Hamilton is the centre of
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's
fourth largest urban areaThe Hamilton Urban Area is a New Zealand urban area in the Waikato Region. It is the fourth largest urban area in the country with a population of . At its centre is Hamilton City, New Zealand's fourth largest territorial authority...
, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest
territorial authorityTerritorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council...
. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the
North IslandThe North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, approximately 130 km (80.8 mi) south of Auckland. It sits at a major road and rail nexus in the centre of the Waikato basin, on both banks of the
Waikato RiverThe Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
.
Initially an agricultural service centre, it now has a growing and diverse economy and is the second fastest growing urban area in New Zealand.
EducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and
research and developmentThe phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
play an important part in Hamilton's economy, as the city is home to approximately 40,000 tertiary students and 1,000 PhD scientists.
History
The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages (kāinga), including Pukete, Miropiko and Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Māori name. Local Māori were the target of raids by
NgāpuhiNgāpuhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region of New Zealand, and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei.Ngāpuhi has the largest affiliation of any New Zealand iwi, with 122,214 people registered , and formed from 150 hapu, with 55 marae.-Foundations:The founding...
during the
Musket WarsThe Musket Wars were a series of five hundred or more battles mainly fought between various hapū , sometimes alliances of pan-hapū groups and less often larger iwi of Māori between 1807 and 1842, in New Zealand.Northern tribes such as the rivals Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua were the first to obtain...
, and several
pāThe word pā can refer to any Māori village or settlement, but in traditional use it referred to hillforts fortified with palisades and defensive terraces and also to fortified villages. They first came into being about 1450. They are located mainly in the North Island north of lake Taupo...
sites from this period can still be found beside the Waikato River. Missionaries such as Gorst, estimated that Kirikiriroa had a population of about 78 before the Waikato Kingitanga wars of 1863-64. The government estimated the Waikato area had a Maori population of 3,400 at the same time. By the time British settlers arrived after 1863, most of these villages had been abandoned as the inhabitants were away fighting with the Kingitanga rebels further west in the battlefields of the upper Waipa river. Missionaries arrived in the area in the 1830s. At the end of the Waikato Campaign in the
New Zealand WarsThe New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872...
the four regiments of the Waikato Militia were settled as a peace-keeping force across the region. The 1st Regiment was at
TaurangaTauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
, the 2nd at
PirongiaPirongia is a small town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.It is 12 kilometres to the west of Te Awamutu, on the banks of the Waipa River, close to the foot of the 962 metre Mount Pirongia, which lies in a forest park to the west of the town.Pirongia was...
, the 3rd at
CambridgeCambridge is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and...
and the 4th at Kirikiriroa. The settlement was founded on 24 August 1864 and named by Colonel William Moule after Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton, the popular
ScottishScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
commander of
HMS EskHMS Esk may refer to one of the following Royal Navy ships named Esk after a Celtic word meaning a river:, a 20-gun post ship launched in 1813. She was sold in 1829., a wood screw corvette launched in 1854. She was broken up in 1870., an iron screw gunboat launched in 1877. She was sold in 1903., a...
, who was killed in the battle of
Gate PāGate Pā was the name of a Māori Pā or fortress built in 1864 only from the main British base of Camp Te Papa at Tauranga, during the Tauranga Campaign of the New Zealand Land Wars...
,
TaurangaTauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
.
The road from
AucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
reached Hamilton in 1867 and the railway in December 1877. That same month, the towns of
Hamilton WestHamilton Central is the central business district of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is located on the western banks of the Waikato River.-Features of Hamilton Central:-Victoria Street:...
and
Hamilton EastHamilton East is a suburb in central Hamilton in New Zealand. The suburb's primary commercial and retail precinct is located along Grey Street. Hamilton East is characterised by villas and bungalows built early in the 20th century.-History:...
merged under a single
boroughA borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
council. The first traffic bridge between Hamilton West and Hamilton East, known as the Union Bridge, opened in 1879. It was replaced by the Victoria Bridge in 1910.
The first railway bridge, the Claudelands Bridge, was opened in 1884. It was converted to a road traffic bridge in 1965. Hamilton reached 1,000 people in 1900, and the town of
FranktonFrankton is a central suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is the site of the city's passenger railway station, a major industrial-commercial stretch of State Highway 1, and a commercial shopping area.- Tornado :...
merged with the Hamilton Borough in 1917. Between 1912 and 1936, Hamilton expanded with new land in
ClaudelandsClaudelands is a suburb directly to the east of central Hamilton, New Zealand, across the Waikato River. It is linked to the central city by the Claudelands road bridge and the East Coast Main Trunk Railway bridge.-History:...
(1912), Maeroa (1925), and Richmond – modern day
Waikato HospitalWaikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand. It provides specialised and emergency healthcare for the Midlands and Waikato area with patients referred there from feeder hospitals like Whakatane, Lakes area, Tauranga, Thames, Tokoroa and Rotorua.- Facilities :The hospital...
and northern Melville (1936). Hamilton was proclaimed a city in 1945.
The city is near the southernmost navigable reach (by the settlers steam boats) of the
Waikato RiverThe Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, amidst New Zealand's richest and now fertile agricultural land that was once largely Raupo and Kahikatea swamp
Hamilton today
Hamilton CentralHamilton Central is the central business district of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is located on the western banks of the Waikato River.-Features of Hamilton Central:-Victoria Street:...
, on the Waikato River, is a bustling retail precinct. The entertainment area is quite vibrant due to the large student population. The 2008
Lonely PlanetLonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
guide states that "the city's main street has sprouted a sophisticated and vibrant stretch of bars and eateries that on the weekend at least leave Auckland's Viaduct Harbour for dead in the boozy fun stakes." Many of the city's venues and attractions are located on the old
Town BeltThe Hamilton Town Belt, also known as the Green Belt, is a series of public parks in Hamilton, New Zealand that surround the original 1877 city boundaries...
