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==History==
==History==
[[Image:VictoriaBridge1910.jpg|thumb|left|Victoria Bridge in 1910.]]
[[Image:VictoriaBridge1910.jpg|thumb|left|Victoria Bridge in 1910.]]
The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages (kāinga), including Pukete, Miropiko and Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Māori name. Local Māori were the target of raids by [[Ngāpuhi]] during the [[Musket Wars]],<ref name=Crosby>Crosby, Ron, The Musket Wars – A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict 1806–45, Reed, Auckland, 1999.</ref> and several [[Pā (Māori)|pā]] sites from this period can still be found beside the Waikato River. Missionaries such as Gorst, estimated that Kirikiriroa had a population of about 78 before the Waikato Kingitanga wars of 1863-64. The government estimated the Waikato area had a Maori population of 3,400 at the same time. By the time British settlers arrived after 1863, most of these villages had been abandoned as the inhabitants were away fighting with the Kingitanga rebels further west in the battlefields of the upper Waipa river. Missionaries arrived in the area in the 1830s.<ref name=Wises>Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 129.</ref> At the end of the [[Invasion of Waikato|Waikato Campaign]] in the [[New Zealand land wars|New Zealand Wars]] the four regiments of the Waikato Militia were settled as a peace-keeping force across the region.<ref name=Wises/> The 1st Regiment was at [[Tauranga]], the 2nd at [[Pirongia]], the 3rd at [[Cambridge, New Zealand|Cambridge]] and the 4th at Kirikiriroa.<ref name=Wises/><ref name="Gibbons 1977">{{cite book|title=Astride the river:a history of Hamilton|first=P. J.|last=Gibbons|year=1977}}</ref> The settlement was founded on 24 August 1864 and named by Colonel William Moule after Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton,<ref>[http://hamilton.co.nz/page/pageid/2145832768 About Hamilton], Hamilton City Council</ref> the popular [[Scotland|Scottish]] commander of ''[[HMS Esk]]'', who was killed in the battle of [[Gate Pā]], [[Tauranga]].
Hamilton was formed when the Auckland sewer system was rerouted to go further south, depositing in the area now known as Hamilton. Now, Hamilton is inhabited by what are factually known as the biggest pieces of shit ever to walk to earth. The 'Tron', as it is sometimes known, has an inbred to non-inbred ration of approximately 100:1, One of the more famous PIECES to come from this area is a man named Olly Thomas, who fucked bianaca and Stobo, SKUUUXThe area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages (kāinga), including Pukete, Miropiko and Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Māori name. Local Māori were the target of raids by [[Ngāpuhi]] during the [[Musket Wars]],<ref name=Crosby>Crosby, Ron, The Musket Wars – A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict 1806–45, Reed, Auckland, 1999.</ref> and several [[Pā (Māori)|pā]] sites from this period can still be found beside the Waikato River. Missionaries such as Gorst, estimated that Kirikiriroa had a population of about 78 before the Waikato Kingitanga wars of 1863-64. The government estimated the Waikato area had a Maori population of 3,400 at the same time. By the time British settlers arrived after 1863, most of these villages had been abandoned as the inhabitants were away fighting with the Kingitanga rebels further west in the battlefields of the upper Waipa river. Missionaries arrived in the area in the 1830s.<ref name=Wises>Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 129.</ref> At the end of the [[Invasion of Waikato|Waikato Campaign]] in the [[New Zealand land wars|New Zealand Wars]] the four regiments of the Waikato Militia were settled as a peace-keeping force across the region.<ref name=Wises/> The 1st Regiment was at [[Tauranga]], the 2nd at [[Pirongia]], the 3rd at [[Cambridge, New Zealand|Cambridge]] and the 4th at Kirikiriroa.<ref name=Wises/><ref name="Gibbons 1977">{{cite book|title=Astride the river:a history of Hamilton|first=P. J.|last=Gibbons|year=1977}}</ref> The settlement was founded on 24 August 1864 and named by Colonel William Moule after Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton,<ref>[http://hamilton.co.nz/page/pageid/2145832768 About Hamilton], Hamilton City Council</ref> the popular [[Scotland|Scottish]] commander of ''[[HMS Esk]]'', who was killed in the battle of [[Gate Pā]], [[Tauranga]].


