New Zealand Post has acknowledged their responsibility for the late delivery of the recent Hayes Paddock mail out. Last week [beginning Monday, 19 September] New Zealand Post experienced technical difficulties which resulted in the Waikato mail centre working manually at capacity. During this time, some mail was sent to other mail centres for processing. On 20 September, Council mailed 418 let... more...

A combined display of theatre and digital technology will mark International Day for Older People at the Hamilton Celebrating Age Centre on 1 October. Age Concern has followed observance of the day which was incepted in 1999 by the United Nations. This year, students from Waikato University Theatre Studies and younger students from Artmakers are working together with a group of older people f... more...

Time is running out for any Hamiltonians who wish to nominate someone whose community achievement may be worthy of a Civic Award. Nominations for the 2005 Civic Awards close at 5pm on Friday, 14 October. Hamilton mayor Michael Redman reminds people that nominations are a way of recognising people who enrich and make a difference in the Hamilton community."Nominations are closing soon for thi... more...

Hamilton Zoo's camel Sahara sadly passed away this week aged 18 years old.Sahara was the last camel left in New Zealand and had been a resident of Hamilton Zoo for around 16 years.A post-mortem is currently being carried out to understand cause of death.ENDSFOR MORE INFORMATIONName:  Jason RogersDesignation:  Leisure Facilities ManagerTel (Direct):  07 838 6760Mobile:&... more...

Hamilton City Council has announced that Westpac will not be renewing its naming rights agreement for Westpac Park cricket ground. The naming rights agreement expires at the end of the year, following 15 years of successful sponsorship. Chair of Council's Stadiums Management Board, councillor Glenda Saunders, says the naming rights agreement has worked well for all parties but it is now tim... more...

Hamilton City Council has released plans for a major redevelopment of the events centre at Claudelands. The master plan for the events centre site that includes large upgrading of some of the existing buildings, significant improvement in the conference/convention facilities as well as provision for a 5,000 seat indoor stadium/events hall. Council has yet to make decisions on how much it wil... more...

Council has resolved that the base rental for community land rentals will be $240 per hectare in 2005.Council will not charge land rental where the amount is less than $100.Community and Leisure Committee chair Pippa Mahood says the impetus behind the resolution is to achieve greater equity and consistency in the handling of land leases to community groups in the city."A review... more...

Hamilton Gardens continues to clean up the damage left in the wake of last Friday's [16 September] tornado. The initial estimate of trees lost at Hamilton Gardens as a result of the tornado was 80. This number has now increased significantly. Hamilton Gardens now estimates that approximately 200 trees have been destroyed or will have to be removed. Many smaller shrubs and plants have also b... more...

Council is currently upgrading the Water Treatment Station in Peacockes Road. The upgrade has been signalled as a high priority from residents especially since the algae bloom in the summer of 2002/03. The completed upgrade - expected mid 2006 - will improve water quality, taste and odour characteristics and increase the capacity of the station to provide for future growth in the city.The statio... more...

Council is facing a major clean up on a number of city parks after a weekend tornado cut a path of damage from Melville to Hillcrest. Worst hit is Hamilton Gardens where dozens of mature trees have been toppled. A large tree has fallen onto the nursery administration building and about a quarter of the glass from the tropical plant glasshouse has been smashed. With falling temperatures, the ne... more...

A working-group has been convened by Hamilton City Council to develop a City Design Strategy. The group has met for the first time and will meet again next month. The formation of the group, and what it will be working on, is part of Council's commitment to creating a quality urban environment in Hamilton. The multi-sector working-group includes people with expertise in the areas of property... more...

This Saturday [10 September] the Waikato River will host the annual Great Race as Waikato University takes on the University of Washington from the USA. Our local Waikato University team have already tasted success as they brought home four gold medals from the World Championships in Japan last Saturday [3 September]. The Great Race itself begins at 2pm but the banks of the Waikato River are f... more...

A formal month-long submission process gets underway today [Wednesday, 7 September] on Council's proposal to move to a two-ward electorate system and a reduction in the number of councillors for the 2007 elections. The proposals were parts of resolutions made at an extraordinary Council meeting on 29 August 2005. Under the two-ward structure, six councillors will represent the West ward and s... more...

Council's Transport Committee is recommending that $28.268 million of work is undertaken this year (2005/06) for Access Hamilton.Funding for the identified projects will come from the Access Hamilton targeted rate, subsides from Land Transport New Zealand and Environment Waikato's passenger rate.The full Council will consider the recommendation in a fortnight.Transport committee chairman Dave ... more...