People & Places
Get to know Hamilton
Hamilton is New Zealand’s largest inland city and is in the country’s heartland on the North Island. Situated south of Auckland it enjoys the best of urban and rural life, writes Michelle Smith
Having lush green countryside only minutes from the city offers the kind of lifestyle opportunities that seem to be attracting people to Hamilton and keeping them there. With an estimated 131,000 people residing in the city, its population age is on average one of the youngest in New Zealand, reflecting the fact it is a great place to raise a family. There are a large number of attractive education options with the University of Waikato, Waikato Institute of Technology, 12 secondary schools, 46 primary and intermediate schools and various language and training institutes. In fact, courses based in Hamilton run by the University of Waikato, Waikato Institute of Technology and Te Wananga O Aotearoa have a combined roll of around 41,000 students and make a substantial contribution each year to the region's economy.
The city has a reputation as a centre for major events is continuing to develop this with an exciting combination of sport and entertainment. It is New Zealand's hot air ballooning capital, a reputation earned through April's Balloons Over Waikato festival, which draws balloonists from all over the world. In June, Hamilton gets 'Fieldays Fever' as the city gears up for the largest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere attracting more than 120,000 people annually. Hamilton hosts major events all year round, including art festivals, sport competitions, major theatrical shows, as well as home, garden, craft, car, boat and pet shows.
The city also boasts Waikato's most popular visitor attraction, Hamilton Gardens. This is 50 hectares of prime city land dedicated to the 'story of gardens', with features ranging from the traditional Herb Garden to an American Modernist Garden. Another favourite family attraction is Hamilton Zoo. The zoo is a wildlife sanctuary home to about 650 endangered and exotic animals, and one of the southern hemisphere's largest free-flight avaries. Perhaps the biggest zoo highlights are the five chimpanzees and the three critically endangered Sumatran tigers. Their specially made enclosures offer wonderful living areas for the animals and great viewing spots for visitors. The zoo was the first in New Zealand to breed a white rhino from parents caught in the wild, but conceived in captivity.
Whether you seek the excitement of Splash Attack or top quality facilities for a leisurely swim to cool down during the long summer days, Waterworld and the Gallagher Aquatic Centre offer a complete package to water lovers. Waterworld, is a public swimming pool complex, set on 1.2 hectares of parkland with four heated indoor pools, two hydroslides, spas, a gymnasium and a 50-metre outdoor lido pool. Gallagher Aquatic Centre is Hamilton's newest swimming facility. It is a great place for the family to relax together with its 25-metre pool, toddlers' pool, barbecue area and outdoor children's playground.
Waikato Museum, located on the banks of the picturesque Waikato River, offers an exciting programme of exhibitions from its collection of New Zealand art, Tainui Maori cultural history and Waikato history. Also available on site is Canvas, a multi-award winning restaurant featuring a wide menu and renowned for its weekend brunches. Nearby ArtsPost exists to develop and promote artists and grow a dynamic and supportive environment for the arts in the Waikato region. It contains craft gallery/shop and four art galleries with exhibitions by local artists and national art groups.
Hamilton has a large number of licensed premises including award-winning cafes and restaurants. The historic south end of the city is the heart of the café scene, with a wide range of dining available.
Overall, the city is alive with a colourful range of live entertainment and performance. The city has three excellent theatres in the CBD. The Founders Memorial Theatre, The Community Theatre and The Meteor Theatre cater for a range of top acts and events including international shows, symphony orchestras and kickboxing. Strong growth and economic success in Hamilton and the surrounding Waikato region has caught the attention of local and international investors. More than 10,500 New Zealand businesses (employing over 69,000 people) have chosen Hamilton as a city to do business.
Hamilton enjoys a stable workforce, proximity to two major ports in Auckland and Tauranga, an excellent road and rail infrastructure and an international airport only 13 kilometres from the central city. In fact, the city's International Airport is currently progressing plans for a NZ$52.5 million development to accommodate larger commercial aircraft and increased passenger numbers. The development is scheduled for completion in the next three years.
The city is also conveniently located to be within easy reach of 40 per cent (1.5 million) of New Zealand's population. All of whom reside within 160 kilometres of the city.
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Hamilton
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