The road from [[Auckland]] reached Hamilton in 1867 and the railway in December 1877. That same month, the towns of [[Hamilton Central|Hamilton West]] and [[Hamilton East, New Zealand|Hamilton East]] merged under a single [[borough]] council.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hamilton City – Its Establishment and Development|first=L.G. |last=Westwood|year=1962}}</ref> The first traffic bridge between Hamilton West and Hamilton East, known as the Union Bridge, opened in 1879. It was replaced by the Victoria Bridge in 1910.
The road from [[Auckland]] reached Hamilton in 1867 and the railway in December 1877. That same month, the towns of [[Hamilton Central|Hamilton West]] and [[Hamilton East, New Zealand|Hamilton East]] merged under a single [[borough]] council.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hamilton City – Its Establishment and Development|first=L.G. |last=Westwood|year=1962}}</ref> The first traffic bridge between Hamilton West and Hamilton East, known as the Union Bridge, opened in 1879. It was replaced by the Victoria Bridge in 1910.

Revision as of 02:31, 18 October 2011

Hamilton
Kirikiriroa (Māori)
Metropolitan Area
Hamilton City / Lake Rotoroa / Waikato River
Hamilton City / Lake Rotoroa / Waikato River
Nickname(s): 
Hamiltron, The Tron.[1] H-Town,[1] Previously: Cowtown,[1] The Fountain City[2]
Location of the Hamilton Territorial Authority
Location of the Hamilton Territorial Authority
Country New Zealand
IslandNorth Island
RegionWaikato Region
Territorial authorityHamilton City
Government
 • MayorJulie Hardaker
 • Deputy MayorGordon Chesterman
Area
 • Territorial
98 km2 (38 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2018)[3]
 • Territorial
165,900
 • Density1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
 • Urban
241,200
 • Demonym
Hamiltonian
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code07
Local iwiNgāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Tainui
Websitehttp://www.hamilton.co.nz
http://www.ew.govt.nz

Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Māori) is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately 130 km (81 mi)* south of Auckland. It sits at a major road and rail nexus in the centre of the Waikato basin, on both banks of the Waikato River.

Initially an agricultural service centre, it now has a growing and diverse economy and is the second fastest growing urban area in New Zealand.[4] Education and research and development play an important part in Hamilton's economy, as the city is home to approximately 40,000 tertiary students and 1,000 PhD scientists.[5]

History

Victoria Bridge in 1910.

Hamilton was formed when the Auckland sewer system was rerouted to go further south, depositing in the area now known as Hamilton. Now, Hamilton is inhabited by what are factually known as the biggest pieces of shit ever to walk to earth. The 'Tron', as it is sometimes known, has an inbred to non-inbred ration of approximately 100:1, One of the more famous PIECES to come from this area is a man named Olly Thomas, who fucked bianaca and Stobo, SKUUUXThe area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages (kāinga), including Pukete, Miropiko and Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Māori name. Local Māori were the target of raids by Ngāpuhi during the Musket Wars,[6] and several pā sites from this period can still be found beside the Waikato River. Missionaries such as Gorst, estimated that Kirikiriroa had a population of about 78 before the Waikato Kingitanga wars of 1863-64. The government estimated the Waikato area had a Maori population of 3,400 at the same time. By the time British settlers arrived after 1863, most of these villages had been abandoned as the inhabitants were away fighting with the Kingitanga rebels further west in the battlefields of the upper Waipa river. Missionaries arrived in the area in the 1830s.[7] At the end of the Waikato Campaign in the New Zealand Wars the four regiments of the Waikato Militia were settled as a peace-keeping force across the region.[7] The 1st Regiment was at Tauranga, the 2nd at Pirongia, the 3rd at Cambridge and the 4th at Kirikiriroa.[7][8] The settlement was founded on 24 August 1864 and named by Colonel William Moule after Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton,[9] the popular Scottish commander of HMS Esk, who was killed in the battle of Gate Pā, Tauranga.

