Hamilton library users can now access more than 650 international newspapers from 76 countries hot off the press. Hamilton City Libraries has signed up for a one-month trial of PressDisplay, which is billed as 'the world's largest online newspaper kiosk' and enables users to access complete copies of a wide range of national and international newspapers online. Available at any of Hamilton's six ... more...

The Waikato Museum has been awarded with the Human Rights Commission's New Zealand Diversity Action Programme Award for its outstanding contribution to race relations. The Museum was named as one of 11 recipients of the annual award during a New Zealand Diversity Forum in Auckland on Monday night [August 25]. Recent exhibitions held at Waikato Museum that promote cultural diversity include award-... more...

An artwork which 'mingles' the past with the present has been awarded the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2008. Patrick Lundberg from Ponsonby, Auckland was awarded the $15,000 prize money for his untitled work. Made from paint and plasterboard, his work features strata "disclosed through a wrenching of the piece from the wall". "A further slow and careful picking at its surface yi... more...

An independent post-event analysis of the inaugural Hamilton 400 has shown that the economic impact on the city was approximately 40% greater than originally estimated. The study undertaken by Horwath HTL Limited during the week of the Hamilton 400 says that $28.3 million of new money was generated for the local economy as a result of the city hosting the event. Horwath HTL completed an economic ... more...

The hundreds of thousands of people who visit Hamilton Gardens each year will soon see a unique new sight in the Paradise Gardens collection. Thanks to a grant of $433,000 from the Lottery Significant Project Fund, Hamilton City Council will be able to complete construction of Te Parapara Garden, New Zealand's first public traditional Māori garden. Local Māori leaders have been involved throughou... more...

The Waikato River is expected to reach the 16.0m mark in Hamilton as more water is released from Karapiro today. The increase in river levels is as a result of controlled release of pressure from Lake Karipiro, in anticipation of continued pressure on Lake Taupo which is currently at capacity. The increased levels may bring the river level closer to residents land in the lower areas of Ann St an... more...

Residents in Ann St and on the east side of Awatere Ave are tonight being contacted by Civil Defence staff to alert them to rising river levels.   The Waikato River level in Hamilton is expected to rise to around 15.5m this evening as water is released to relieve the pressure on Lake Karapiro. The water was released this evening at 6pm and will start to raise river levels in Hamilton from a... more...

The Matakanohi Walkway on the west side of the Waikato River has been closed due to a major slip between Ann St and St Andrews Terrace. The slip has rendered the walkway unusable and presents a significant danger to the public. Residents are advised to stay away from this section of the walkway due to the potential threat of further erosion. The slip has occurred on private land above the walkway... more...

Thirty finalists have been selected from amongst 253 entries for the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2008. Now in its eighth year, the annual Award is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entries it attracts. Natasha Conland, judge of the Award and Curator of Contemporary Art at Auckland Art Gallery, said a common theme amongst this year's artworks has been a sense... more...

Hamilton residents will be able to find out whether their art, antiques and collectables are actually worth thousands when Waikato Museum hosts its very own Antiques and Collectables Roadshow. Taking place on Saturday, 23 August from 11am-5.30pm, the roadshow will include assessments by renowned antiques experts Peter Wedde (Wedde Antiques) and Hamish Walsh (Walsh Antiques) from the popular TVNZ ... more...

A Charitable Trust has been established in partnership with Hamilton City Council to encourage the gifting of art and artefacts, ensure steady growth in the assets of the Waikato Museum collection and retain significant cultural capital in the district. The Waikato Bequest Trust will receive bequests and create a formal arrangement in which bequeathed articles such as art, money or artefacts will... more...

A familiar group of pine trees at Hamilton Gardens will be removed this month after they were identified as being a potential safety hazard. The pines, situated above the Rhododendron Lawn and close to the Municipal Nursery, were recently assessed by an independent arboricultural consultant who advised the trees were well past their prime and posed a risk to public safety. Believed to be between... more...