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Boon Street Art Festival to Transform Hamilton with Stunning Murals and Cultural Experiences – March 13th-16th, 2025

Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, prepare for an exciting four days of art, culture, and community as the Boon Street Art Festival returns to Hamilton from March 13th to 16th, 2025. This exciting festival will feature an incredible artist lineup, an interactive community mural, and a variety of events designed to celebrate the city's creative spirit.

The talented artists set to showcase their work include international artist Alison Mooney, Alice Alva (Hamilton), Kophie Su’a Hulsbosch (Christchurch), Flox & Sweats (Auckland), Theo Arraj (Raglan), and Te Marunui Hotene (Whakatane).

One of the festival’s key highlights will be the sale of vibrant, one-of-a-kind murals. For just $3,500, each mural is accompanied by a plaque featuring the artist's name, a brief description of the artwork, and the buyer's logo. This initiative offers an exceptional opportunity to engage with and invest in the local creative world, allowing individuals and businesses to purchase artwork that truly lives on the street, enriching the public space.

They’re looking for passionate, team-oriented individuals who are eager to volunteer their time and energy to making this Street Art Festival come to life. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience, meet new people, and have some fun with like-minded individuals. To sign up or learn more, please email Megan at volunteers@boonarts.co.nz

If you love art and you love puzzles, then this collaboration between Confinement Games and Boon Art is perfect for you! With cryptic directions and clues, find the art, solve the question, and move on. Learn about the artist, the artwork, have fun exploring the city, and discover artworks you may have never seen!

Choose which area you want to explore, grab your team, or go it alone. For groups, we recommend the purchase of individual games so that each player can have access to the app on their own device.  This way players can read and play at their own pace. There is no minimum or maximum number of people that can play at any given time.

Can be played anytime with no time limit either as a team or an individual. Solve clues, find the art!

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You and your colleagues decided it would be good to meet for drinks and canapes at Sisterfields, located in the heart of the CBD, on Victoria Street, Hamilton.   You joined in with the Party group that had gathered and everything was going well.  You are mixing and mingling, and then an alarming announcement is made over the intercom speaker! "A body has been near the bathroom, and it is clear a murder has just been committed".  The venue is put into lockdown, and everyone is asked to get into their own teams. Together you and your friends must hunt for clues, solve all the puzzles, and see if you can identify who the killer is!

Light canapes will be served on arrival, and you are encouraged to book for dinner o dessert after the game.   A great setting with live music to enjoy the rest of the evening.

If your team enjoys Quiz Nights or Escape Rooms, you will love this special puzzle-solving event!

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This summer, Garden Place will come alive with creativity and fun as Circus in the Centre brings a series of family-friendly circus sessions to the lawn.

These open-air sessions will offer a unique opportunity for whānau to explore the joy of circus in a welcoming and unstructured environment. Whether you're dropping by for a quick spin with a hula hoop or immersing yourself for the full two and a half hours to get your three-ball juggle, there’s something for everyone—regardless of age or experience.

This collaborative initiative is supported by Love the Centre and Creative Waikato and is hosted by the experienced team at Black Sheep Circus Entertainment.

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Active and creative activities have long been recognised as pillars of community wellbeing, fostering physical health, mental resilience and social cohesion.

The uniting features of these activities are found in newin-app experience, Te Ara Toi o Te Taniwha, an interactive animated guided arts experience developed by Creative Waikato in partnership with PickPath.

This unique creative experience takes participants through the city’s CBD, exploring local street art and cultural stories in a game-like mixed media format.

Walking from the river to the highest point of Kirikiriroa Hamilton CBD, it creates a fun way to incorporate active movement through a creative experience.

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Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s so much to rediscover and enjoy. Start your journey with lovethecentre.co.nz, your ultimate guide to the best places to eat, shop, and experience in Hamilton’s central city.

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Opening night for the $80 million Waikato Regional Theatre has been pushed out to next year, about a year later than originally planned, because of a tight market for materials and other factors. However, the budget is still going to script and structural.

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Hamilton has a thriving arts scene, and it's just getting better and better all the time.

This is the view of one of those who has been a driving force in local theatre, both on the stage and in the back office.

“Green tights and a big plant outfit” is where it all started for theatre-maker and Clarence St Theatre general manager Shaun Bugden while a student at Hillcrest High School.

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The region’s leaders, canvassed on their key takeaways from 2024, have come up with some remarkably similar conclusions - and some great expectations.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said her main lesson from 2024 was to “to keep the optimism and positivity to get through the tough times ... As a politician it is important to keep a positive lens on whatever it is you are doing.

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I’d been to Hamilton many times before moving here. On a typical family trip, we would spend a morning at the Gardens and hop to Sichuan Style on Collingwood Street for their spicy fish fillet - a typical itinerary for many Auckland Chinese.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery celebrates its reopening with a jam-packed season ahead of amazing exhibitions and programmes.

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After a six-month closure for extensive renovations, the Museum is ready to welcome visitors to their opening weekend’s ‘housewarming’ celebration to experience the improvements as well as the four new exhibitions alongside established favourites including Exscite.

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A non-stop cavalcade of top international talent is now guaranteed for the city with the world’s biggest live entertainment company signing a 15-year lease to run the Waikato Regional Theatre.

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The deal is with Live Nation, which operates top Auckland venue Spark Arena and, among other feats, recently brought Coldplay to New Zealand.

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Of Aotearoa’s four main centres - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton - the city’s tree stands at a whopping 27m to the tip of its star and is by far the tallest.

Back in 2012, former Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker was keen to turn the city into New Zealand's Christmas capital, but received a grinch-like response from some locals.