The road from Auckland reached Hamilton in 1867 and the railway in December 1877. That same month, the towns of Hamilton West and Hamilton East merged under a single borough council.[10] The first traffic bridge between Hamilton West and Hamilton East, known as the Union Bridge, opened in 1879. It was replaced by the Victoria Bridge in 1910.

Hood Street in 1962.

The first railway bridge, the Claudelands Bridge, was opened in 1884. It was converted to a road traffic bridge in 1965.[11] Hamilton reached 1,000 people in 1900, and the town of Frankton merged with the Hamilton Borough in 1917.[8] Between 1912 and 1936, Hamilton expanded with new land in Claudelands (1912), Maeroa (1925), and Richmond – modern day Waikato Hospital and northern Melville (1936).[12] Hamilton was proclaimed a city in 1945.[7]

The city is near the southernmost navigable reach (by the settlers steam boats) of the Waikato River, amidst New Zealand's richest and now fertile agricultural land that was once largely Raupo and Kahikatea swamp[13]

Hamilton today

Hood Street in Hamilton Central.

Hamilton Central, on the Waikato River, is a bustling retail precinct. The entertainment area is quite vibrant due to the large student population. The 2008 Lonely Planet guide states that "the city's main street has sprouted a sophisticated and vibrant stretch of bars and eateries that on the weekend at least leave Auckland's Viaduct Harbour for dead in the boozy fun stakes."[14] Many of the city's venues and attractions are located on the old Town Belt, including Hamilton Gardens, Waikato Stadium, Seddon Park, Founders Theatre and the Hamilton Lake Domain.

As of 2010, the city continues to grow rapidly. Development is focused on the northern end of the city. Traffic congestion is increasing due to population growth, though the council has undertaken many road development projects to try and keep up with the rapid growth.[15] State Highway 1 runs directly through the city, which contributes to congestion. A bypass is planned, but Transit New Zealand, the national road funding agency, has repeatedly delayed this project. In August 2009, $1 billion was allocated to fast track the Waikato Expressway from Auckland to Cambridge which includes design work on the Hamilton bypass.

The rapid growth of Hamilton has brought with it the side effects of urban sprawl especially to the north east of the city in the Rototuna area. Further development is planned in the Rototuna and Peacocke suburbs.[16] There has been significant development of lifestyle blocks in the Hamilton Urban Area, in particular Tamahere, Matangi and Horsham Downs.

List of suburbs

Casabella Lane, Hamilton North
Western suburbs

Beerescourt; Crawshaw; Deanwell; Dinsdale; Fitzroy; Forest Lake; Frankton; Glenview; Grandview Heights; Hamilton Central; Hamilton North; Hamilton West; Livingstone; Maeroa; Melville; Nawton; Peacocke; Pukete; Rotokauri; St Andrews; Stonebridge; Te Rapa; Temple View; Thornton; Western Heights; Whitiora.

Eastern suburbs

Ashmore; Callum Brae; Chartwell; Chedworth Park; Claudelands; Enderley; Fairfield; Fairview Downs; Flagstaff; Hamilton East; Harrowfield; Hillcrest; Magellan Rise; Queenwood; Ruakura; Riverlea; Rototuna; Silverdale; Somerset Heights; St James Park; St Petersburg.

Geography

File:WaikatoRiverHamilton.jpg
Waikato River in Hamilton Central.

With the exceptions of low hills around the University of Waikato, Hamilton Lake and to the west of the city, and an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.

Hamilton Central, from Somerset Heights.

In its natural state, Hamilton and environs was very swampy in winter. Early photos of Hamilton East show carts buried up to their axles in thick mud. The site had numerous small lakes which have now been drained. Up until the 1880s it was possible to row and drag a dinghy from the city to many outlying farms to the North east. This swampy, damp environment was ideal breeding ground for the TB bacillus which was a major health hazard in the pioneering days. The first Hamilton hospital was constructed on a hill to avoid this problem.

In the 1930s, Garden Place Hill was removed by unemployed workers working with picks and shovels and model T Ford trucks. The Western remains of the hill are retained by a large concrete wall. The original hill ran from the present Wintec site eastwards to the old post office (now casino). The earth was taken 4 km north to partly fill the Maeroa gully adjacent to the Baptist Church on the main road.