, including
Hamilton GardensHamilton Gardens is a group of public gardens in the south of Hamilton owned and managed by Hamilton City Council in New Zealand. They are the Waikato Region's most popular visitor attraction, attracting 600,000 people and holding over 2,000 events each year...
,
Waikato StadiumWaikato Stadium is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, the Goal Line Terrace holding 800 and the Greenzone can hold...
,
Seddon ParkSeddon Park is a cricket ground in Hamilton, 4th largest city in New Zealand and is renowned for its "village green" setting, affording a picnic atmosphere for spectators. It is the 4th largest proper Cricket Ground in New Zealand. The Stadium was named after the former New Zealand Prime Minister...
, Founders Theatre and the
Hamilton Lake DomainLake Rotoroa is a lake in Hamilton, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand.It has a surface area of about 54 hectares and an average depth of 2.4 metres....
.
As of 2010, the city continues to grow rapidly. Development is focused on the northern end of the city. Traffic congestion is increasing due to population growth, though the council has undertaken many road development projects to try to keep up with the rapid growth.
State Highway 1State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
runs directly through the city, which contributes to congestion. A bypass is planned, but
Transit New ZealandTransit New Zealand was, from 1989 to 2008, the New Zealand Crown entity responsible for operating and planning the New Zealand State Highway network...
, the national road funding agency, has repeatedly delayed this project. In August 2009, $1 billion was allocated to fast track the Waikato Expressway from Auckland to Cambridge which includes design work on the Hamilton bypass.
The rapid growth of Hamilton has brought with it the side effects of
urban sprawlUrban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
especially to the north east of the city in the
RototunaRototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest, and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton,although growth has slowed since the 2008-2011 recession. It features two shopping centres, one with a New World supermarket the other with a Countdown...
area. Further development is planned in the Rototuna and Peacocke suburbs. There has been significant development of lifestyle blocks in the
Hamilton Urban AreaThe Hamilton Urban Area is a New Zealand urban area in the Waikato Region. It is the fourth largest urban area in the country with a population of . At its centre is Hamilton City, New Zealand's fourth largest territorial authority...
, in particular
TamahereTamahere is a semi-rural ward of the Waikato District on the outskirts of Hamilton.-Demographics:According to the 2006 census, the Tamahere and Tauwhare area has a combined population of 4623...
, Matangi and Horsham Downs.
List of suburbs
Western suburbs
BeerescourtBeerescourt is a suburb in western Hamilton, New Zealand. It is named after Capt. G. B. Beere, who was granted land in the military settlement at the conclusion of the New Zealand Land Wars. He set up a fort and the area became known as Beere's Fort...
;
Crawshaw-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
;
DeanwellDeanwell is a suburb in south-western Hamilton in New Zealand. It is named after Deanwell Properties, the developers who subdivided the area. It was defined as a suburb of Hamilton in 1974.-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
; Dinsdale;
FitzroyFitzroy is a suburb in southern Hamilton in New Zealand. It is named after Robert FitzRoy, who commanded the HMS Beagle and was later the Governor of New Zealand. It was declared a suburb in 1974.-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
; Forest Lake;
FranktonFrankton is a central suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is the site of the city's passenger railway station, a major industrial-commercial stretch of State Highway 1, and a commercial shopping area.- Tornado :...
; Glenview; Grandview Heights;
Hamilton CentralHamilton Central is the central business district of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is located on the western banks of the Waikato River.-Features of Hamilton Central:-Victoria Street:...
;
Hamilton NorthHamilton North is a suburb in central Hamilton in New Zealand. It was not depicted a suburb until there was a need to distinguish between the different parts of the Hamilton CBD...
; Hamilton West; Livingstone;
MaeroaMaeroa is a suburb in western Hamilton in New Zealand. Originally an outlying suburb, it became part of Hamilton City in 1925 with the second boundary extension.-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
; Melville; Nawton; Peacocke;
PuketePukete is a suburb in north-western Hamilton in New Zealand..Pukete has two primary schools. Pukete Primary schooland Te Rapa Primary school .Pukete Pa is located in the north of the suburb on a cliff on the Waikato River bank.The Pa was in use up until the arrival of military settlers in 1863....
;
RotokauriRotokauri is a semi-rural suburb in western Hamilton in New Zealand. It is one of the future urban zones of Hamilton, along with Peacocke.The outskirts of Rotokauri have an impressive orchid farm, all under glass, exporting blooms across the world, and providing ample local employment.-See...
;
St AndrewsSt Andrews is a suburb in north-western Hamilton in New Zealand.One of its main features is an 18 hole golf course built on an old flood plain on the west bank of the Waikato river. This area was regularly flooded before the construction of the Karapiro HEP dam further up river.-See also:*Suburbs...
; Stonebridge;
Te RapaTe Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand.Stretching in a long, thin north-south axis, Te Rapa is home to a large number of factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world...
;
Temple ViewTemple View is a suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand. Temple View was established in the 1950s out of the construction of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and the Church College of New Zealand by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
; Thornton;
Western HeightsWestern Heights is a suburb on the western boundary of the city of Hamilton in the Waikato Region of North Island, New Zealand.Skyline landmarks include the water reservoir and a block of gum trees...
;
Whitiora-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
.
List of outer suburbs and towns
Other Waikato towns are often affiliated with Hamilton, towns located within close proximity to Hamilton are; Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Matamata, Putararu, Ngaruawahia and Pirongia.
Eastern suburbs
Ashmore;
Callum BraeCallum Brae is a suburb in north-eastern Hamilton in New Zealand....
; Chartwell;
Chedworth ParkChedworth Park, also known simply as Chedworth, is a suburb in eastern Hamilton in New Zealand. It was defined as a suburb of Hamilton in 1974. -See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
;
ClaudelandsClaudelands is a suburb directly to the east of central Hamilton, New Zealand, across the Waikato River. It is linked to the central city by the Claudelands road bridge and the East Coast Main Trunk Railway bridge.-History:...
