Council's annual survey of city residents has shown that high levels of satisfaction for key areas reached in last year's survey have been backed up again this year. Satisfaction with Council staff, elected members and Hamilton as a place to live remain extremely high, along with the rating of Quality of life in Hamilton, Quality of Council facilities and services, the Overall performance of Coun... more...

The Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2006 drew 270 entries and from these 48 finalists have been selected. Seven of the finalists are local artists from Hamilton being Mark Curtis, Andrea Wilkinson, Bruce Phillips, C. K. Reynolds, Lynda Wilson, Kelly Gent and Mark Purdom. The Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entr... more...

The first phase of the Te Parapara Garden was officially unveiled at Hamilton Gardens today [20 July 2006] signifying the newest addition to the Hamilton Gardens themed garden collection. In July 2003, as part of Annual Plan submissions, Council accepted a proposal by Nga Mana Toopu O Kirikiriroa for the establishment of a traditional Maori plantation garden at Hamilton Gardens. The first phase o... more...

Hamilton City Council has won a landmark High Court decision that has totally upheld its 2004 Prostitution Bylaw that restricts commercial sexual services to defined areas in the city. Justice Ellen France has thrown out an appeal against the Bylaw from a Hamilton brothel and awarded costs to the city council. In her judgment, the judge said that the council Bylaw is not contrary to the Prostitu... more...

Hamilton City Council has won the Creative New Zealand Creative Places: Cultural Festivals and Arts Events Award 2006 for the Rare View: A glimpse into Hamilton's Somali Community exhibition. The award was presented earlier today [Tuesday, 18 July] at the Local Government New Zealand Conference in Wellington. Hamilton mayor Michael Redman accepted the award on behalf of Hamilton city. The award ... more...

Hamilton mayor Michael Redman has been recognised by the Sir Peter Blake Trust as one of New Zealand's emerging leaders. The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards were announced at Parliament at the weekend. Mr Redman was one of six people to be recognised as an emerging leader along with: Emeline Afeaki-Mafile'o, founder of Affirming Works in Manukau; Andrew Berry, Senior Sergeant, Otara Polic... more...

Patronage of Hamilton's CBD shuttle continues to go from strength to strength, as the June figures released this week show strong growth in passenger numbers. In only its second full month over 8,000 passengers utilised the service. The service began in April 2006 and was used by 2,095 passengers. In May this number increased to 7,409 and in June, 8,277 patrons used the service. The free CBD Shu... more...

Live poetry readings on Hamilton buses as part of Montana Poetry Day celebrations [21 July] is set to become a national first. On 21 July from 7am till 9am, passengers onboard the CBD Shuttle, Chartwell Direct and Orbiter buses will be treated to some of New Zealand's best-known poetry presented live by local actors. This initiative is thought to be a first in New Zealand. Council has partnered ... more...

Following extensive community consultation, Council is pursuing a new approach to Hamilton's wastewater scheme by seeking a 35-year timeframe for three key operational resource consent applications. The three consents required are: discharge of treated wastewater to the Waikato River; discharge to air; and the placement and use of the wastewater outfall structure in the Waikato River bed. The cur... more...

Council this week gave its approval for a unique subdivision concept to be developed on surplus Council land located in Rotokauri adjacent to the Lake Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. The development is a signature project that embraces principles of urban design and sustainable development that have been articulated through Council's CityScope strategy. CityScope delivers a framework for sust... more...