Climate

File:ClaudelandsBridgeWinter.jpg
Claudelands Bridge and Hamilton Central in winter.
Hamilton, New Zealand
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
85
 
 
24
13
 
 
71
 
 
24
13
 
 
87
 
 
23
12
 
 
95
 
 
20
9
 
 
102
 
 
17
7
 
 
119
 
 
14
5
 
 
126
 
 
14
4
 
 
117
 
 
15
5
 
 
102
 
 
16
7
 
 
96
 
 
18
8
 
 
93
 
 
20
10
 
 
95
 
 
22
12
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: NIWA
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.3
 
 
75
55
 
 
2.8
 
 
75
55
 
 
3.4
 
 
73
54
 
 
3.7
 
 
68
48
 
 
4
 
 
63
45
 
 
4.7
 
 
57
41
 
 
5
 
 
57
39
 
 
4.6
 
 
59
41
 
 
4
 
 
61
45
 
 
3.8
 
 
64
46
 
 
3.7
 
 
68
50
 
 
3.7
 
 
72
54
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Hamilton has a temperate, damp climate, with about 1,184 mm (46.6 in) of rainfall annually. Daily maximum temperatures range from about 22° to 26 °C (72°–79 °F) in January and February to 10° to 15 °C (50°–59 °F) in July and August.

Summer occasionally sees temperatures of more than 30 °C (86 °F), while on clear winter mornings temperatures may drop to as low as −3 °C (27 °F). Ground frosts are common and snow is extremely rare. The only recorded snowfall in modern times was light snow flakes in mid August 2011 during a prolonged cold period that saw 75mm of snow fall as far north as Dargaville. Typically summers are warm and dry and winters cool and wet. On average, Hamilton sees 2150 hours of sunshine each year. [citation needed]

Thick fog is common on winter mornings, and often lasts until late morning. Fog is most common near the river, the extensive gully system and rural areas. Frost is also a common sight during winter. The absence of large-bodied water means that Hamilton is colder during the night than places like Auckland and Tauranga, despite its low elevation of 18M ASL.

Hamilton has the lowest wind speed averages for a city in New Zealand, due to its inland and low-altitude location[17] of 20m above sea level.

Demographics

Hamilton is growing annually, with populations of 241,200 for the urban area and 165,900 for the territorial authority (June 2018s).[3]

According to official census figures,[18] Hamilton's population is 65.3% Pākehā/European, 19.9% Māori, 10.6% Asian, 4.2% Pacific Peoples and 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African. More than 80 ethnic groups are represented within Hamilton’s population. The main area of population growth is in the Flagstaff-Rototuna area. With its large tertairy student population at Wintec and Waikato University, approximately 40,000 tertiary students, Hamilton has a significant transient population.[19] Hamilton is the second fastest growing population centre after Auckland.

Government and politics

Local government

Hamilton is located in the administrative areas of the Hamilton City Council. The Council administers the seventh most populous territorial authority in the country. The council consists of thirteen councillors and a mayor (currently Julie Hardaker), elected in 2010. Council elections are held every three years. In July 2007, former mayor Michael Redman became the CEO of the Council.

The current council members are:-

Mayor Julie Hardaker
Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman
Councillors – East Ward Daphne Bell
Peter Bos
Gordon Chesterman
Margaret Forsyth
Roger Hennebry
Pippa Mahood
Councillors – West Ward Martin Gallagher
John Gower
Dave Macpherson
Angela O'Leary
Maria Westphal
Ewan Wilson

Hamilton City is itself part of the Waikato Region, controlled administratively by Environment Waikato.

Central government

Hamilton has three electorate MPs in the New Zealand Parliament. Both Hamilton East and Hamilton West electorates are considered bellwether seats.

The electorates are currently represented by:

General electorates:

Māori electorate:

Hamilton based List MPs:

Economy

Education and research are important to the city, through the University of Waikato and the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Research at the Ruakura research centres have been responsible for much of New Zealand's innovation in agriculture. Hamilton's main revenue source is the dairy industry, due to its location in the centre of New Zealand's largest dairying area – the Waikato region.