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Welcome to Escapist NZ, Hamilton’s premier destination for immersive escape rooms, mind-bending puzzles, and a haven for board game enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned puzzle solver or a curious newcomer, their unique blend of adventure and relaxation promises an unforgettable experience for everyone.

Immersive Rooms and Puzzles

Step into a world of mystery and intrigue with their meticulously designed escape rooms. Each room offers a unique storyline, challenging puzzles, and an immersive environment that will transport you to another world. Work together with your team to uncover clues, solve riddles, and escape before time runs out. The rooms are perfect for friends, families, and corporate teams looking for a fun and engaging activity.

Board Game Café

After your escape room adventure, unwind in the cozy boardgame café. With a wide selection of classic and modern board games, there’ssomething for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re in the mood for a strategicgame of Settlers of Catan or a light-hearted round of Codenames, the friendlystaff are always on hand to help you find the perfect game.

Retail Store

Take a piece of the adventure home with you from the retail store. They offer a variety of board games, puzzles, and escape room-themed merchandise. Whether you’re looking for a new game to add to your collection or a unique gift for a friend, you’ll find it here.

Visit Today

Located in the heart of Hamilton, Escapist NZ is the perfect place to escape the ordinary and dive into a world of fun and excitement. Book your escape room experience today and discover why they're a favorite spot for adventure and entertainment.

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Details coming soon!

We’re turning the lawn at Garden Place into a lively circus zone, offering free family-friendly sessions where kids and whānau can explore circus skills in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

What to Expect:
Circus tutors who can teach you juggling, hula hooping, spinning plates, and more!

A drop-in experience—stay for 5 minutes or the full 2.5 hours.
Activities for all ages and skill levels.

This event is hosted by the talented team at Black Sheep Circus Entertainment and proudly supported by Creative Waikato and the Love the Centre.

Participants can look forward to learning skills such as juggling, hula hooping, spinning plates, and more, with all equipment provided on-site. These free sessions are designed to promote community connection while supporting physical and mental wellbeing in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Come along and be part of the magic—no tickets, no pressure, just plenty of fun under the summer sun!

It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to get active, connect with the community, and try something new.

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You and your team meet for drinks and canapes at Sisterfields, located in the heart of the CBD on Victoria Street, Hamilton. Everything was going well when an alarming announcement is made over a speaker, "A body has been discovered near the bathroom and it is clear a murder has just been committed!"

Together you and your friends must hunt for clues, solve all the puzzles, and see if you can identify who the killer is!

Light canapes will be served on arrival, and you are more than welcome to book for dinner or dessert after the game. It's a great setting with live music to enjoy the rest of the evening.

If your team enjoys Quiz Nights or Escape Rooms, you will love this special puzzle-solving event! Keep your eyes peeled for more dates in the future

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Dragon & Lion Dance, Magic Show, Live Cultural Performances & Food Stalls.

Event from 6pm with food stalls from 4pm.

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If you would like to enquire about having a food stall at the event, please email info@waikatoweekly.co.nz

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Printable event guide.

The soulful sounds of the sitar, the soaring melodies of the violin, and the rhythmic pulse of the tabla come together in a harmonious blend of traditional Indian classical and contemporary Western music. This innovative fusion creates a rich tapestry of sound that transcends cultural boundaries, transporting listeners on a sonic journey from West to East. From the intricate ragas of Indian classical to the improvisational spirit of jazz and Western Classical Music featuring:

Each show is being recorded and pitched to Netflix.

Tickets from $20, $25 cash at the door.

After a sold out series of shows last November and an appearance at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Coombe and Craig are hitting the road again and this time they are making it bigger!

Catch two of New Zealand’s top up-and-coming comedians this summer as they head out across the North Island with special guest Annie.

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Whether you already love making zines or want to step up to sharing your creativity in printed form - nau mai, haere mai, welcome! Suitable for ages 14 years and older.

A zine is a small, handcrafted booklet, made from original or re-purposed writing and images. It's a great way to publish and share your own art, poems, opinions, or photos.

And if you already know how to zine, just come hang and make with us in a zine-friendly space.

We can koorero, write, glue, compose, stitch and disseminate our creative genius, our truth, our joy!

Suitable for ages 14+ years

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Inspired by the Museum's current exhibitions, these hands-on sessions will expand your child’s knowledge of art and science through creative crafting techniques. Suitable for ages 7-13 years.

$45 per session, booking fees may apply. Includes entry to Exscite for your child on the same day. Limited spaces!

Suitable for ages 7 to 14 years

Say goodbye to 2024 and ALOHA to 2025 at SkyCity Hamilton!

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Get ready to ring in the New Year, with a splash of tropical paradise!

Festivities kick off at 6pm, where you can collect your free entry wristband to go in the draw to win a share of our LUAU LOOT. Make sure you get in quick, as we have a limited number of wristbands available!

Hula your way into the New Year with an exciting line up of live entertainment:

Catch PACIFIC ELVIS live at Number Eight Bar

GROOVE STREET will be taking over the stage at Amuse Bar & Kitchen

Plus, their usual line up of delicious food and drink will be available for purchase all night long!

You won't want to miss this - so grab your best summer florals and enjoy the fun!

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1st and 2nd of March 2025 coming to a venue near you! A big thank you to BUSit for offering FREE bus rides to all our HCD events!

This is an event not to be missed, let’s come together and celebrate our children and whaanau!

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Keystone is your spot for live music this New Year's Eve. If you're in Hamilton on Tuesday the 31st of December, come bring in the New Year with Keystone!

Printable event guide.