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The Skin Spa is an urban oasis located on Alexandra Street in central Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. This quiet sanctuary is for people seeking a journey of relaxation and beauty – an exceptional spa experience to treat the mind, body and spirit.

For over 20 years, Skin Spa owner Kim Frandi has built a career that seamlessly blends artistry with business savvy.  But the journey hasn’t always been smooth.

From early beginnings in Tauranga and Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, to becoming a business owner and weathering the storm of multiple lockdowns, Kim’s story is one of resilience, creativity and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

For Kim, beauty isn’t just about looking good. It is about helping people feel better about themselves.

Her journey began in the early 2000s when she faced a choice for where to study beauty therapy. It was either an expensive school in Tamaki Makaurau or in Tauranga for a more balanced lifestyle. Choosing Tauranga allowed Kim to work part-time in a café while studying, providing her with a more manageable lifestyle at a slower pace.

She later moved to Auckland for further studies in electrolysis, along with mentorship from industry professionals. This set the foundation for a career that would eventually lead to business ownership in the late 2000s.

With a passion for beauty and a mind for business, Kim was prepared for the challenges of business ownership and the ever-evolving nature of the beauty industry.

For almost ten years, Kim continued to operate The Skin Spa out of the 2nd floor of the Alexandra Street building. When Kim shifted The Skin Spa into a street-front space in 2019, she was determined to create more than just a place of work. It had to be a space that resonated with her personality and creative spirit. Based on her experience in cafés and bars, Kim created a versatile area that offered a balance of openness and privacy, with both a welcoming reception area and quiet, intimate treatment rooms.

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One of the most prominent buildings fronting Garden Place is set for a revamp with Hamilton City Council to replace the ageing and damaged facade of the Hamilton Central Library.

The current facade of the 1970s building is at the end of its life, with years of water damage in difficult-to-access areas ruling out ‘quick fixes’ as an option, council said in a statement.

The six-month project will start in August and Rebecca Whitehead, Council’s Unit Director Community Services, said while the replacement is underway, the library will remain open and safe to use.

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Instead of flowers or chocolate, give your mum something truly meaningful: the chance to be understood—not just appreciated.

The Universal Wellbeing Evaluation is a search-based wellbeing check-in that helps uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface—whether she’s feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, or simply needs space to focus on herself for once.

For $199, she’ll receive a completely private wellbeing assessment, a personalised report,and expert-led guidance to help her take real steps toward balance and clarity.

Because no matter how old you are, she’s still the one holding everything together. Let’s make sure she’s okay too.

Get ready to roll, sip, and savor in this hands-on Vietnamese summer roll & cocktail class!

Limited spots available, so be sure to book your tickets before they’re gone!

Saturday 10th May

12pm & 2pm sessions available

Classes run for 90 minutes

$75 per person

The old Housing Corp building at 500 Victoria St - between Bryce St and the Claudelands bridge - is getting revamped inside and out under owner Primeproperty Group.

But the Wellington-headquartered company isn’t stopping there. It’s also set to spend $1m-plus on a second seven-storey project further up the street: the Norris Ward McKinnon (NWM) office building.

Primeproperty bought 500 Victoria St in 2016 for $8.1 million.

Project manager Richard Tait was positive about being able to get tenants in the current climate.

“We wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”

They were targetting government clients or any “reasonable tenant”.

And, he added: “Potential tenants are telling us they want to be in Hamilton because that’s where the business is for them and there’s a large population.”

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In a world moving fast, RUBY Blink 2025 is your pause ~ a quiet flash of certainty; the kind you only catch if you’re truly looking.

Introducing RUBY’s winter 2025 collection, Blink captures that familiar winter feeling. The early sunsets, the cozy layers and the invitation to hibernate after a big summer ~ all signs point to a season of soft resets. And while the nights grow longer, the stars burn brighter ~ let Blink be the one you follow.

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and Le Rendez-vous are preparing something très spécial to celebrate the women who hold everything together with love, laughter, and just a hint of magic.

This year, why not treat Mum to a moment that’s as thoughtful and delicious as she is? Step into our cosy French crêperie in the heart of Hamilton, where the smell of butter and sugar fills the air, and every dish is made with heart.