;
EnderleyEnderley is a suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand. It became a part of Hamilton in the 5th boundary extension in 1949. It is the highest ranking suburb for socio-economic deprivation in eastern Hamilton.-Poets Corner:...
;
FairfieldFairfield is a suburb to the northeast of central Hamilton, New Zealand. It contains many of Hamilton's state houses and apart from the area near the Waikato River is one of the lower value residential areas in the city.-History:...
;
Fairview DownsFairview Downs is a suburb in eastern Hamilton in New Zealand.-Demographics:According to the 2006 census, Fairview Downs has a population of 3333. The Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation, ranked 1-10 from lowest to most deprived areas, lists Fairview Downs at 7/10 .-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton,...
;
FlagstaffFlagstaff is a suburb in north-east Hamilton, New Zealand. It was originally called Dulverton on council plans, but it was officially named Flagstaff in 1986 when it was declared as a suburb. The area was heavily developed in the 1990s. The name Flagstaff comes from the flagstaff that was located...
;
Hamilton EastHamilton East is a suburb in central Hamilton in New Zealand. The suburb's primary commercial and retail precinct is located along Grey Street. Hamilton East is characterised by villas and bungalows built early in the 20th century.-History:...
;
Harrowfield-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
;
HillcrestHillcrest is a suburb in south-eastern Hamilton in New Zealand. The suburb is the home to the University of Waikato and consequently has a large student population. It is located on the east side of the Hamilton Town Belt, a series of public parks that run from the Hamilton Gardens to Ruakura in...
;
Magellan RiseMagellan Rise is a new suburb in north-eastern Hamilton in New Zealand.-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
;
QueenwoodQueenwood is a northern Hamilton, New Zealand suburb separated by Chartwell Park from Chartwell. It is mostly a residential area, with the typical range of local shops. It is located between River Road and Hukanui Road....
;
RuakuraRuakura is a semi-rural suburb of Hamilton City, in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The University of Waikato is nearby. The area lies to the east of urban Hamilton and to the west of State Highway 1B .The Waikato region is a major contributor to New Zealand's agricultural-based economy, and...
; Riverlea;
RototunaRototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest, and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton,although growth has slowed since the 2008-2011 recession. It features two shopping centres, one with a New World supermarket the other with a Countdown...
; Silverdale;
Somerset HeightsSomerset Heights is a suburb in north-eastern Hamilton in New Zealand.-See also:*Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand...
; St James Park; St Petersburg.
Geography
The landscape of Hamilton was formed by the last eruption of the Lake Taupo volcano complex 1800 years ago which sent waves of volcanic debris northwards and changed the path of the Waikato River to its present path .With the exceptions of low hills around the
University of WaikatoThe University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
,
Hamilton LakeLake Rotoroa is a lake in Hamilton, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand.It has a surface area of about 54 hectares and an average depth of 2.4 metres....
and to the west of the city, and an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.The relatively soft and unconsoldated soil material is still being actively eroded by rain and runoff.
In its natural state, Hamilton and environs was very swampy in winter. Early photos of Hamilton East show carts buried up to their axles in thick mud. The site had numerous small lakes which have now been drained. Up until the 1880s it was possible to row and drag a dinghy from the city to many outlying farms to the North east. This swampy, damp environment was ideal breeding ground for the TB bacillus which was a major health hazard in the pioneering days. The first Hamilton hospital was constructed on a hill to avoid this problem.
In the 1930s, Garden Place Hill was removed by unemployed workers working with picks and shovels and model T Ford trucks. The Western remains of the hill are retained by a large concrete wall. The original hill ran from the present
WintecWintec are an Australian saddle manufacturer - the manufacturer of the first synthetic saddles..The company is a subsidiary of Bates Australia, originally established in 1934, and are known for their innovative approach to saddle manufacturing, in particular the synthetic "Wintec"...
site eastwards to the old post office (now casino). The earth was taken 4 km north to partly fill the Maeroa gully adjacent to the Baptist Church on the main road.
Climate
Hamilton has a temperate, damp climate, with about 1184 mm (46.6 in) of rainfall annually. Daily maximum temperatures range from about 22° to 26 °C (72°–79 °F) in January and February to 10° to 15 °C (50°–59 °F) in July and August.
Summer occasionally sees temperatures of more than 30 °C (86 °F), while on clear winter mornings temperatures may drop to as low as -3 C. Ground frosts are common and snow is extremely rare. The only recorded snowfall in modern times was light snow flakes in mid August 2011 during a prolonged cold period that saw 75mm of snow fall as far north as Dargaville. Typically summers are warm and dry and winters cool and wet. On average, Hamilton sees 2150 hours of sunshine each year.
Thick fog is common on winter mornings, and often lasts until late morning. Fog is most common near the river, the extensive gully system and rural areas. Frost is also a common sight during winter. The absence of large-bodied water means that Hamilton is colder during the night than places like Auckland and Tauranga, despite its low elevation of 18M ASL.
Hamilton has the lowest wind speed averages for a city in New Zealand, due to its inland and low-altitude location of 20m above sea level.
Demographics
Hamilton is growing annually, with populations of for the urban area and
According to official census figures, Hamilton's population is 65.3% Pākehā/European, 19.9% Māori, 10.6% Asian, 4.2% Pacific Peoples and 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African. More than 80 ethnic groups are represented within Hamilton’s population. The main area of population growth is in the
FlagstaffFlagstaff is a suburb in north-east Hamilton, New Zealand. It was originally called Dulverton on council plans, but it was officially named Flagstaff in 1986 when it was declared as a suburb. The area was heavily developed in the 1990s. The name Flagstaff comes from the flagstaff that was located...