Hamilton annually hosts the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, the southern hemisphere's biggest 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 Hospital. The city is home to New Zealand's largest aircraft manufacturer, Pacific Aerospace, which manufactured its 1,000th aircraft in August 2009, and Micro Aviation NZ which manufactures and exports high-quality microlight aircraft. It also has its largest concentration of trailer-boat manufacturers such as Buccaneer.

Recent years have seen the firm establishment of the New Zealand base of the British flight training organisation CTC Aviation. CTC trains over one hundred airline pilots a year at its "Crew Training Centre" at Hamilton Airport.

Tainui Group Holdings Ltd, the commercial arm of the Waikato tribe, is one of Hamilton's largest property developers. The Waikato tribe is one of the city's largest landowners. Tainui owns land at The Base, Centre Place, The Warehouse Central, University of Waikato, Wintec, the Courthouse, Fairfield College, and the Ruakura AgResearch centre.[24] The Waikato tribe is a major shareholder of the Novotel Tainui and the Hotel Ibis. It has developed the large retail centre The Base in the old Te Rapa airforce base site which was returned to Tainui, following confiscation in the 1860s, as part of a 1995 Treaty of Waitangi settlement. In mid-2010, The Base was further expanded with Te Awa Mall complex stage 1. Many large retailers such as Farmers have located at Te Awa. [citation needed]

Culture

Garden Place

In 2004, Hamilton City Council honored former resident Richard O'Brien with a life-size bronze statue of him as Riff Raff in his space suit, from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The statue was designed by WETA Workshops, who had done the props for The Lord of the Rings films. It stands on the former site of the Embassy Cinema, where Richard watched science fiction-double features.[25]

Several Maori Pa have been part restored at Pukete, Hikuwai and Miropiko along the banks of the Waikato River.

The city is host to a large number of small galleries and the Waikato Museum. The latter includes Te Winika, one of the best-preserved waka (Māori war canoe) from the pre-colonisation era.

Music

Hamilton is host to several large scale music festivals including the Soundscape music festival, which is one of New Zealand's largest street parties,[26][27][28] and the Parachute music festival. The city also hosts the Opus Chamber Orchestra which draws musicians from around the Waikato Region[29] and is the home of the New Zealand Chamber Soloists.[30] An ongoing classical concert series featuring world class musicians[31] is held throughout the year at the Gallagher Concert Chamber, organised by the University of Waikato, Conservatorium of Music.

Events

File:Balloons Hamilton.jpg
Balloons over Waikato.
Tronik DJs play at the sellout Soundscape street party

Sport

The local rugby union teams are Waikato (ITM Cup) and the Chiefs (Super 15). The local colours are red, yellow and black, and the provincial mascot is Mooloo, an anthropomorphic cow. Both teams play at Waikato Stadium. Hamilton is also home to a soccer club, Waikato FC, that competes in the ASB Premiership. The team used to play at Waikato Stadium but they now play at Centennial Park in Ngaruawahia, due to financial constraints. The soccer club Hamilton Wanderers that competes in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier also are based in Hamilton.

Waikato Stadium, Lions vs. NZ Māori, 2005.

Seddon Park (formerly Westpac Park) is Hamilton's main cricket venue and hosts 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. A round of the WRC was held in 2006 and the annual V8 Supercars race on a street circuit started in 2008.

Sailing takes place on Hamilton lake for 9 months of the year. The Hamilton Yacht Club has its clubrooms, slipway and ramp on the western side of Lake Rotoroa. Motor boats are not allowed on the lake, with an exception of the Yacht Club rescue boats.

Each year in April, Hamilton supports the '5 Bridges' swimming challenge. The course starts in Hamilton Gardens, and continues for 6 kilometres finishing at Ann St Beach. The swim is assisted by the current, with the full distance typically covered in under an hour. The event celebrated in 71st year on 11 April 2010.[33]

Media

The major daily newspaper is the Waikato Times. Weekly community newspapers include the Hamilton Press, Hamilton News and student magazine Nexus.

