BLACKCAPS, white ball series against Pakistan and England for the WHITE FERNS: these are just some of the highlights of an action-packed 2023-24 home international summer for Kiwi cricket fans.

Tracks National Championship

Date: 2 March

Time: 6:00 AM

Venue: Grassroots Trust Velodrome

The Track National Championships (formerly named the Elite & U19 Track National Championships) is New Zealand’s premier national track cycling event. Held annually in rotation between Cambridge and Invercargill. The 2024 event will be held at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge from 2-7 March 2024. Olympic medalists, World Championship riders and World Cup riders will be lining up against our emerging future champions to race on the boards for national titles.

Hamilton Half Marathon

Date: 17 March

Time: 8:00 AM

Venue: Hamilton Gardens

Join us for a running event like no other. You will start and finish at the stunning Hamilton Gardens with riverside running along the banks of the Waikato River, winding through parks, landmarks and historic neighbourhoods. ​21KM half marathon, 10KM and 5KM options for both runners and walkers. Our finish area will have a selection of local food trucks that will offer coffee, carbs and so much more. Come, relax, and grab a bite to eat. Bring your picnic rug, chairs, and bean bags to enjoy the celebrations and awards after the race.

White Ferns vs England

Date: 4 April

Time: 11:00 AM

Venue: Seddon Park

Test series against South Africa and Australia for the BLACKCAPS, white ball series against Pakistan and England for the WHITE FERNS: these are just some of the highlights of an action-packed 2023-24 home international summer for Kiwi cricket fans.

Long Course Weekend

Date: 12-14 April

Time: 4:00 PM

Venue: Mighty River Domain

Hosted at the Mighty River Domain, Karapiro, the high-performance hub of the North Island in April 2024. Long Course Weekend New Zealand accommodates swimmers, cyclists, runners, and triathletes. A swim/bike/run event is held over three days with each discipline being presented on a separate day. Competitors can choose to mix and match from the three discipline options and various distances in them. This event format is highly inclusive, suitable for not only the elite but also those new to a discipline or wanting to gradually increase their distances and test their abilities.

Swim Karapiro

Date: 12 April

Time:4:00 PM

Venue: Mighty River Domain

Hosted at the Mighty River Domain, Karapiro, the high-performance hub of the North Island during the afternoon/evening of Friday 12th April 2024. Swim Karapiro will offer 3 swimming distances for everyone to enjoy and will take place on Day 1 of the international debut of the Long Course Weekend New Zealand.

Swim across Lake Karapiro and be a part of the first leg of the Long Course Weekend. This is going to be a fantastic day with an unbeatable atmosphere to start the long weekend.

Cycle Karapiro

Date: 13 April

Time: 5:30 AM

Venue: Mighty River Domain

Hosted at the Mighty River Domain, Karapiro, the high-performance hub of the North Island on Saturday 13th April 2024. Cycle Karapiro will offer 3 cycling distances for everyone to enjoy and will take place on Day 2 of the international debut of the Long Course Weekend New Zealand.

Cycle around the beautiful countryside and be a part of the middle leg of the Long Course Weekend. This is going to be a fantastic day with an unbeatable atmosphere.

Person grabbing cup at a marathon water station

Karapiro Marathon

Date: 14 April

Time: 6:30 AM

Venue: Mighty River Domain

Hosted at the Mighty River Domain, Karapiro, the high-performance hub of the North Island on Sunday 14th April 2024. The Karapiro Marathon will offer 4 running distances for everyone to enjoy and will take place on Day 3 of the international debut of the Long Course Weekend New Zealand.

Run around the beautiful countryside and be a part of the final leg of the Long Course Weekend. This is going to be a fantastic day with an unbeatable atmosphere to finish off the long weekend.

Please note that event details may be subject to change, and it’s always a good idea to double-check with the event organizers for the most up-to-date information. It is also important to check whether or not you need to purchase tickets or book in advance.

