Hamilton City Council has decided to switch off every second streetlight where appropriate in a power saving measure during the energy crisis. Council voted in favour of the idea at a meeting on Wednesday night. In discussing the issue, Council confirmed its commitment to street safety and resolved that lights would not be switched off in the CBD, suburbs close to the CBD, main arterial ... more...

Traffic delays are expected during resurfacing of the busy Grey Street/Clyde Street intersection from Tuesday [27 May]. Contracts supervisor Martyn Smith says all work will be carried out between 6pm and 6am to reduce delays. "We have scheduled the work to be done overnight, starting from 6pm, to avoid traffic delays. Contractors also have instructions to delay the work further if traf... more...

Balloons Over Waikato, already established as a city and regional icon event, has now shown its economic worth by contributing $2.8 million of new money to Hamilton this year. Economic development committee chair Ewan Wilson says a detailed economic impact study shows that significant visitor numbers was key to the event's success. "Balloons Over Waikato made a real impact this year th... more...

Waikato Museum of Art and History is hosting [21 May] the launch of new Te Papa Museum guides on developing and maintaining museum collections and ways of managing them through digital means. Acting programmes and collections manager Anne Blyth says Te Papa National Services' He Rauemi Resource Guides are excellent tools. "Waikato Museum already has a collections policy and we are commit... more...

A 126-year-old Plane Tree in Grey Street Hamilton East has undergone extensive surgery to help its survival following a poisoning attack.Hamilton City Council staff began work on the tree yesterday.It is believed that someone drilled a hole in the tree and poured in herbicide. The act of vandalism is believed to have happened some time ago, possibly as long ago as two years.An independent r... more...

Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival 2003 drew $750,000 of new money into Hamilton's economy, an economic impact study on the event shows. Economic development committee chair Ewan Wilson says the Council-commissioned research reinforces the value of icon events in the city. "This year's summer festival attracted 10,500 visitors to the city. Many of these visitors stayed for a couple of nigh... more...

Councillors and local MP Martin Gallagher recently attended a workshop to explore the issue of noise in Hamilton. Councillor Ted Armstrong says the workshop has prepared Council to discuss in-depth the issue at a future meeting of the statutory management committee, which he chairs. "The workshop covered Council's role in dealing with excessive noise, and the role of other agencies such ... more...

A joint project between Council, WEL Networks and Green Energy will turn the Horotiu Landfill's gases into enough electricity to run about 1000 homes. Works and services general manager Sally Davis, says the project makes intelligent use of a renewable resource. "This project will mean considerable cost savings to Council for up to 20 years, and will reduce our draw on the national elect... more...

Hamilton's oldest church site will be the scene of a thanksgiving service that will reflect on about a century and a half of Christian worship in the city. Mayor David Braithwaite and the Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, the Very Reverend Father Ian Hanley will host the service on Sunday, 11 May, beginning at 5pm. Event organiser, Councillor Mavora Hamilton says the service is part of the 1... more...

Hamilton City Council is urging residents to conserve water as a way of making significant power savings for the city. Chairman of Council's Works and Services Committee, Councillor Brian Impson, says the city uses a considerable amount of power to treat and pump water throughout the city, and if less water is used it equates directly to a saving in power. Every 1,000,000 litres of water... more...

Exscite's latest exhibition, Megawatt, It's Electrifying! is expected to generate big crowds with its focus on electricity at a time when New Zealand prepares for a winter of energy shortages. Science curator Nevan Ofsoski says the exhibition is about electricity, how it's generated, how much we rely on it, and how to be safe using it. "This exhibition will serve to raise awareness of po... more...