-
RototunaRototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest, and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton,although growth has slowed since the 2008-2011 recession. It features two shopping centres, one with a New World supermarket the other with a Countdown...
area. With its large tertairy student population at
WintecWintec are an Australian saddle manufacturer - the manufacturer of the first synthetic saddles..The company is a subsidiary of Bates Australia, originally established in 1934, and are known for their innovative approach to saddle manufacturing, in particular the synthetic "Wintec"...
and Waikato University, approximately 40,000 tertiary students, Hamilton has a significant transient population. Hamilton is the second fastest growing population centre after Auckland.
Local government
Hamilton is located in the administrative areas of the
Hamilton City Council. The Council administers the seventh most populous territorial authority in the country. The council consists of thirteen councillors and a
mayorThe Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand is the head of the municipal government of Hamilton, New Zealand, and presides over the Hamilton City Council.In the 2010 Local Government elections, Julie Hardaker was elected as mayor, defeating incumbent Bob Simcock....
(currently
Julie HardakerJulie Hardaker is the Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and eventually became a partner and held senior management roles. She...
), elected in 2010. Council elections are held every three years. In July 2007, former mayor
Michael RedmanMichael Gerard Redman is a New Zealand local government administrator and past politician. He was the inaugural chief executive of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, an Auckland Council organisation that came into being in November 2010, until October 2011. He was chief executive of...
became the CEO of the Council.
The current council members are:-
| Mayor |
Julie Hardaker Julie Hardaker is the Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and eventually became a partner and held senior management roles. She...
|
| Deputy Mayor |
Gordon Chesterman |
| Councillors – East Ward |
Daphne Bell
Peter Bos
Gordon Chesterman
Margaret Forsyth
Roger Hennebry
Pippa Mahood |
| Councillors – West Ward |
Martin Gallagher
John Gower
Dave Macpherson
Angela O'Leary
Maria Westphal
Ewan Wilson |
Hamilton City is itself part of the Waikato Region, controlled administratively by Environment Waikato.
Central government
Hamilton has three electorate MPs in the New Zealand Parliament. Both
Hamilton EastHamilton East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It is currently held by David Bennett MP of the National Party.-Population centres:...
and
Hamilton WestHamilton West is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It has been held by Tim Macindoe MP of the National Party since the 2008 general election.-Population centres:...
electorates are considered
bellwether seatsA bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram leading his flock of sheep.The movements of...
.
The
electoratesAn electorate is a voting district for elections to the Parliament of New Zealand. In informal discussion, electorates are often called seats. The most formal description, electoral district, is rarely seen outside of electoral legislation. Before 1996, all Members of Parliament were directly...
are currently represented by:
General electorates:
- Hamilton East
Hamilton East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It is currently held by David Bennett MP of the National Party.-Population centres:...
: David BennettDavid Bennett is a New Zealand politician. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, representing a Hamilton electorate for the National Party.-Early years:...
(NationalThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
).
- Hamilton West
Hamilton West is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It has been held by Tim Macindoe MP of the National Party since the 2008 general election.-Population centres:...
: Tim MacindoeTim Macindoe is a New Zealand politician who was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2008 for the Hamilton West electorate. Macindoe represents the National Party.-Early life:...
(NationalThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
).
Māori electorateIn New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
:
- Hauraki-Waikato
Hauraki-Waikato is a new New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate for the New Zealand general election, 2008.It largely replaces the Tainui electorate...
: Nanaia MahutaNanaia Cybelle Mahuta BA, MA in social anthropology, is a New Zealand politician and was a cabinet minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. She was Minister of Customs, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Youth Development, Associate Minister for the Environment and Associate...
(LabourThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
).
Hamilton based List MPs:
- Hamilton West
Hamilton West is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It has been held by Tim Macindoe MP of the National Party since the 2008 general election.-Population centres:...
: Sue MoroneySuzanne Mary Moroney , generally known as Sue Moroney, is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the New Zealand Labour Party and was first elected at the 2005 general election. She is based in Hamilton, New Zealand.-Early life:...
(LabourThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
).
Economy
Education and research are important to the city, through the
University of WaikatoThe University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
and the
Waikato Institute of TechnologyThe Waikato Institute of Technology, marketed as Wintec, is a technological learning institute based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and the fifth largest institute of technology/polytechnic within New Zealand, with around 16,000 full-time and part-time students, 1,200 full-time and part-time staff — and...
(Wintec). Research at the
RuakuraRuakura is a semi-rural suburb of Hamilton City, in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The University of Waikato is nearby. The area lies to the east of urban Hamilton and to the west of State Highway 1B .The Waikato region is a major contributor to New Zealand's agricultural-based economy, and...
research centres have been responsible for much of New Zealand's innovation in agriculture. Hamilton's main revenue source is the dairy industry, due to its location in the centre of New Zealand's largest dairying area – the
WaikatoThe Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region.
Hamilton annually hosts the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, the southern hemisphere's biggest agricultural trade exhibition. Mystery Creek is the country's largest event centre and hosts other events of national importance, such as the National Car Show and the National Boat Show.
Manufacturing and retail are also important to the local economy, as is the provision of health services through the Waikato Hospital. The city is home to New Zealand's largest aircraft manufacturer,
Pacific AerospacePacific Aerospace Ltd is an aircraft manufacturing company based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Along with its predecessors, it has produced around 600 utility, training and agricultural aircraft.-History:...
, which manufactured its 1,000th aircraft in August 2009, and Micro Aviation NZ which manufactures and exports high-quality microlight aircraft. It also has its largest concentration of trailer-boat manufacturers such as Buccaneer.
Recent years have seen the firm establishment of the New Zealand base of the British flight training organisation CTC Aviation. CTC trains over one hundred airline pilots a year at its "Crew Training Centre" at Hamilton Airport.
TainuiTainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
Group Holdings Ltd, the commercial arm of the
WaikatoWaikato is a Māori iwi from the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Actually a confederation of smaller tribes, it is also part of the larger confederation of Tainui, consisting of tribes descended from Polynesian migrants who arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui canoe...
tribe, is one of Hamilton's largest property developers. The Waikato tribe is one of the city's largest landowners. Tainui owns land at
The BaseThe Base is a major shopping complex located in Te Rapa, in the New Zealand city of Hamilton. Originally built in 2005, it still has future developments to come. The Mall "Te Awa" was completed on August 2011 and The Base is now the country's largest shopping complex.-History:The very first stage...