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Date: 11th May (Sun) 1 - 3pm

Price $49 per person

Gift vouchers are ready to go!

Book through the website or email sam@potterystudio.co.nz

Sessions 10am, 1pm and 6pm

$55 per adult | $40 per chidl | Gift voucher

Step into the pottery workshop where creativity meets community in an atmospher brimming with laughter, collaboration and themed fu!

Book online or email sam@potterystudio.co.nz

It was the year 2000, on an overcast morning in May, when Vanessa Herbert (nee Nieper) launched her first fashion label and clothing store in Hamilton.

Now, 25 years, a rebrand and a change of hands later, NES is still going strong and preparing for a new chapter.

Herbert said she always had a passion for fashion, sewing her own clothes and sketching designs while working as a travel agent at Flight Centre in Auckland, but she didn’t think that she could turn it into a career.

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Whether you'restepping into a new role, suiting up for a big occasion, or simply upgradingyour everyday wardrobe - we’re here to help you look sharp and feel your best.

Our collection covers every moment, from tailored suits andblazers to smart casualwear, all designed with one goal in mind: to fit you.That means more than just sizes  -  it’s about proportions thatflatter, fabrics that move with you, and thoughtful details that make adifference. We’ve been dressing men since 1946, so when it comes to fit, styleand quality, you’re in expert hands.

We offer ready-to-wear styles in a wide range of sizes, includingshort and tall fits you won’t find everywhere. Need something more precise? Ourmade-to-measure service delivers suits, shirts and blazers crafted just for you-  the ultimate in personal style and comfort. We also provide expertalterations to make sure every garment feels like it was made for you, becauseit should.

Our in-store team are fit experts. They’ll help you find yourideal size, style, and cut - no guesswork, no pressure. Just good people whoknow what works, and how to make you feel confident in it.

Because at Rembrandt, fit isn’t just how something sits on yourshoulders - it’s how it makes you stand taller.

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The Cut Hut provides haircut services to people in an environment that can cater to individualised needs and sensitivities such as neurodiversity, LGBT, mental disabilities and physical disabilities. The specialised services is called the 'People Cut'. and is a scheduled service with an experienced hair stylist.

Appointment (15 minutes) - $20 includes consultation 'People Cut' and finish.

Appointment (30 minutes) - $40 includes consultation, hair wash, 'People Cut' and finish.

Appointment (45 minutes) - $60 includes consultation, hair wash, "People Cut' and finish.

Appointment (1 hour) - $80 includes consultation, hair wash, 'People Cut' and finish.

Seniors, Tertiary, Secondary, Primary and CSC holders receive 10% off their individualised 'People Cut'.

Contact Lee directly for any enquiries or to schedule an appointment. Alternatively you can use the book now button on The Cut Hut Facebook page to request an appointment time that suits you. Please leave your name, number and haircut service requirements. An appointment time can be scheduled accordingly.

When Charoenvach Suntronchatchavach and his partner took over Dora’s Café in 2023, it wasn’t just a new business venture - it was the continuation of a deeply rooted family tradition in hospitality.

For nearly a decade, the couple worked alongside Suntronchatchavach’s parents at the Jasmine Thai restaurants in Ōtorohanga and Taumarunui.

“It was six days a week, 10am to 9pm,” he recalls. “It was a bit too much for 10 years.”

Seeking a new pace and a fresh opportunity, the pair found themselves drawn to Hamilton’s city vibe - specifically, the little café his partner Pathitta Raksadee had grown fond of while studying at Wintec.

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Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday!

Book a table and celebrate your mum this Sunday. You will not only enjoy some delicious food but @rosy_clothingboutique will be open for you to spend your $10 voucher included in the ticket price.

Email to book your spot : Woodenspoonhome@gmail.com

Find out what's on in central city in May!

