One year ahead of schedule, Hamilton City Council has received an 'Aa' grading for its drinking-water supply at Templeview. The new Aa grading at Templeview represents a significant improvement in supply as a result of a recent $1m pipe upgrade. Previously the Templeview water supply had been rated as 'Ab'. The 'Aa' grading also matches the consistently high quality of water supplied to resident... more...

Things are starting to take shape at Claudelands, with the concrete framework for the facility's new indoor arena currently going up and the large roof steel due to be installed early in the new year. Council Event Facilities Manager Mark Christie said while the arena isn't due for completion until the second half of 2011, the method of construction means that the scale of the building will becom... more...

Promoting an active city through strong partnerships underpins the Active Communities Strategy launched in Hamilton.  SPARC board member Nicki Turner is the keynote speaker at the launch of the document which aims to encourage people to live healthy lifestyles and increase participation in - and strengthen the delivery of - sport and recreation in Hamilton. The strategy identifies three p... more...

The arrival of a male serval at Hamilton Zoo this week adds to a growing number of new faces at the facility. The serval named Akida (meaning 'leader'), who will turn three years old on 14 December, arrived at the facility from Wellington Zoo on Wednesday. Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley said Akida's transfer is part of the managed breeding programme for the African wild cat species. "We ... more...

Residents are invited to try their hand at building bridges, throwing grenades and 'pinning the moustache on the gentleman' during the first of a two-part series of fun days at Waikato Museum this Saturday [28 November] from 11am-4pm. The 'How to Never Have a Dull Moment' fun days are running alongside the museum's local history exhibition 'Never a Dull Moment: Hamilton Stories' and aim to give ... more...

Advocate for victims of sexual abuse, Louise Nicholas comes to Hamilton this Friday 20 November to launch a book which tells the true story of women and gangs in New Zealand. The desire for a better future is what compelled the women of Aroha Trust to tell their stories to writer and fellow trust member Pip Desmond. 'Trust: A True Story of Women & Gangs' is told in the women's ow... more...

Some unlikely spokesmen come to the city on their motorbikes next Friday 27 November to spread the message that family violence is not OK in Hamilton. They may look super tough but the Super Maori Fullas - Roger, Mathew and Mervyn - are riding their Harley Davidson's, from Wellington to Whangarei, spreading their message of love and respect for all as part of White Ribbon Day. Th... more...

Drivers in Hamilton are being advised to avoid the Te Aroha Street/Ruakura Road/Peachgrove Road intersection, following a clay and soil spill this morning. The clay and soil was being transported on the back of a truck when it spilled onto the road, causing the road surface to become slippery. Traffic management are currently at the scene and working to clean the clay/soil off the road. Drivers... more...

A joint committee of Hamilton City and Waikato District Councillors will oversee a number of adjustments to Hamilton’s boundaries in the east and northwest. The proposed changes will bring several areas into the City that have previously been identified for future long-term development and will allow more detailed and integrated planning to take place. Terms have already been agreed and signall... more...

Quotable Value has released its new property valuations for Hamilton. The valuations, carried out every three years, are an important part of the process for setting rates for the 2010/11 financial year. For residential property, the average house value (Capital Value) exclusive of chattels, has increased 1.17 per cent to $334,520, since the 2006 revaluation. The average section value (Land Va... more...

It has been a homecoming of sorts for four juvenile Stanley Island tuatara who arrived back at Hamilton Zoo last week after leaving the facility nine months ago as eggs. The eggs were laid in January by one of Hamilton Zoo's mature female tuatara, and were the first to be laid at the facility since 2001. Hamilton Zoo director Stephen Standley said the arrival of the eggs earlier this year was ex... more...

The first of a series of free workshops aimed at improving people's understanding of the issues faced by trans people will be held at Waikato Museum this Thursday [12 November]. The workshops are running alongside the Assume Nothing exhibition which features photographs by Rebecca Swan and documentary films by Kirsty MacDonald, illustrating the diversity of gender identity. Waikato Museum is wor... more...

On 11 November Te Ara Hou, the innovative social services village situated on Morrinsville Road, celebrates 10 years of working together to address social issues in Hamilton. What began as a unique, and sometimes controversial, venture designed to meet and address the complex range of current social and community needs; has now, a decade later, become a blueprint for similar social service project... more...

Council will be distributing flyers on cars in November informing motorists of changes to after-hours parking enforcement in the CityHeart. The four week amnesty will advise motorists that parking areas set aside for taxis, buses and mobility spaces will be enforced from December. The goodwill initiative in the CBD will also assess parking misuse in these areas. Hamilton Central Business Associa... more...

The deadline for submissions on a District Plan variation has been extended. Submissions on Variation 21 will now be accepted until 1 February, 2010. Mayor Bob Simcock said the extension gives submitters more time to consider the implications. “We want to make sure we get this right and we welcome the opportunity to develop the variation with all interested parties.” Mayor Simcock said the v... more...