, Centre Place, The Warehouse Central, University of Waikato, Wintec, the Courthouse, Fairfield College, and the Ruakura AgResearch centre. The Waikato tribe is a major shareholder of the
NovotelNovotel is a mid-scale hotel brand within the Accor group. Novotel has close to 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the business districts and tourist destinations of major international cities.-History:...
Tainui and the
Hotel IbisIbis is an international hotel company, owned by Accor hotels. It has 800 hotels in 40 countries around the world, with over 370 in France and most of the remainder elsewhere in Europe...
. It has developed the large retail centre The Base in the old Te Rapa airforce base site which was returned to Tainui, following
confiscationThe New Zealand land confiscations took place during the 1860s to punish the Kingitanga movement for attempting to set up an alternative, Māori, form of government that forbade the selling of land. The confiscation law targeted Kingitanga Māori against whom the government had waged war to restore...
in the 1860s, as part of a 1995 Treaty of Waitangi settlement. In mid-2010, The Base was further expanded with Te Awa Mall complex stage 1. Many large retailers such as Farmers have located at Te Awa.
In 2011 a further stage with movie theatres,restaurants shops and underground carpark was opened.
Culture
In 2004, Hamilton City Council honored former resident
Richard O'BrienRichard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
with a life-size bronze statue of him as Riff Raff in his space suit, from
The Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
. The statue was designed by WETA Workshops, who had done the props for
The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
films. It stands on the former site of the Embassy Cinema, where Richard watched science fiction-double features.
Several Maori Pa have been part restored at Pukete, Hikuwai and Miropiko along the banks of the Waikato River.
The city is host to a large number of small galleries and the
Waikato MuseumThe Waikato Museum is situated in the city of Hamilton, in the Waikato region of New Zealand.Previously called the Waikato Museum of Art and History, the full name has been shortened in recent years due to the incorporation Exscite, an interactive science centre, and the emphasis on Tangata Whenua...
. The latter includes Te Winika, one of the best-preserved waka (Māori war canoe) from the pre-colonisation era.
Music
Hamilton is host to several large scale music festivals including the Soundscape music festival, which is one of New Zealand's largest street parties, and the Parachute music festival. The city also hosts the Opus Chamber Orchestra which draws musicians from around the Waikato Region and is the home of the
New Zealand Chamber SoloistsThe New Zealand Chamber Soloists , are a New Zealand based chamber music ensemble. The NZCS consists of prominent concerto soloists with national and international careers and extensive chamber music experience...
. An ongoing classical concert series featuring world class musicians is held throughout the year at the Gallagher Concert Chamber, organised by the
University of WaikatoThe University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
, Conservatorium of Music.
Events
- January: Parachute music festival
The Parachute Music Festival is a Christian music festival held annually at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.The festival is run by Parachute Music and lasts for four days and three nights. 'Parachute' is the Southern Hemisphere's largest Christian music festival, primarily...
, Summer in Garden Place
- February: Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, Couch Soup Festival of One-Act Plays
Couch Soup is a mini-festival of one page plays which started in 1997 and is run annually in Hamilton, New Zealand, and, for the last two years, in Wellington as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. Plays are selected via an open call for scripts, and are performed with minimal props,...
- March: Soundscape - music festival
- March: Indigo Festival
- April: Hamilton 400
The Hamilton 400 is a V8 Supercar motor racing event and presently one of three V8 Supercar events held outside of Australia. The race is held on the streets of Hamilton, New Zealand. The city streets are closed off in the days leading up to the event with various items of road furniture removed...
, V8 Supercars street race
- April: Balloons over Waikato
thumb|thumb|Various Balloons lifting off from Innes Common 2010Balloons over Waikato is an annual hot air balloon festival held in Hamilton, New Zealand. It is held over five days during autumn and attracts both local and overseas balloonists. The Festival is held primarily at Innes Common, at...
hot air ballooningHot air ballooning is the activity of flying hot air balloons. Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet , the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view...
festival
- April: 5 Bridges River Swim
- May: Hamilton Circle Jerk
The Hamilton Circle Jerk is an annual music event in Hamilton, New Zealand. Named after a mutual masturbatory act, the Circle Jerk features 15 Hamilton bands performing 3 song sets, two songs by other Hamilton musicians as well as an original....
music event
- June: National Agricultural Fieldays
The National Agricultural Fieldays is an annual national agricultural show and Field day event held in Hamilton, New Zealand. It styles itself as "the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere"....
- June: Hamilton Fuel Festival
- July: Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
– music festival
- August: World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
- August: International Festival of Media, Arts and Design
- August: International Film Festival
The New Zealand International Film Festival is a film festival held annually across New Zealand throughout the latter half of the year.In 2009 for the first time the Festival relinquished its various regional names to be called the New Zealand International Film Festival...
- September: The Great Race
The Great Race is an annual rowing race between the men's eight from the University of Waikato, New Zealand and a prominent university team from outside New Zealand...
- September: Hamilton Fringe Festival
- September: Hamilton Underground Film Festival
The Hamilton Underground Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Hamilton, New Zealand. The festival is open to all and has no admission fee for film entries. Each entrant receives a DVD which contains all the entered films....
- November: Bridge to Bridge waterskiing event
Sport
The local
rugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams are
WaikatoThe Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
(ITM Cup) and the
ChiefsThe Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
(Super 15). The local colours are red, yellow and black, and the provincial mascot is Mooloo, an anthropomorphic cow. Both teams play at
Waikato StadiumWaikato Stadium is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, the Goal Line Terrace holding 800 and the Greenzone can hold...