Local radio stations include Community Radio Hamilton, Contact FM. The Edge and The Rock, two of New Zealand's most popular radio stations, were originally based in Hamilton.

City facilities and attractions

Hamilton Gardens, Italian Renaissance 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, the Hamilton Astronomical Society Observatory, the Arts Post art gallery, and the SkyCity casino. Just 20 minutes' drive away is Ngaruawahia, the location of Turangawaewae Marae and the home of Māori King Tuheitia Paki.

Hamilton has six public libraries located throughout the city with the Central Library housing the main reference and heritage collection. Hamilton City Theaters provides professional venue and event management at three theatrical venues in the city: Founders Theater, Clarence St Theater, and The Meteor theater.

St Peter's Cathedral, built in 1916, is the Anglican cathedral in Hamilton, on Cathedral Hill at the southern end of Victoria Street. There is also St Mary's Roman Catholic cathedral on the opposite side of the river.

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Temple View, Hamilton. It was opened along with the Church College of New Zealand, a large high school owned by the church, in the late 1950s. Both the college and the temple were built by labour missionaries. The school was closed in December 2009. Every year, the temple hosts a large Christmas lighting show which attracts large crowds from all over the country.

Hospitals

File:HamiltonWest aerial.jpg
Waikato Hospital in Hamilton West.

Hamilton's public hospital is Waikato Hospital with 600 beds and a staff of approximately 2,500 located between Melville and Hamilton West.[34] There are two other major private hospitals in Hamilton City; Braemar Hospital, located in the same area that Waikato Hospital is located, and Southern Cross Hospital, located in Hamilton East. A new cancer hospital is due to open in November 2010 on the previous Braemar Hospital campus. Hamilton also has a private primary maternity hospital, which is fully funded by the Waikato District Health Board.[35]

Transport

Air

Hamilton International Airport serves as both a domestic and international airport. There are direct flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and regular flights to other destinations throughout the North Island. The airport also served as a major base for now defunct low-cost airlines Freedom Air and Kiwi Air. As of 1 September 2009, Pacific Blue now offers three international flights a week, to and from Brisbane Airport and Sydney Airport.[36]

Cycling

Hamilton has extensive cycleways which link the city center with the outlying suburbs. These cycleways consist of a mixture of dedicated cycle lanes,which are 1 metre wide strips either coloured green or with a painted outine of a cycle and mixed use cycle/walk ways which are mainly located alongside the Waikato River.[37]

Road

Like many New Zealand cities, private cars are the most common transport medium.

An extensive bus network provides coverage of Hamilton City. Many routes extend radially from the central business district, while two ring routes encompass the central business district and the outer suburbs.

New Zealand's main road artery State Highway 1 runs through several of Hamilton's suburbs and connects with State Highway 3 within the city boundaries.

In January 2011 the 4 laning (from the original 2) of Wairere Drive and the Pukete Bridge began.

Bridges

Fairfield Bridge, in central Hamilton.

The six road bridges that cross the river[38] are often the focus of morning and evening traffic delays. The six road bridges within the city are (from north to south):

In addition to the road bridges within the city, the Horotiu bridge is located approximately 10 km north of the city centre and the Narrows Bridge approximately 10 km to the south. The Narrows bridge was closed for reconstruction of its piles in September 2010.[39] A temporary Bailey bridge is being built alongside.In Jan 2011 widening of the 1 km approach road Wairere Drive to Pukete bridge began .The bridge will be expanded to 4 lanes by 2013.

The river is also crossed by a rail bridge and a pedestrian bridge:

  • Claudelands Rail Bridge
  • Flagstaff Pedestrian Bridge

Rail

Hamilton is the railway junction of the East Coast Main Trunk line with the North Island Main Trunk line. Rail passengers are served by a large station located at Frankton Junction, but rail passenger services are currently (2009) limited to The Overlander, a (mostly) daily service which operates between Auckland and Wellington, and is aimed primarily at tourists.

