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Celebrating excellence in our community

Kia tupu ki te hua o te rengarenga, kia pakari ki te hua o te kawariki.

From Construction Site to Celebration

Hamilton Central Business Association is proud to have brought together the Love the Centre Awards, celebrating the businesses and people whose energy, resilience and commitment help Hamilton’s central city thrive. A huge thank you goes to key sponsor Spark Business and supporting sponsor Mediaworks for helping bring the Love the Centre Awards to life.

The future lobby of Hamilton’s Pullman Hotel became a spectacular celebration space for the awards, bringing the central city business community together for an evening of recognition, connection and celebration. With a crane providing a striking backdrop and concrete floors incorporated into the setting, the hotel construction site offered a memorable glimpse of what is to come when the new hotel opens early next year.

For one night, the space came alive with beautiful event styling, delicious canapés by Pragma Catering and an upbeat atmosphere, as businesses gathered to celebrate achievements across 10 award categories. The occasion was captured in photography and video by Moving Media and Gilmour Studios.

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Photos – Gilmour Studios 

Photos – Moving Media Ltd

 

 

Love the Centre Business Awards

The Love the Centre Business Awards are more than just a competition – they’re a celebration of the passion, creativity, and hard work that drives Hamilton Central forward.

Award Winners 2026

Celebrating our local business community
Celebrating our local business community
Celebrating our local business community

Celebrating our local business community

These awards showcase the diverse talents and achievements of our local business community, from long-standing institutions to exciting newcomers.

Celebrating our local business community
Celebrating our local business community
Celebrating our local business community

Key Dates

Nominations close 30 August 2026

Judging dates 1 – 30 September 2026

Awards evening 21 October 2026

Awards venue: Pullman Development – 42 Ward Street

 

Who can enter?

01 Location Any business operating within the Hamilton Central boundaries.
02 Eligibility Businesses must have been operating for at least 6 months.
03 Nominees Anyone can nominate a business for an award.

Award categories

Our awards recognise businesses across diverse categories, from retail and dining to professional services and community initiatives. There's a category to celebrate all contributions to our city centre.

  • Shopping
  • Public Good
  • Professional Service
  • New Business
  • Health and Beauty
  • Established Business
  • Eat & Drink – Daytime
  • Eat & Drink – Bars & Restaurants
  • Customer Service
  • Activity

Recognising excellence in our community

Our winners showcase Hamilton Central’s excellence, with outstanding business achievements and commitment.

 

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