. Hamilton is also home to a soccer club,
Waikato FCWaikato Football Club, currently known as Yardhouse Waikato Football Club due to sponsorship agreements, is a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and currently play in the ASB Premiership...
, that competes in the ASB Premiership. The team used to play at Waikato Stadium but they now play at
Centennial ParkCentennial Park is a football venue located in Ngaruawahia, New Zealand. It serves as the home stadium for Ngaruawahia United, and is currently the designated home venue for ASB Premiership side Waikato FC....
in
NgaruawahiaNgāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 km north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers...
, due to financial constraints. The soccer club
Hamilton WanderersHamilton Wanderers is an semi-professional association football club in Hamilton, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.-External links:**...
that competes in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier also are based in Hamilton.
Seddon ParkSeddon Park is a cricket ground in Hamilton, 4th largest city in New Zealand and is renowned for its "village green" setting, affording a picnic atmosphere for spectators. It is the 4th largest proper Cricket Ground in New Zealand. The Stadium was named after the former New Zealand Prime Minister...
(formerly Westpac Park) is Hamilton's main
cricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
venue and hosts
Test matchesTest cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and One Day Internationals. It is the home ground of the Northern Districts Cricket Association.
Hamilton is fast becoming a
motorsportMotorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
venue as well. A round of the
WRCThe World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
was held in 2006 and the annual V8 Supercars race on a
street circuitHamilton Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in Hamilton, New Zealand as part of the V8 Supercars championship. The 2008 event from 18 to 20 April was known as the Hamilton 400....
started in 2008.
Sailing takes place on Hamilton lake for 9 months of the year. The Hamilton Yacht Club has its clubrooms, slipway and ramp on the western side of
Lake RotoroaLake Rotoroa is a lake in Hamilton, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand.It has a surface area of about 54 hectares and an average depth of 2.4 metres....
. Motor boats are not allowed on the lake, with an exception of the Yacht Club rescue boats.
Each year in April, Hamilton supports the '5 Bridges' swimming challenge. The course starts in Hamilton Gardens, and continues for 6 kilometres finishing at Ann St Beach. The swim is assisted by the current, with the full distance typically covered in under an hour. The event celebrated in 71st year on 11 April 2010.
Media
The major daily newspaper is the
Waikato TimesThe Waikato Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a circulation to the greater Waikato region.The Waikato Times started out as the tri-weekly Waikato Times and Thames Valley Gazette, first published on 2 May 1872...
. Weekly community newspapers include the
Hamilton Press,
Hamilton News and student magazine
NexusNexus is the weekly students' magazine of the Waikato Students Union at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Nexus was established more than forty years ago and now has an advertised circulation of 5000 weekly...
.
Local radio stations include The Breeze 99.4FM (Waikato) Community Radio Hamilton,
Contact FMContact FM is a student radio station operating from the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. It broadcasts on the 88.1 MHz frequency. The original Contact FM, owned by the Waikato Students Union, was broadcast on 89.0 MHz from 1985 to 1998...
.
The EdgeThe Edge FM is a MediaWorks New Zealand New Zealand youth radio network, playing predominantly pop, rock and R&B. The network's flagship is The Morning Madhouse with Jay Jay Feeney, Mike Puru and Dom Harvey....
and
The RockThe Rock is a New Zealand rock music radio station. It currently holds the #1 ratings spot out of the music stations nationwide. The station is known to broadcast material of a controversial nature, and The Rock has in the past had some issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority with a number...
, two of New Zealand's most popular
radio stations, were originally based in Hamilton.
City facilities and attractions
Hamilton GardensHamilton Gardens is a group of public gardens in the south of Hamilton owned and managed by Hamilton City Council in New Zealand. They are the Waikato Region's most popular visitor attraction, attracting 600,000 people and holding over 2,000 events each year...
is the region's most popular tourist attraction and hosts the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival each year.
Other local attractions include
Hamilton ZooHamilton Zoo is the main zoological garden of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is situated on Brymer Road in the Hamilton suburb of Rotokauri, on the outskirts of the metropolitan area towards the northwest...
, the
Waikato MuseumThe Waikato Museum is situated in the city of Hamilton, in the Waikato region of New Zealand.Previously called the Waikato Museum of Art and History, the full name has been shortened in recent years due to the incorporation Exscite, an interactive science centre, and the emphasis on Tangata Whenua...
, the
Hamilton Astronomical Society ObservatoryHamilton Astronomical Society's observatory is located next to the Hamilton Zoo in Brymer Road to the west of Hamilton City, New Zealand. The Hamilton Astronomical Society was founded in 1933 and is one of New Zealand's oldest astronomical societies....
, the Arts Post art gallery, and the
SkyCitySkycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand corporation whose core business is owning and operating casinos in Australasia. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market....
casino. Just 20 minutes' drive away is
NgaruawahiaNgāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 km north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers...
, the location of
TurangawaewaeTurangawaewae Marae is a very significant marae of the Māori people of New Zealand and is the headquarters for the Māori King Movement...
MaraeA marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
and the home of Māori King
Tuheitia PakiTuheitia Paki, KStJ is the current Māori King in New Zealand. He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on the same day as her tangihanga took place, on 21 August 2006...
.
Hamilton has six public libraries located throughout the city with the Central Library housing the main reference and heritage collection. Hamilton City Theaters provides professional venue and event management at three theatrical venues in the city: Founders Theater, Clarence St Theater, and The Meteor theater.
St Peter's CathedralSt Peter's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Hamilton, located in the Waikato Region of North Island, New Zealand. It is located on a small hill, known as Cathedral Hill , in the southern central part of the city off Victoria Street .- Overview :St Peter's Cathedral serves as the cathedral...
, built in 1916, is the
AnglicanAnglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
cathedral in Hamilton, on Cathedral Hill at the southern end of Victoria Street. There is also St Mary's Roman Catholic cathedral on the opposite side of the river.