Popular Christmas Activities in the City for the Family

Hamilton City Christmas Events:

Waikato Christmas Market

Date and Time: December 9, 2023, Saturday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: The Barn, Claudelands, Gate 3, Brooklyn Rd, Hamilton

Details: Visit the Waikato Christmas Market at The Barn in Claudelands for a day filled with holiday cheer. Explore a wide array of stalls offering everything from handmade crafts to delicious festive treats.

St Stephen’s Christmas Festival

 Dates and Time: December 1 – 16, 2023, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

 Location: 14 Tamahere Drive

Details: The St Stephen’s Christmas Festival is a delightful celebration lasting throughout December. Enjoy festive decorations, interactive displays, and a warm community atmosphere at 14 Tamahere Drive.

Trees at The Meteor

Dates: December 13 – 21, 2023

Location: The Meteor Theatre, 1 Victoria Street, Hamilton

Details: Experience the enchanting “Trees at The Meteor” event, where the theatre is transformed into a festive wonderland. Each tree tells a unique story, creating a magical atmosphere for visitors.

Christmas Lights

Please check times and dates as well as specific locations closer to the time.

Hamilton has become known for its Christmas lights over the years. One of the most iconic ones is the Suburb of Harrowfield which has a large range of lights set up by its residents which are a must-see especially if you have children. The other one well worth going and visiting is the Hamilton New Zealand Temple which tells the story of Christmas and is an amazing place to visit with the family.

Christmas at the Lake

Date and time: Saturday 16 December 2023 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Location: Innes Common, Lake Domain Dr, Hamilton

Details: Holiday season Christmas event with ten dance groups performing modern to ethnic dances, seven music groups performing sing-a-long hits, 20 variety of food stalls, Santa Claus appears with free lollies, free face painting for kids (5:30 pm – 7:30 pm), rides, slides and more amusements. The event closes with spectacular Fireworks!

Please note: It is a free entry, but you will have to pay for food, rides and any items you buy from the stalls.

North Waikato Christmas Events:

Gingerbreads, candies and nuts displayed on a Christmas market.

Cornerstone Christmas Market

Date and Time: December 8, 2023, Friday, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: Cornerstone Alpaca Stud, 49 Peach Road, Gordonton

Details: Discover the Cornerstone Christmas Market at the scenic Cornerstone Alpaca Stud. Enjoy an evening of local crafts, delicious treats, and a cozy Christmas atmosphere.

Christmas Special – Murder Mystery Event!

Dates and Time: December 14, 15 & 21, 2023, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Location: Woodlands Estate, Ngaruawahia

Details: Step into the intrigue of a Christmas Murder Mystery Event at Woodlands Estate. 

Solve the puzzle while enjoying a festive dinner and interactive theatrical experience.

Gordonton Christmas Market 2023

Date and Time: December 16, 2023, Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

Location: Gordonton Hall, 1024 Gordonton Rd, Hamilton

Details: Explore the Gordonton Christmas Market for a diverse selection of local crafts, artisanal products, and holiday treats. Support local vendors and find unique gifts for the festive season.

Matamata / Te Aroha / Morrinsville Christmas Events:

A Hobbiton™ Christmas

    – Date: December 15, 2023

    – Location: Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata

    – Details: Experience the magic of a Hobbiton™ Christmas at the iconic movie set in Matamata. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Middle-earth with festive decorations and holiday-themed activities.

 Morrinsville Christmas Parade

Date: December 9, 2023

Location: Morrinsville Main Street

Details: Details for the Morrinsville Christmas Parade will be confirmed soon. Stay tuned for an announcement about this festive community event.

Cambridge / Te Awamutu & Surrounds Christmas Events:

Christmas at the Raceway

Dates and Time: November 17, December 7 & 21, 2023, Friday, 5:00 pm

Location: Cambridge Raceway, Taylor St, Cambridge

Details: Join the festivities at Christmas at the Raceway. Enjoy an evening of entertainment, food, and holiday spirit at the picturesque Cambridge Raceway.

Cambridge Christmas Festival

Dates: December 1 – 17, 2023

Location: Cambridge Town Hall Victoria Street, Cambridge

Details: Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season at the Cambridge Christmas Festival. The town hall transforms into a festive hub with activities, performances, and a celebration of all things Christmas.

