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Are you looking for reliable, comfortable shuttle rides around the Waikato region? Te Awa Shuttles, proudly operated by River Riders, offers premium transportation services tailored to meet the needs of tourists, locals and travellers alike. As a 100% mana wahine Māori owned business, they bring cultural authenticity and exceptional service to every journey.

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Premium Fleet for All Your Transportation Needs

Te Awa Shuttles boasts an impressive fleet designed to accommodate various group sizes and transportation requirements:

• Luxury 12-Seater Shuttle – Perfect for group transfers, events, and tours

• Five-Seater Electric Ute – Environmentally friendly transport option for smaller groups

• Professional Drivers – All drivers hold TSL (Transport Service License) and P endorsement, ensuring your safety and comfort

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What sets Te Awa Shuttles apart is their commitment to providing premium service while honouring Māori values and sustainability principles. The sleek black vehicles offer stylish transportation with professional drivers who know the Waikato region intimately.

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This festive season looks like it’ll be a mixed bag for Hamilton’s hospitality scene - but one key player sees a $3.2b boost on the horizon.

With Christmas, and Christmas party season, kicking off the Waikato Times spoke to two of Hamilton’s key hospitality players to get their gauge on how the sector was looking.

Cook Bar owner and Hospitality NZ Waikato president Chris Rollitt was able to offer some Christmas cheer.

“We’re busy,” he said.

“A lot of workplaces start to do that social connection thing. You’re getting bigger groups coming out, wind-up functions. [They are] just celebrating getting through the year.”

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If you’re moving into a new home, starting a renovation, or simply ready to refresh your space, finding the right furniture store in Hamilton makes all the difference. Step into McKenzie & Willis on Alexandra Street—where quality, comfort, and Kiwi-made style come together under one welcoming roof.

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A Proud Legacy

Founded in Christchurch in 1906, McKenzie & Willis is a family-owned interior design destination with seven showrooms nationwide. The Hamilton location continues that tradition of excellence, offering a curated collection of New Zealand made and imported furniture, window furnishings, soft home linens, and beds.

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There’s plenty for every taste—think beautiful beds for a perfect night’s sleep, lounge suites for relaxing in style, dining tables perfect for gatherings, and those finishing touches that make a house truly feel like home. Each piece is chosen to suit New Zealand living and crafted with care.

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All in One Place

Customers will find renowned names including David Shaw, Kovacs, Montreux, Profile Furniture, and the in-house Belle Interiors collection. It’s a one stop shop for anyone who wants to see a full palette of home furnishing options in a single, vibrant setting.

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McKenzie & Willis goes beyond simply selling beautiful pieces. Their complimentary interior design service is a real standout—helping shoppers piece together their perfect space, whether they need help with colours, textures, or layout. And for those looking to frame their view, the Hamilton team are window furnishings experts, ready to guide you on curtains, blinds, shutters, and motorisation.

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Service, Selection and Local Inspiration

McKenzie & Willis stands for more than furniture. Visitors notice genuine care and attention to each customer’s needs. The business continues to buil

d on its legacy of service and quality, always looking to improve the showroom experience, expand its range, and help every customer make the most of their space.

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Call in Today

McKenzie & Willis makes it easy for new homeowners, renovators, interior design enthusiasts, and local businesses to create inviting interiors, right in the centre of Hamilton. Visit the showroom at 52 Alexandra Street and discover that your new favourite look, crafted for life in New Zealand, is waiting.

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Hamilton’s newest culinary offerings are preparing to step into the spotlight — and some of them have already taken centre stage.

Five distinct eateries and bars are set to open in the Waikato Regional Theatre precinct, with two already open to the public. Visitors can already get a bite to eat before washing it down with a drink at the newly opened Hamilton Hotel and revamped Wonder Horse bar.

Hamilton Hotel owner Mat Pedley, who is also behind popular local eatery Mr Pickles, said it was a “phenomenal” feeling to be opening in the new theatre.

He described the venue as “French meets New York bistro” inspired. The interior was designed by local firm Designwell, and features plush banquettes, large windows looking onto the street front and oak detailing.

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Ballet fans in the Waikato will not want to be caught napping for this production.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s first official show at the new Waikato Regional Theatre will be Sleeping Beauty, which will tuck itself in for a three-day residency in November next year.

Featuring the music of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the ballet’s story is one that will be familiar to almost everyone: A princess falls into an enchanted sleep after pricking her finger, but is eventually wakened by a kiss from her true love.

It was first staged in 1890 in St Petersburg, quickly becoming the second-most popular ballet in the repertoire of the Royal Imperial Ballet.

At full length it runs to a whopping four hours. Waikato audiences will be relieved - or possibly disappointed - they will be getting the more popular shortened version.