The
Hamilton New Zealand TempleThe Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in
Temple ViewTemple View is a suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand. Temple View was established in the 1950s out of the construction of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and the Church College of New Zealand by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, Hamilton. It was opened along with the
Church College of New ZealandChurch College of New Zealand was a private secondary school in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand, that was operated by the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was closed at the end of the 2009 school year.-History:Construction of the Church College of...
, a large high school owned by the church, in the late 1950s. Both the college and the temple were built by labour missionaries. The school was closed in December 2009. Every year, the temple hosts a large Christmas lighting show which attracts large crowds from all over the country.
Hospitals
Hamilton's public hospital is
Waikato HospitalWaikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand. It provides specialised and emergency healthcare for the Midlands and Waikato area with patients referred there from feeder hospitals like Whakatane, Lakes area, Tauranga, Thames, Tokoroa and Rotorua.- Facilities :The hospital...
with 600 beds and a staff of approximately 2,500 located between Melville and Hamilton West. There are two other major private hospitals in Hamilton City;
Braemar HospitalBraemar Hospital is a private not-for-profit organisation owned by Braemar Charitable Trust located in Hamilton, New Zealand. It provides private health care for patients at two sites. The Day Hospital is located on Knox Street, Hamilton and the main campus is located on Ohaupo Road, Melville....
, located in the same area that Waikato Hospital is located, and Southern Cross Hospital, located in
Hamilton EastHamilton East is a suburb in central Hamilton in New Zealand. The suburb's primary commercial and retail precinct is located along Grey Street. Hamilton East is characterised by villas and bungalows built early in the 20th century.-History:...
. A new cancer hospital is due to open in November 2010 on the previous Braemar Hospital campus. Hamilton also has a two private primary maternity hospitals, which are fully funded by the Waikato District Health Board, Waterford Birth Centre and River Ridge Birth Centre.
Air
Hamilton International AirportFor the airport in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, see Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport.The Hamilton International Airport is an airport located in the Waikato region, in New Zealand...
serves as both a domestic and international airport. There are direct flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and regular flights to other destinations throughout the North Island. The airport also served as a major base for now defunct low-cost airlines
Freedom AirFreedom Air was Air New Zealand Group's low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 to March 2008. It ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand...
and
Kiwi Air. As of 1 September 2009, Pacific Blue now offers three international flights a week, to and from
Brisbane AirportBrisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
and
Sydney AirportSydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
.
Cycling
Hamilton has extensive cycleways which link the city center with the outlying suburbs. These cycleways consist of a mixture of dedicated cycle lanes,which are 1 metre wide strips either coloured green or with a painted outine of a cycle and mixed use cycle/walk ways which are mainly located alongside the Waikato River.
Road
An extensive bus network provides coverage of Hamilton City. Many routes extend radially from the central business district, while two ring routes encompass the central business district and the outer suburbs.
New Zealand's main road artery
State Highway 1State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
runs through several of Hamilton's suburbs and connects with
State Highway 3State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2...
within the city boundaries.
In January 2011 the 4 laning (from the original 2) of Wairere Drive and the Pukete Bridge began.
Bridges
The six road bridges that cross the river are often the focus of morning and evening traffic delays. The six road bridges within the city are (from north to south):
- Pukete Bridge
Pukete Bridge is a concrete box girder bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand, spanning the Waikato River.In February 2011 an upgrade will begin to expand the number of lanes to four. It is expected to be completed by late 2013...
- Fairfield Bridge
Fairfield Bridge is a tied-arch bridge on the Waikato River in Fairfield, Hamilton, New Zealand. It is one of six bridges in the city. It spans from River Road, on the east bank of the river, to Victoria Street, on the west side....
- Whitiora Bridge
- Claudelands Bridge
- Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge is a steel arch bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand. The bridge connects the suburbs of Hamilton Central and Hamilton East....
- Cobham Bridge
In addition to the road bridges within the city, the Horotiu bridge is located approximately 10 km north of the city centre and the Narrows Bridge approximately 10 km to the south. The Narrows bridge was closed for reconstruction of its piles in September 2010. A temporary Bailey bridge is being built alongside.In Jan 2011 widening of the 1 km approach road Wairere Drive to Pukete bridge began .The bridge will be expanded to 4 lanes by 2013.
The river is also crossed by a rail bridge and a pedestrian bridge:
- Claudelands Rail Bridge
- Flagstaff Pedestrian Bridge
Rail
Hamilton is the railway junction of the
East Coast Main Trunk line with the
North Island Main Trunk line. Rail passengers are served by a large station located at Frankton Junction, but rail passenger services are currently (2009) limited to The Overlander, a (mostly) daily service which operates between Auckland and Wellington, and is aimed primarily at tourists.
Hamilton also has an underground station in the central city located in a tunnel which runs from the Claudelands Rail Bridge through to Ward Park. The station is currently disused and is only accessible from the tunnel entrance. Up until the 1960s, the railway cut across Victoria Street, disrupting traffic and covering property with oily smoke and fumes.
Hamilton's rail network serves as a major hub for the distribution of dairy products to the ports of Auckland and Tauranga. This hub is located at Crawford St.
Recently there have been moves to re-introduce daily commuter train services to Auckland, with various studies supporting the economic and environmental benefits. However, recent Government decisions have prioritised the completing the proposed Waikato Expressway over new train services.
Education
Hamilton is home to more than 40,000 tertiary students, mostly enrolled in one of the city's three main tertiary institutes; the
University of WaikatoThe University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
,
Waikato Institute of TechnologyThe Waikato Institute of Technology, marketed as Wintec, is a technological learning institute based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and the fifth largest institute of technology/polytechnic within New Zealand, with around 16,000 full-time and part-time students, 1,200 full-time and part-time staff — and...
and
Te Wananga o AotearoaTe Wānanga o Aotearoa is a tertiary education provider, specifically a wānanga, in New Zealand. The organisation was established to improve the social and economic wellbeing of those who had previously had negative experiences with the secondary education system...
.
