What is Hamilton, New Zealand?

Hamilton Kirikiriroa (Māori)
Country:	New Zealand
Population:	187,960 (urban) 134,400 (territorial)
Urban Area
Extent:	north to Taupiri; south to Kihikihi; southeast to Cambridge; and extensive adjacent countryside
Territorial Authority
Name:	Hamilton City
Mayor:	Bob Simcock
Extent:	Te Rapa to Glenview; Temple View to Silverdale
Land Area:	98km²
Website:	[1]
See also:	Matamata-Piako District South Waikato District Waikato District Waipa District Waitomo District
Regional Council
Name:	Environment Waikato
Website:	[2]

Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Māori) is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and is the country's seventh largest city. It is in the Waikato region of the North Island, approximately 130 km south of Auckland. It sits at a major road and rail nexus in the centre of the Waikato basin, on both banks of the Waikato River.

History

The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages, including Kirikiriroa, from which the city takes its Māori name. By the time British settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato River, were abandoned. The new British settlement was renamed Hamilton after Captain John Charles Fane Hamilton^[1], the popular Scottish commander of HMS Esk, who was killed in the battle of Gate Pa, Tauranga. The city is near the southernmost navigable reach of the Waikato River, amidst New Zealand's richest and most fertile agricultural land. Initially an agricultural service centre, it now has a growing and diverse economy.

Community archives and historic photograph collections are maintained and are available at Hamilton City Libraries.

Hamilton today

The centre of the city, on the Waikato River, is a bustling retail precinct. The entertainment area is quite vibrant due to the large student population. Hamilton has the second-largest collection of cafés in the country—second only to Ponsonby Road in Auckland. However, Hamilton still struggles with the arguably undeserved nickname of 'Cowtown' due to its conservative rural background and relative lack of entertainment for a city its size. A more common nickname of "Hamiltron: the city of the future" is a gently ironic epiphet for the city.

As of 2007, the city continues to enjoy the benefits of rapid growth without yet suffering too many of the negative consequences. Development is focused on the northern end of the city. Traffic congestion is increasing due to population growth, though road development and planning has kept up with the rapid growth in most places. State Highway 1 runs directly through the city, which contributes to congestion. A bypass is planned, but Transit New Zealand, the national road funding agency, has repeatedly delayed this project to the dismay of Hamilton residents.

The area around the city has seen some recent development into lifestyle blocks.

Geography and climate

Climate

for Hamilton, New Zealand
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
85   24 13	71   24 13	87   23 12	95   20 9	102   17 7	119   14 5	126   14 4	117   15 5	102   16 7	96   18 8	93   20 10	95   22 12
temperatures in C / precipitation in mm source: NIWA

Hamilton has a temperate, damp climate, with about 1184 mm of rainfall annually. Thick fog is common on winter mornings, and often lasts until late morning. Daily maximum temperatures range from about 22° to 26°C in January and February to 10° to 15°C in July and August. Summer occasionally sees temperatures of more than 30°C, while on clear winter mornings temperatures may drop to as low as -5°C. Although there are rumours of a snowfall in Hamilton in the 1960s and nearby Mount Pirongia sees a dusting of snow once every few years, snow does not fall in Hamilton.

Geography

With the exceptions of low hills around the University of Waikato, Hamilton Lake and to the west of the city, and an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.

Demographics

Hamilton is a rapidly growing city of over 130,000 people, with around 1.5 million people – 40% of New Zealand's total population – living within a 250-km radius.

According to official census figures^[2], Hamilton's population is 65.3% Pākehā/European, 19.9% Māori, 10.6% Asian, 4.7% Pacific Peoples and 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African. In addition, 10.6% of Hamiltonians chose the ethnic group 'New Zealander'.

Government and politics

Local government

Hamilton is located in the administrative areas of the Hamilton City Council. The Council administers the seventh most populous territorial authority in the country. The council consists of thirteen councillors and a mayor (currently Bob Simcock), and last faced election in 2004. Council elections are held every three years. From July 2007, former mayor Michael Redman (New Zealand) will become the CEO of the Council.

The council has six standing committees: City Development, Community and Leisure, Statutory Management, Transport, Finance and Audit, and Stadiums Management. There are also five sub-committees.

Hamilton City is itself part of the Waikato Region, controlled administratively by the Environment Waikato.

Central government

Hamilton has three electorate MP's in the New Zealand Parliament. The electorates are currently represented by:

General

• Hamilton West: Martin Gallagher (Labour).
• Hamilton East: David Bennett (National).

Māori

• Tainui: Nanaia Mahuta (Labour).

Economy

Education and research are important to the city, through the University of Waikato, and the Waikato Institute of Technology. Research at the Ruakura center has been responsible for much of New Zealand's innovation in agriculture.

Hamilton annually hosts the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, the southern hemisphere's biggest agricultural trade exhibition. Mystery Creek is the country's largest event center and hosts other events of national importance, such as the National Car Show and the National Boat Show.

Manufacturing and retail are also important to the local economy, as is the provision of health services through the Waikato Base Hospital. The city is home to New Zealand's largest aircraft manufacturer, Pacific Aerospace, and has its largest concentration of trailer-boat manufacturers.

Culture

In 2004, Hamilton City Council honored former resident Richard O'Brien with a life-size bronze statue of him as Riff Raff in his space suit, from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The statue was designed by WETA Workshops, who had done the props for the Lord of the Rings films. It stands on the former site of the Embassy Cinema, where Richard watched science fiction-double features.

