Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton (
Kirikiriroa in
Maori) is
New Zealand's seventh largest city. It is situated in the
Waikato region of the
North Island, approximately 130 km south of
Auckland. The city, lying at a major road and rail nexus, is situated in the centre of the Waikato basin, on both the east and west banks of the
Waikato River.
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 English settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato River, were abandoned. The new English settlement was renamed Hamilton after Captain Fane Charles Hamilton, the popular commander of
HMS Esk, who was killed in the battle of
Gate Pa,
Tauranga. The city is located 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.
Climate
Hamilton has a temperate although sometimes damp climate, with about 1184 mm of rainfall annually. 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 see temperatures of more than 30°C, while on clear winter mornings temperatures may drop to as low as -4°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.
Climate Table | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|
| Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) | 23.8 | 24.3 | 22.7 | 19.9 | 16.6 | 14.1 | 13.6 | 14.6 | 16.2 | 17.9 | 20 | 22 | 18.8 |
|---|
| Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) | 12.8 | 13 | 11.6 | 9.2 | 6.6 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 8.3 | 10 | 11.5 | 8.6 |
|---|
| Mean total rainfall (mm) | 85 | 71 | 87 | 95 | 102 | 119 | 126 | 117 | 102 | 96 | 93 | 95 | 1190 |
|---|
| Mean number of rain days | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 129 |
|---|
| Source: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research |
Geography
With the exceptions of low hills around the university, Hamilton Lake and to the west of the city, and an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.
|
Aerial view of Hamilton, 2001 |
Due to Hamilton's rapid growth, some consider the city's newer suburbs to be lacking in character. However, the centre of the city is vibrant and lively, and the Waikato river runs through it. Hamilton has the second-largest collection of cafés in the country—second only to Ponsonby Road in
Auckland. As of
2004, the city has been enjoying the benefits of rapid growth without yet suffering related negative consequences, though traffic congestion is increasing at a faster rate than population growth, unaided by the fact that State Highway 1 runs through the city's urban area.
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.
The city is growing to be a very diverse society. Many immigrants also settle in this city, mostly from the
Pacific Islands. Hamilton is still largely
European, mostly of
British origins, but there also people of
Polish,
Italian, and
Yugoslav origins. According to New Zealand statistics office, Hamilton's population is 79.2% Pakeha/European; 15%
Māori, and the remainder mainly Asian and Pacific Islander.
The
Hamilton City Council administers the seventh most populous territorial authority in the county. The council consists of 13 councillors and a
mayor (currently Michael Redman), and last faced election in 2004. Council elections are held every three years.
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.
|
Victoria Street looking south |
Education and research are important to the city, through the
University of Waikato and through the agricultural research centre at
Ruakura, which have 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 largest agricultural trade exhibition. Mystery Creek is the country's largest event centre 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-manufacturing operation,
Pacific Aerospace, and has its largest concentration of trailer-boat manufacturers.
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
Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology).
High Schools
*
Hamilton Boys' High School*
St Paul's Collegiate School*
Hillcrest High School*
Hamilton's Fraser High School*
St. John's College*
Hamilton Girls' High School*
Fairfield College*
Sacred Heart Girls' College*
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls*
Church College Of New Zealand* [
1]
Melville High School* [
2]
Fairfield CollegePrimary and Intermediate Schools
*
Southwell School*
Peachgrove Intermediate*
Berkley Normal Middle School*
Aberdeen Primary School*
Knighton Normal School*
Fairfield Primary*
Fairfield Intermediate*
Rotokauri School*
Forest Lake Primary*
Maeroa Intermediate* [
3]
Marian Primary School* [
4]
Te Rapa Primary SchoolMuseums and theatre
The city is host to a large number of small galleries and the Waikato Museum of Art and Culture. The latter includes Te Winika, one of the best-preserved waka (Māori war canoe) from the pre-colonisation era.
Events
*
National Agricultural Fieldays*
Balloons over Waikato hot air ballooning festival
Sport
|
Waikato Stadium, Lions vs. NZ Māori, 2005 |
The local
rugby union teams are
Waikato (
NPC) and the
Chiefs (
Super 14). The local colours are yellow, red and black hoops, and the provincial mascot is Mooloo, an anthropomorphic cow. Both teams play at
Waikato Stadium.
Westpac Park is Hamilton's main
cricket venue and it has hosted
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 has been confirmed for Hamilton from 2006 and the
V8 Supercars are coming from 2008 subject to resource consent. This is looking likely as the Hamilton City Council suggested the race and is a strong backer.
|
Hamilton Gardens Italian Garden |
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 of Art and Culture, the Art Post art gallery, and Sky Riverside casino. Just 20 minutes' drive away is
Ngaruawahia, the location of
Turangawaewae Marae and the home of the Māori Queen.
Air
Hamilton International Airport, undergoing a major upgrade, serves as both a domestic and international airport. There are direct flights to both 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 six 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.
New Zealand's main roading artery
State Highway 1 runs through Hamilton's western suburbs and connects with
State Highway 3 within the city boundaries.
Rail
Rail passengers are served by Hamilton Station, located in Frankton. Passenger rail services are confined to The Overlander, operating daily between Auckland and Wellington.
*
Craig Baird " racing car driver, born in Hamilton.
* Richard & Christopher Chandler " Monaco-based multi-billionaires, lived and initially went to school in Hamilton.
*
Helen Clark " the current Prime Minister of New Zealand, born in Hamilton.
*
Guy Doleman " actor who played the villain 'Count Lippe' in the 1965
James Bond movie
Thunderball, born in Hamilton.
*
Howden Ganley " Formula One motor racing driver, born in Hamilton.
*
Gillian Karawe Whitehead " one of New Zealand's most highly regarded composers, born in Hamilton.
*
David Mackay " President and Chief Operating Officer of
Kellogg Company worldwide, born in Hamilton.
*
Elsie Locke " children's writer, historian, editor and activist, born in Hamilton.
*
Richard O'Brien " creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, lived in Hamilton.
*
Scott Newth " sound engineer, producer for the Datsuns
*
Frank Sargeson " renowned author, born in Hamilton.
*
Daniel Vettori " cricketer, resides in Hamilton.
*
Scott Styris " cricketer, raised and educated in Hamilton.
*
Dick Quax " Olympic Silver medallist and world record breaking runner, raised and educated in Hamilton.
Hamilton has three
sister cities, as designated by
Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
*
Sacramento,
California,
USA*
Saitama,
Saitama,
Japan*
Wuxi,
China*
Hamilton City:
Hamilton City Council:
Hamilton Gardens:
What's on Hamilton*
Waikato Times - Local Newspaper*
University of Waikato*
Live Hamilton Weather*
Independent Hamilton Information Site*
Htown - Hamilton Music Forum*
Tourism Waikato*
Hamilton Music Wiki