However it is still a big deal. There are 200 costumes - not including headdresses or shoes - and 32 dancers. About 60 people are involved in staging the show.

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The Waikato Regional Theatre will become disco central on Tuesday, February 3, when British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor comes to play.

The Hamilton venue is one of only two on her just-announced tour of New Zealand - the other being the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch.

One of the biggest British artists to emerge from the early 2000s, Ellis-Bextor established her pop diva credentials with hits like Murder On The Dancefloor, Get Over You and Take Me Home.

Now with seven studio albums to her name. Ellis-Bextor’s discography encompases numerous genres, from dance-pop and folk to prog-rock and orchestral pop.

The London-born Ellis-Bextor grew up in a creative household, and took an interest in performing at an early age.

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Families can kick off the summer holidays with an interactive neon quest as multi-sensory show GLOtron! comes to Hamilton.

Described as a blend of science, education, art, storytelling and puppetry that combines all of Glow Show’s previous installations, GLOtron! will pop up in Centre Place Shopping Centre from December 6.

Glow Show creative director Sarah Burren told the Waikato Times that while she did not want to give too much away, families could expect the installation to be like “walking into a giant storybook”.

“It’s a 40-minute experience where you have a quest and beautiful photo opportunities. The whole thing is glow-in-the-dark.”

The show will include 350 characters and puppets from popular stories such as Matariki, Bad Jelly the Witch, and more.

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Looking for a café in Hamilton’s south end that ticks all the boxes? Whether you’re powering through a workday, meeting up with a friend, or exploring the Waikato Museum, Hood Street Bistro is a great spot for coffee, lunch, and more.

A Fresh Start Under New Ownership

Hood Street Bistro, now under new management, is quickly racking up glowing Google reviews. Locals love the welcoming vibe and friendly service, making it a great choice no matter how you like to start your day—or keep it going.

All Day Menu, Every Option You Want

Breakfast before a gallery wander? An energy boost after a big meeting? This all day café menu covers every craving, from classic favourites to treats that feel a little bit special. There’s something satisfying about grabbing your coffee or lunch and settling in with a front row seat to the flow of Victoria Street.

Location, Location… and Connection

Just steps from the Waikato Museum, Hood Street Bistro is ideal for anyone wanting to make a day (or a morning) of it in the city. Pop in for a cheeky flat white before your artsy adventure, or swing by after for something delicious with friends or colleagues.

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The GLOtron! pop-up show opens in December and will run over summer. It can be found near the Fun Zone on Level 1 at Centre Place, and was made possible with the help of Hamilton City Council.

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GLOtron! brings together eight years of fabulously successful Glow Shows into one wild and whimsical adventure. It is a magical maze of glow-in-the-dark stories, which create an utterly original world for children to explore. It invites children to wander through its mysterious interactive stories and discover multi-sensory glow-tastic creatures and characters.

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Each twist and turn through GLOtron!’s mysterious maze brings extraordinary sensations for the senses, from knife and fork lightning glowing in the sky, to being eyeballed by enormous giants or feeling the tickles of huge fluffy cylinders.

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As children and adults alike enjoy this extraordinary storytelling, they also learn; playing number and word challenges as they move through this whimsical world.

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The Glow Show’s mashup of science, education art, storytelling and puppetry has charmed more than 120,000 children throughout Aotearoa since it was created in 2017.

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Suitable for whole family, ideal for 3- 12-year-olds

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Experience lasts approx 40 minutes.

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A relaxed and classy vibe awaits food lovers, with the flavours of Thai cuisine coming to life, right in the heart of Hamilton central.

Thai Classic, at the northern end of Victoria St, has been operating for 15 years and can fit up to 35 diners with Noi McKay taking over three years ago.

The previous incarnation of Thai Classic had blue carpet and maroon-coloured walls, which McKay did not like.

She gave the walls a greener, “more relaxed and classy” look and the flooring a wood lino look.

“Green is also my favourite colour,” McKay said.

In addition to Thai Classic, McKay is also the co-owner of Chim Thai restaurant in Rototuna, with Don McIlraith.

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It’s arguably Hamilton’s most significant artwork. It was probably the most unloved - for a while at least - and it is almost certainly the most valuable.

And now the iconic, large scale mural - created in 1973 by famed New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere and installed in the now-demolished Founders Theatre - has been placed inside its “forever home” in the Waikato Regional Theatre.

It’s the latest major development in an increasingly exciting series of developments, which will come to a head when the new theatre opens on January 19 with three nights of community-led celebrations.

Soon after will be the official launch event in the form of a concert by the acclaimed musician Teeks, followed by a sold-out show by the revered Dave Dobbyn - who has just added a second show the following night.

