General Manager Environmental Services Graeme Fleming is leaving Council to head up what is thought to be New Zealand's biggest environmental project. Graeme has been with Council for nearly 29 years, starting first as an environmental health officer, later working in environmental policy development before becoming a general manager 12 years ago. His new role is with the newly formed Lake Taupo... more...

Council has established a free service for Hamiltonians to recycle their mercury lighting, adding a further dimension to its energy efficiency initiatives. The recycling programme will initially be run as a one-year trial. The impetus behind the programme is to encourage Hamilton households to use energy efficient mercury lighting plus a free and simple means of disposal. Two recycling drop-off ... more...

Hamilton City Councillors are proposing an average rates rise for existing city ratepayers of 5.09 per cent following a meeting this week to consider the 2008/09 Annual Plan. The meeting added a very small amount to the rates from what was earlier forecast. The increase was a result of a change to the criteria for rates remission for hardship relief. Council has changed the threshold limits of t... more...

Hamilton City Libraries patrons have the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite State Northern Knights at several community libraries this week. On Friday, 15 February from 10.30am-11.30am, members of the State Northern Knights will be visiting Chartwell, Dinsdale, Glenview, Hillcrest and St Andrews community libraries. The Knights will be reading to school children, talki... more...

A much-valued member of the Hamilton City Council team recently celebrated the extraordinary achievement of 50 years service to the city. Dan Tawha joined Council on 17 January 1958 as a Leading Hand in the Water Department. Since then Dan has held several positions within the water section of Council and has had played a role in many of the major projects in Hamilton. Dan is now Contracts Engine... more...

Hamilton City Councillors meet next week to consider the Proposed Annual Plan for the 2008/09 financial year with the likelihood that the average rate rise will be below what was forecast in the long-term plan. Councillors will be meeting to go through the budget on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. The budget papers currently show an average rates increase to existing ratepayers for the coming ye... more...

With just over two months to the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercars street race, the race is on to finalise preparations for the track for what will be Hamilton's and the country's largest event and an action-packed weekend. One of the final sections of the track to be prepared is the contouring and resealing of Norton Road Roundabout. The contractor Downer EDi Works has completed the widening of the rou... more...

Hamilton Zoo has today released a NZ falcon chick at Kakepuku Mountain, celebrating the city's first successful raising of this rare bird of prey. Once widespread throughout New Zealand, there are now only isolated populations of 3000 to 4500 pairs nationwide, reflected by this bird's classification as Vulnerable to Endangered. Hamilton Zoo is working with Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Society, ... more...