Museums and theatre

The city is host to a large number of small galleries and the Waikato Museum. The latter includes Te Winika, one of the best-preserved waka (Māori war canoe) from the pre-colonisation era.

Events

• January: Parachute music festival
• February: Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival
• April: Hamilton 400, V8 Supercars street racing (coming April 2008)
• April: Balloons over Waikato hot air ballooning festival
• June: National Agricultural Fieldays
• August World Rally Championship
• September: Hamilton Underground Film Festival http://www.circuit47.com/otato/
• November: The Great Race (rowing)

Sport

The local rugby union teams are Waikato (Air New Zealand Cup) and the Chiefs (Super 14). The local colours are red, yellow and black hoops, and the provincial mascot is Mooloo, an anthropomorphic cow. Both teams play at Waikato Stadium. Hamilton is also home to a soccer club, Waikato FC, that competes in the New Zealand Football Championship and also plays at Waikato Stadium.

Seddon Park (formerly Westpac Park) is Hamilton's main cricket venue and hosts Test matches and one day internationals. It is the home ground of the Northern Districts Cricket Association.

Hamilton is fast becoming a motorsport venue as well. The WRC was held in Hamilton in 2006 and AVESCO have confirmed the V8 Supercars from 2008 after the Hamilton City Council granted Resource Consent.

Hospitals

Hamilton's main hospital is Waikato Hospital with 600 beds and a staff of approximately 2,500. There are two other major private hospitals in Hamilton City - Braemar Hospital, located currently in the Lake Area but soon moving to Hospital Area and Southern Cross Hospital, located in Hamilton East.

City facilities and attractions

Hamilton Gardens is the region's most popular tourist attraction and hosts the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival each year.

Other local attractions include Hamilton Zoo, the Waikato Museum, the Arts Post art gallery, and the SkyCity casino. Just 20 minutes' drive away is Ngaruawahia, the location of Turangawaewae Marae and the home of Māori King Tuheitia Paki.

Hamilton has 6 public libraries located throughout the city with the Central Library housing the main reference & heritage collection.

Hamilton City Theaters provides professional venue and event management at three theatrical venues in the city: Founders Theater, Clarence St Theater, and The Meteor theater.

Transportation

Air

Hamilton International Airport, undergoing a major upgrade, serves as both a domestic and international airport. There are direct flights to Wellington and Christchurch and regular flights to other destinations throughout the North Island. International flights are largely restricted to trans-Tasman and Polynesian destinations. The airport also serves as a major base for low-cost airline Freedom Air.

Road

Private cars are the transport medium of choice in this flat, spread-out city. The main geographical barrier in the city is the Waikato River. The seven bridges that cross the river are often the focus of morning and evening traffic delays.

While buses have been gaining in popularity in recent years, the relative lack of congestion compared to other cities, ample availability of parking and inconvenient bus schedules have been holding up progress. Recent additions to the bus system include audio-posts at bus-stops to provide arrival times, and improved weather shelters. A new service called "The Orbiter" provides a circuit round major centers in the city outskirts.

New Zealand's main road artery State Highway 1 runs through Hamilton's western suburbs and connects with State Highway 3 within the city boundaries.

Rail

Hamilton is the railway junction of the East Coast Main Trunk line with the North Island Main Trunk line. Rail passengers are served by a large station located at Frankton Junction. Rail passenger services are confined to The Overlander service which operates between Auckland and Wellington.

Hamilton also has an underground station in the central city located on the East Coast Main Trunk line, currently disused.

Education

Hamilton is home to more than 25,000 tertiary students, mostly enrolled in one of the city's two main tertiary institutes, the University of Waikato and Waikato Institute of Technology. As well as state and private primary, intermediate and high schools, it also notably includes a number of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori. A complete list of schools in Hamilton city can be found here.

Notables

• Craig Baird, racing car driver, born in Hamilton.
• Helen Clark, the current Prime Minister of New Zealand, born in Hamilton.
• Chanel Cole, Australian Idol contestant and member of Australian band Spook, born in Hamilton.
• Gillian Karawe Whitehead, one of New Zealand's most highly regarded composers, born in Hamilton.
• Darryll King, motorcross champion, lives in Stonebridge Estate, Hamilton.
• Elsie Locke, children's writer, historian, editor and activist, born in Hamilton.
• Malvina Major, opera singer, born in Hamilton.
• Richard O'Brien, creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, lived in Hamilton.
• Frank Sargeson, renowned author, born in Hamilton.
• Daniel Vettori, NZ cricketer, lives in Hamilton.
• Scott Styris, NZ cricketer, raised and educated in Hamilton.
• Dick Quax, Olympic Silver medallist and world record breaking runner, raised and educated in Hamilton.
• John Mitchell, former rugby player, and former New Zealand All Blacks coach.
• Let's Elope, Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 1992
• Kay Gregory, television personality, lives in Hamilton

Sister cities

Hamilton has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• Sacramento, California, USA
• Saitama, Saitama, Japan
• Wuxi, China

References

External links

• Hamilton City

Hamilton City Council

Hamilton Gardens

What's on Hamilton

Live City Cameras

Waikato Museum

Hamilton City Libraries

• Waikato Times - Local Newspaper
• University of Waikato
• Wintec (Waikato Polytechnic)
• Live Hamilton Weather
• Independent Hamilton Information Site
• Tourism Waikato
• Hamilton Street Maps

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