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Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult film and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan. The Toxic Avenger is a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all: an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor (Courteney Mayall) and two guys who play… well, everyone else … bullies, mobsters, old ladies and stiletto-wearing back up singers.
Enter Melvin Ferd the Third (Alex Pelham Waerea), an aspiring earth scientist. Who wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the mayor’s bullies, (Bailey Lindsey and Marangai Wainohu-Savage)

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The French Film Festival Aotearoa is returning to Lido Cinema screens on May 28th With a gala screening of the wonderful, Monsieur Aznavour, followed by 3 weeks of the very best films that France has to offer.

Basketball fans won’t want to miss the Trans-Tasman Throwdown, an electrifying basketball series featuring Australia’s Boomers vs. New Zealand’s Tall Blacks and the 2degrees Tall Ferns vs. the Opals. This high-energy event rekindles one of the fiercest rivalries in international sports, as Australia and New Zealand battle it out across three exciting games.

This is a unique opportunity to see both countries’ national basketball teams in action on their home turf. It’s the first time the Boomers have played the Tall Blacks in Australia since 2021, and nearly ten years since the Tall Blacks hosted the Boomers in New Zealand.

The Opals and 2degrees Tall Ferns will face off after an intense 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup bronze medal match, where Australia narrowly defeated New Zealand. This will be the Tall Ferns’ first home game in over five years and the first time the Opals have played in New Zealand since 2015.

Don't miss out on this chance to witness some of the world’s best basketball teams compete live. Get your tickets now for this historic series!

Corporate Hospitality: Interested in an exclusive experience? For corporate hospitality options, email spoiltforchoice@h3group.co.nz

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Peppa Pig is back touring New Zealand for the first time since 2018 in her oink tastic stage show, Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out LIVE! Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea! Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out LIVE! guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans and is a perfect introduction to theatre.

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Join Professor Penfold in his race against time to create a fantastical solution to the city’s rubbish problem!

With an impatient mayor breathing down his neck, an enthusiastic but clumsy nephew causing havoc in the lab, what more could possibly go wrong for the professor?

The Perfectly Peculiar Practice of Professor Penfold is a wonderfully wacky, and joyful experience for people of all ages – kids and parents alike!

Written by Scott Granville and Courteney Mayall

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1st July -Saturday, 5thJuly, 10:30 am & 1 pm (10:30 am only on Sat 5^thJuly)

A Hamilton-based festival for self-publishers of comics, poetry, collage, fan-art, photo essays and more.

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Stall holder applications now open https://forms.gle/rsQMTGMFNKHmHoZq9

Renowned Hamilton chef Andrew Clarke has created a four course tasting menu to match four Whitehaven wines.Danny from Whitehaven will be joining us as our wine ‘tour guide’ for the evening, giving insights into the winery and the way that the chosen varietals match each course.

This event starts at 6pm and tickets are just $59 per person. To book, please email info@keystonebar.co.nz - make sure you get in early as there are limited spots available!

For the first time ever, the All Blacks face France in Hamilton. Let’s make FMG Stadium a fortress! Get your tickets now before they’re gone.

The battle ends here. The final Test of the Lipovitan-D Series against France is more than just a game—it’s a statement.

For the first time ever, the All Blacks face France in Hamilton, so don’t miss the chance to witness history.

Wear the black jersey. Bring the noise. Make FMG Stadium Waikato a fortress.

Tickets from just $40.

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A great line up of events on each month at Last Place!

The streets and laneways of Hamilton will come alive this Autumn as a line-up of incredible venues each transform into an Urban Cellar Door and host a winemaker for you to visit on a self-guided wine trail!

How does it work you ask? Simply decide which venue you'd like to start from and you're off! Choose your own adventure as you and your friends move from venue to venue tasting delicious wines thanks to our incredible line-up of winemakers.

Guaranteed to sell out, the Urban Wine Walk promises a fun and unique self-guided wine tasting experience that you and your friends won't want to miss!

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We invite you to join us for a night celebrating the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty, as we present the music of one of the world’s most iconic bands – from the songs they wrote, to the songs covered, to the songs they wrote for others

All the hits that defined a generation, and have been passed on for many more – all in one night, live, on stage.

Creedence Clearwater Collective brings to the stage a band that captures the unique CCR sound.

You do not want to hear through the grapevine that you missed out on this howling good time.

Join us, a real-life travelling band.

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