As well as state and private primary, intermediate and high schools, it also notably includes a number of Kura Kaupapa Māori primary schools offering education in the Māori language.
The new secondary school proposed for
RototunaRototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest, and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton,although growth has slowed since the 2008-2011 recession. It features two shopping centres, one with a New World supermarket the other with a Countdown...
in the booming north east of Hamilton has been delayed for several years. The government has announced it is exploring a joint construction and operation with private enterprise whereby the school would be built and managed by a private firm.Currently Rototuna is zoned for Fairfield College which has a roll of 1100.
Notable people
- Craig Baird
Craig George Baird MNZM is a race car driver. Baird is a very successful driver in his homeland, winning three consecutive New Zealand Formula Atlantic championship titles , and then four consecutive New Zealand Touring Car Championship titles .Since then Baird has raced in Australian Super...
, racing car driver, born in Hamilton.
- Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, administrator of the UN Development Programme, born in Hamilton.
- Chanel Cole
Chanel Cole is a musician from Bega, New South Wales. She is a member of the Australian trip hop group Spook....
, Australian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
contestant and member of Australian band Spook, born in Hamilton.
- Guy Doleman
Guy Doleman was a New Zealand actor.He is perhaps best known for his role as "Count Lippe" in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, and as "Colonel Ross" in the three film adaptations of Len Deighton's "Harry Palmer" novels, starring Michael Caine, in the 1960s...
, film actor.
- Chris van der Drift
Christopher Jason van der Drift is a New Zealand racecar driver of Dutch descent.-Career:Chris started karting at the age of 7 and in 1994 he raced his first year in cadets...
, racecar driver.
- Howden Ganley
James Howden Ganley is a former racing driver from New Zealand. He participated in 41 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 6, 1971, scoring a total of 10 championship points...
, former Formula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing car driver, born in Hamilton.
- Warren Gatland
Warren David Gatland is a former New Zealand rugby footballer and the current head coach of the Wales national team.Gatland was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and educated at Hamilton Boys' High School and Waikato University...
, Most capped Waikato Rugby player in history, Wales International Rugby Coach, born in Hamilton.
- Ashley Lawrence
Ashley Macdonald Lawrence, born Hamilton, New Zealand, on 5 June 1934, died Tokyo on 7 May 1990 was a New Zealand conductor mainly active in the UK and Germany, and particularly associated with ballet.-Career:...
(1934–1990), conductorConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, born in Hamilton.
- Denis Lill
Denis Lill is a New Zealand-born British actor.Some of his many film and television roles include Fall of Eagles , Edward the Seventh , Survivors , The Scarlet Pimpernel , as William Knox d-Arcy, the Australian oil pioneer in Persia, in Reilly: Ace of Spies , Rumpole of the Bailey , Mapp &...
(1942–), actor, known for playing Sir Talbot Buxomly in Blackadder the ThirdBlackadder the Third is the third series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 17 September to 22 October 1987....
, born in Hamilton.
- Dame Malvina Major
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major, GNZM, DBE is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955,...
, opera singer, born in Hamilton.
- John Mitchell
John Eric Paul Mitchell, is a noted former rugby union player and former coach for the New Zealand All Blacks. Mitchell's rugby career blossomed with the club side Fraser-Tech after he moved from King Country in 1984 and was soon elected Waikato Colts captain...
, former rugby player, and former New Zealand All Blacks coach.
- Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
, creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, lived in Hamilton.
- Dick Quax
Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus "Dick" Quax is a New Zealand runner and former world record holder in the 5000 metres. He stood for Parliament with the ACT Party in 1999 and 2002...
, Olympic silver medallist and world record breaking runner, raised and educated in Hamilton.
- Frank Sargeson
Frank Sargeson was the pen name of Norris Frank Davey. He is considered one of New Zealand's foremost short story writers. Like Katherine Mansfield, Sargeson helped to put New Zealand literature on the world map....
, author, born in Hamilton.
- Scott Styris
Scott Bernardo Styris is an Australian-born New Zealand cricketer. An allrounder, Styris is an aggressive right-handed middle order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler....
, NZ cricketer, raised and educated in Hamilton.
- Daniel Vettori
Daniel Luca Vettori ONZM is a cricketer for the New Zealand cricket team. He is the eighth player in Test history to take 300 wickets and score 3,000 runs. He is the youngest player to have represented New Zealand in Test cricket, having made his debut in 1996–97 at the age of 18...
, NZ cricketer, lives in Hamilton.
- Gillian Karawe Whitehead
Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead, DNZM is a New Zealand composer.She studied at the University of Auckland from 1959–62, and Victoria University of Wellington in 1963, graduating BMus Hons in 1964. She then studied composition at the University of Sydney with Peter Sculthorpe from...
, composer, born in Hamilton.
- Let's Elope
Let's Elope is a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse in Australia.Bred by Highview Stud in Hamilton, New Zealand, Let's Elope was a giant chestnut mare who in 1991 became the first mare in more than 50 years to complete Australia's famed Caulfield Cup - Melbourne Cup double...
, Australian Champion Racehorse of the YearThe Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
in 1992.
- Kimbra
Kimbra Johnson , known mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer/songwriter from Hamilton, New Zealand. She is currently based in Melbourne, Australia. Kimbra's debut album Vows was released on 29 August 2011 in New Zealand, and 2 September 2011 in Australia on Warner Bros...
Johnson, singer/songwriter.
- Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
, All Black named in the 2011 RWC squad.
Sister cities
SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, USA
Saitama' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
,
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
WuxiWuxi is an old city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Split in half by Lake Tai, Wuxi borders Changzhou to the west and Suzhou to the east. The northern half looks across to Taizhou across the Yangtze River, while the southern half also borders the province of Zhejiang to the south...
,
People's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
ChillánChillán is a city in the Biobío Region of Chile located about south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of Ñuble Province and, with a population of approximately 170,000 people , the most populated urban center of this province...
,
ChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
External links