Pirongia Christmas Market

Date: December 17, 2023

Location: 574 Crozier St, Pirongia

Details: Explore the Pirongia Christmas Market for a charming array of local crafts, handmade goods, and festive treats. Celebrate the holiday season in the picturesque town of Pirongia.

Chartered Accountants Offer Advisory Across the Regions

Auctus is a Chartered Accounting firm based in Hamilton, with new offices throughout the North Island.

Auctus have always positioned themselves as being a bit different from the chartered accountant sterotypes. While they offer all the services you would notrmally expect from chartered accountants, they prefer to be known as a business advisory and growth catalyst firm.

And to demonstrate their own commitment to busines growth, they are expanding.

Auctus now have chartered accuntant offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier and New Plymouth. They certainly walk the talk.

Founder, Stephen Mundy, started Auctus with the desire to challenge the status quo and perception of chartered accountancy.

We still do the number crunching, the tech investigation and business evaluations, but our services go far beyond a normal accountancy firm. Our team of advisors do things differently.

Stephen Mundy

Auctus like to act as a guide for businesses to reach their growth potential through holistic accounting and business development, and act as a growth catalyst, empowering leaders, and organisations to execute their mission.

To support this goal, Auctus offer a range of accounting, taxation and business services, tailored to suit your organisation’s size, scope and needs.

Accounting & Tax

Seek professional advice from Chartered Accountants and tax experts to streamline your processes and meet your business requirements.

Advisory & Innovation

Innovation answers the question, how can we address a specific challenge in a way that increases value for both our customers and our company? Auctus offer real-world, real-time advice and innovative market responses.

Specialist Services

Auctus can guide you on your growth journey, show you which steps to take and provide expert advice and support every step of the way. They provide Virtual Chief Financial Officer (vCFO) services, Property & Construction advice, Mergers & Acquisitions consulting, and so much more.

Small Business Accounting

As an owner of a small business you are passionate about your craft – but probably not bookkeeping. Auctus know how to keep your business on track, and have many time and money saving tips and tricks to take the pain out of small business accounting.

Medium-Large Business Accounting

Accounting for medium-large businesses requires a higher level of organisation and information to help make better decisions. Auctus’ medium-large business accountants and advisors will guide you – removing roadblocks and walking with you on the pathway to success.

Covid 19: Student Volunteer Army shopping service now in Hamilton

The student volunteer army who provide grocery delivery service to those in need in New Zealand during the Covid-19 lockdown, are now available in Hamilton city.

The volunteer army has collaborated with brands as part of the national volunteer response and they offer their services to older New Zealanders aged 65+, essential workers, and people with medical conditions.

The SVA are present across New Zealand, and Hamilton is one of the cities that are launching their services this week, along with Tauranga and Blenheim.

The volunteers shop for groceries and deliver them to households within their local community.

They  use personal protective equipment at all times to ensure their safety and of the people that we are servicing.

The volunteers pick up groceries from supermarkets and then deliver the shopping at the customer’s door in a contactless process.

Read the full article here. 

Hamilton City Council forecasts drop in revenue due to Covid-19

Hamilton City Council is forecasting a $33 million drop in revenue due to Covid-19.

Richard Briggs, the Hamilton City Council chief executive, said that the council’s initial modelling shows under a best-case scenario, with business back to normal by July, the financial impact will be significant.

Under a worst-case scenario, with business back to normal by October 2020, financial impacts, would be ‘crippling’, the statement said.

Either way, the impacts will likely see the council breaching its debt to revenue ratio limits – meaning it could not legally borrow more money to make up the shortfall and keep the city moving.

Mr Briggs said the council was already talking to Government about setting debt to revenue at a more appropriate level for high-growth councils.

Nor could the council balance its books until 2025/26 at the earliest. This is despite Hamilton City being in a much stronger position than many other councils.

“We can’t be hampered by legislation that is simply not fit-for-purpose,” Mr Briggs said.

