The region's promising young authors have been recognised as part of the New Zealand Post Book Awards' Waikato and King Country Short Story Competition. Coordinated by Hamilton City Libraries and run in conjunction with all libraries throughout the Waikato and King Country region, the awards attracted over 200 entries from budding local authors aged 5-18 years old. Judged by the New Zealand Pos... more...

Popular demand has led to the extension of the Da Vinci Machines exhibition at Waikato Museum. While the exhibition was originally scheduled to close on 29 June 2009, high visitor numbers has now seen it extended by six weeks to 23 August. Waikato Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala said it has been wonderful for Hamilton to have the opportunity to host such a world renowned exhibition and she ho... more...

Following a record number of entries, fourteen finalists were announced today for New Zealand's most ingenious fine art award the 2009 Fieldays No 8 Wire National Art Award. Since 1997 the annual award has been challenging artists to make a sculpture from No 8 Wire. Sponsored by Fieldays, the No 8 Wire National Art Award has becomed renowned for the ingenious and unique entries it attracts. Awar... more...

Moesha, a female white rhinoceros who Hamilton Zoo staff were once concerned would never reproduce, has given birth to a baby boy. The calf, which was born at Hamilton Zoo on 30 April after a 16-month gestation, is the fourth baby rhino to be born at the facility and the sixth to ever be born in New Zealand. Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley said the new addition is exciting for the facilit... more...

Local design buffs will be thinking twice about what they throw out in the rubbish, as entries open for ReStyle 09. Previously known as Trash to Fashion, ReStyle is the new name given to the event that has wowed Hamilton audiences for the past nine years by parading original pieces of wearable art made from recycled and reused organic and inorganic materials down the catwalk. Coordinated by The B... more...

Hamilton Central Library will be far from its quiet self later this month, when alternative rock/metal band Chuganaut performs as part of its New Zealand Music Month initiative 'Soundz Like Hamilton'. The one-off free concert will be held in Hamilton Central Library on Saturday, 30 May at 3pm as part of a two-week programme of music, which aims to promote local talent while providing a wide varie... more...

Following an extensive tender and vendor proposal evaluation process, Foster Construction Ltd has been nominated as the preferred contractor for the proposed Claudelands Arena build. Event facilities manager Mark Christie says that early engagement with the preferred supplier allows for the final detailed designs to be worked through extensively in terms of construction process. “Early appointme... more...

Physical works got underway today on new car park and wetlands facilities at Claudelands. The development will see additional car parking established in two locations, along Heaphy Terrace adjacent to the Holman Stand and off Brooklyn Road within the Claudelands Events Centre site; a driveway constructed from Brooklyn Road to service the function venue, The Grandstand; and a wetland area develope... more...

Public hearings of submissions on Hamilton City Council’s 2009‑2019 Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) are being held on Tuesday 12 May. Due to the high number of submitters wanting to be heard the hearings are scheduled over four days. Community engagement in Council’s LTCCP and consultation process has been one of the highest in the last 10 years. The plan outlines what Council plans to... more...

Improvements to three intersections along Mill Street are aimed to maximise the capacity of Mill Street, lower congestion at intersections and improve road safety and cycle facilities. Overall the Access Hamilton project will create a northbound two lane priority on Willoughby Street from Liverpool Street right onto Mill Street and left around into Ulster Street. Willoughby Street will be widened... more...

Chimpanzee Lucifer will be flashing his 'pearly whites' for Hamilton Zoo visitors in no time, after successfully undergoing dental surgery yesterday. The 20-year-old male chimpanzee is recovering well after having a broken, upper-right canine removed by Auckland veterinary dentist Dr Russell Tucker at 8am yesterday morning. Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley said it was the first time that ... more...

The Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has appointed Paul Blewman as Hamilton’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Local Controller for the Waikato Valley Emergency Operating Area. The role as controller is an additional responsibility to Mr Blewman’s position as Hamilton’s emergency and community safety manager. He says a Civil Defence emergency can happen without warning; the swin... more...

The publicly notified Resource Consent for the building of the Claudelands indoor arena, as part of the Claudelands redevelopment in Hamilton, has been approved with no appeals lodged. The Resource Consent was heard by an independent commissioner and resulted in 95 submissions being made to the hearing. Approximately two thirds of the submissions were in favour of the indoor arena being built wh... more...