Hamilton also has an underground station in the central city located in a tunnel which runs from the Claudelands Rail Bridge through to Ward Park. The station is currently disused and is only accessible from the tunnel entrance. Up until the 1960s, the railway cut across Victoria Street, disrupting traffic and covering property with oily smoke and fumes.[40]

Hamilton's rail network serves as a major hub for the distribution of dairy products to the ports of Auckland and Tauranga. This hub is located at Crawford St.

Recently there have been moves to re-introduce daily commuter train services to Auckland, with various studies supporting the economic and environmental benefits.[41] However, recent Government decisions have prioritised the completing the proposed Waikato Expressway over new train services.

Education

See also: List of schools in Waikato, New Zealand § Hamilton City

Hamilton is home to more than 40,000 tertiary students, mostly enrolled in one of the city's three main tertiary institutes; the University of Waikato, Waikato Institute of Technology and Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

As well as state and private primary, intermediate and high schools, it also notably includes a number of Kura Kaupapa Māori primary schools offering education in the Māori language.

The new secondary school proposed for Rototuna in the booming north east of Hamilton has been delayed for several years. The government has announced it is exploring a joint construction and operation with private enterprise whereby the school would be built and managed by a private firm.Currently Rototuna is zoned for Fairfield College which has a roll of 1100.

Notable people

Sister cities

Hamilton has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

References

  1. ^ a b c Spratt, Amanda (12 March 2006). "'Boring' Hamilton: wish you were here?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  2. ^ Hamilton west of the river, Hamilton west of the river
  3. ^ a b "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020. For urban areas, "Subnational population estimates (UA, AU), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006–18 (2017 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Subnational Population Estimates". Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Hamilton's Economy". Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  6. ^ Crosby, Ron, The Musket Wars – A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict 1806–45, Reed, Auckland, 1999.
  7. ^ a b c d Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 129.
  8. ^ a b Gibbons, P. J. (1977). Astride the river:a history of Hamilton.
  9. ^ About Hamilton, Hamilton City Council
  10. ^ Westwood, L.G. (1962). Hamilton City – Its Establishment and Development.
  11. ^ "Claudelands Bridge". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  12. ^ Street Name Index (Suburbs) – Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton
  13. ^ Early map of Hamilton, 1864, Waikato Museum.
  14. ^ "Hamilton Travel Information and Travel Guide". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  15. ^ "Access Hamilton". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  16. ^ "City Expansion". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  17. ^ "Hamilton Weather". Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  18. ^ Quickstats about Hamilton City
  19. ^ "Hamilton Facts". Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  20. ^ "Official Count Results – Hamilton East". Elections New Zealand. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  21. ^ "Official Count Results – Hamilton West". Elections New Zealand. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  22. ^ "Official Count Results – Hauraki-Waikato". Elections New Zealand. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  23. ^ "Sue Moroney". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  24. ^ Top Investments – http://www.tgh.co.nz/default.asp?sid=4&cid=26&aid=
  25. ^ riffraffstatue.org:
  26. ^ "Street party sells out".
  27. ^ "Soundscape returns to Hamilton".
  28. ^ "Soundscape set to be central city party zone".
  29. ^ "Opus Orchestra: Hamilton New Zealand".
  30. ^ "University of Waikato:FASS: NZ Chamber Soloists".
  31. ^ "Gallager Concert Chamber Programme 2011" (PDF).
  32. ^ Hamilton Underground Low-Budget and No-Budget Film Festival
  33. ^ http://www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz/eventlisting.aspx?id=1654
  34. ^ http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/page/pageid/2145838660
  35. ^ http://www.waterfordbc.co.nz Waterford Birth Centre
  36. ^ http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/page/26-Flight-Information+International-Destinations
  37. ^ "Cycling in Hamilton" (PDF). Cycle Action Waikato.
  38. ^ "Hamilton City Council & Hamilton, New Zealand-Living Hamilton". Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  39. ^ "Hamilton SH21Narrows Bridge Closes / NZ Transport Agency". Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  40. ^ Source:Waikato museum photo
  41. ^ http://www.ew.govt.nz/PageFiles/2322/hamiltonToAucklandCommuterRailStudy.pdf
  42. ^ Ilustre Municipalidad de Chillán: Hamilton, sister of Chillán.
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