The council, which turns over $378 million each year, is forecasting a reduction in consent fees, engineering fees and development charges.

It estimates money paid to the council from community facilities like pools and libraries and visitor destinations, such as the Waikato Museum and Hamilton Zoo, could drop by as much as $5 million over two years.

The city will also be hit by a reduction in infrastructure operations and increased contract costs due to work shutdowns forced by the pandemic, Mr Briggs said.

He said the council would continue to actively manage its books and that other high-growth councils, including Tauranga, Wellington and Queenstown would face similar issues.

Tauranga has already estimated that revenue for the 2020/21 year will be down between $53 million and $77 million and says it may be forced to halve its capital works programme.

Mr Briggs said decisions about capital works had not yet been made for Hamilton.

Any decisions made by elected members would take the social, environmental, cultural and economic wellbeing of the city into account and that included the impact of a drop in revenue.

Read the full article here.

Tulip festival turned into a traffic nightmare at the Hamilton Gardens

The Hamilton Gardens is a tourist and a local attraction in Hamilton and is usually quite crowded.

But the Tulip festival that took place on Saturday, the 22nd of September at the gardens was a whole other ballgame.

The Hamilton Gardens saw thousands of people through the day, coming in to enjoy a day full of spring flowers, music, performances and traditional Dutch food.

However, this led to a police offer directing traffic for more than one hour. Traffic was bumper to bumper on Cobham Drive because of the event.  

Though the festival tends to be pretty crowded usually, this time around, the warm weather attracted a lot more people and hence led to the chaos.

Tourists and locals were seen at the gardens, enjoying a picnic, and a tour of the gardens.

Louise van den Berg, chairwoman of the Hamilton Tulip Festival Trust, said she didn’t expect that many people at once at the event.

When the traffic drew crazy at around 10 am, a traffic police was called in to help and he manually directed traffic.

The staff at the gardens were also called in to help with the traffic once they became aware of the situation.

The manager of the gardens has said that they are aware of the problem and will be discussing how to tackle such problems in the future.

The officer was then rewarded with an ice cream, so it paid off, said Senior Sergeant Charles Burgess.

The annual tulip event, hosted by the Waikato branch of the Netherlands Society, is in its 10th year and was created after the national Dutch Festival was organised in Hamilton.

It featured Dutch food, performances, flower artists, and an exhibition on Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer and the first European known to visit and to put New Zealand on the map 375 years ago.

The Hamilton Half Marathon – a special one for Rod Gill

The Direct Group Uniforms Hamilton Half Marathon is just around the corner and runners in the city are prepping hard for it.

The annual event organised by the Fitness Action Charitable Trust is going to celebrate its 15th anniversary. But for Rod Gill, a frequent runner and a 72 year-old cancer survivor, its going to be his 100th half marathon.

He took up running about 5 years ago with a friend and started off with doing it socially, which soon became a hobby.

At the age of 70, he took up a challenge to run 52 half marathons in 52 weeks, in 2016. With a complete itinerary set by his wife Jean, he completed 13 road races and 39 trail runs successfully.

He ran through different weathers and storms and thoroughly enjoyed his journey.

Soon after achieving his goal though, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery.

After 12 months of well rested recovery, he decided to get back to running and has managed to complete a lot more marathons, bringing him to a total of 99.

The Hamilton Half Marathon is going to be his special 100 and he couldn’t be more excited.

Rod Gill has frequently been on the podium ever since he started running and has achieved some amazing milestones, with his best being 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Gill even goes to the gym in between his runs to build up his strength to run.

He has travelled all over New Zealand, met a bunch of different people, and enjoyed it. He considers himself lucky to be doing what he is doing, because it’s his running that led to his diagnosis and cure of his cancer.

Rod joined the Hamilton Road Runners Club in 2014 and has found tremendous support from the group and couldn’t be happier that his 100th marathon is going to be in Hamilton.

The marathon is going to take place at the Flagstaff Park as usual.

For more details, visit www.hamiltonhalfmarathon.org.nz