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A new bar could be on the cards in central Hamilton, but its owners are remaining tight-lipped on the venture as yet.

The Waikato Times understands Good George brewing director Jason Macklow is looking to build a new pub on Barton St, where the Coffee Studio is currently located.

The site was purchased in 2018 by Future Properties NZ Limited for $1.8 million.

Records show Macklow is the sole director of Future Properties NZ Limited.

When contacted by the Waikato Times, Macklow confirmed he had bought the Barton St site.

But he declined to confirm what sort of hospitality venture would be developed, saying it’s confidential at the moment.

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Macklow said he hasn’t decided what would be located at Barton St and would provide more detail in the new year.

Macklow, along with Darrel Hadley were the founders of the Phoenix Group, which owns numerous restaurants and bars around Hamilton. The pair have decades of involvement in the Hamilton hospitality scene, originating at the now Lawrenson Group-owned Outback Inn and Iguana in the 1990s.

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Hamilton has been recognised on the international stage for the Love the Centre campaign -- taking out the award over finalists from Sydney and Melbourne.

The Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA) won the Best Traditional or Digital Marketing Award at the Mainstreet Australia 2025 Awards for the campaign.

The awards featured finalists from all over Australia and New Zealand, and honoured groups who were revitalising main streets.

HCBA General Manager Vanessa Williams said the group decided to enter the competition while organising their own Love the Centre Awards last year.

The HBCA were “so incredibly proud of the work that we had done with Daymark around the creation of the Love centre website”.

“So we thought, actually, yeah, let's put our money where our mouth is and, and see if there is an award programme that we could enter that celebrates our achievement as well.”

Asked how it felt to take out the award over other finalists, Williams said, “there was a lot of pride of Hamilton representing on the international stage against business associations in Sydney and Melbourne”.

“There was a little bit of chest puffing, I'll be honest.”

She said that the award recognised how the Love the Centre campaign showcased the city centre and local businesses.

“With our international flights we have with Jetstar now, you know, encouraging people over from Sydney and the Gold Coast, it's great to be able to profile the best of Hamilton City centre, and I think we do that.”

And what’s next for Love the Centre?

Williams said the HCBA were still growing the content of the site, and were listing more businesses. She added they were also looking into how they could use AI in the campaign.

“We're looking at different things that will make this a really functional site that people ... can use to really find the best of Hamilton Central.”

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Every Day in February!

12pm - 10pm

Looking to build stronger connection with your partner? Give board gaming a try.

Relax with a cuppa + cute cozy board games and something sweet to enjoy together. If we are not busy, we might be able to teach / give you board game recommendations.

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, make sure to call ahead 07 834 1118 to make sure that we have space for you.

You are more than welcome to walk in, but admission is not guaranteed

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Single this Valentines? Join us for a fun night of laughter and connection through board gaming. Recommended age 23 - 49 years old

Speed dating meets board gaming. Tired of swiping right but still haven't found the right person?? Come join us for a night of speed dating with a twist. You will be seated in a group of 4 to play some quick and easy board games, after 15-20 minutes, you will be switched and move around. There will be a time to mix with a bigger group too.

$42.67pp

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Nau mai, haere mai. All welcome!

Brought to you in partnership between Hamilton City Council and Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, the annual Waitangi Day Festival brings together whaanau, performers, makers, and creators to celebrate culture, creativity, and the stories of our region.

They're building on last year's energy with a programme that celebrates our community.

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Come along to the forecourt of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery for their Waitangi Day Festival 2026 concert. They’re bringing together the sounds and rhythms of Aotearoa and beyond, creating a vibrant space for whaanau and friends to gather.

● Wai Taiko Drummers: 1pm

● Sambatron 1:30pm

● Desi Rhythms: 2pm

● Toubab Crew: 2:30pm

● Dvyne Wun: 3pm

● Manu Mātātahi: 3:45pm

● Jamey Ferguson: 4:30pm

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Free (Entry fees apply for Air Playground)

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Part one takes audiences on a journey through the Eagles’ timeless hits, including Take It Easy, Desperado, Hotel California, and Life in the Fast Lane, all faithfully reproduced by world-class musicians. Part two shifts into high gear with CCR’s chart-topping classics such as Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, and Green River, capturing the raw energy that made them platinum-selling legends. More than just a concert, this is an immersive rock experience, brought to life by a cast of internationally acclaimed performers. Climb aboard Proud Mary and cruise down the Dark Desert Highway for an unforgettable night of 1970s country rock anthems that will have audiences singing along from start to finish.

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Find out what's on in the central city this February!

Bring along your surplus and grow and give:

Fresh produce - fruit, vegtables, herbs

Seeds and seedlings

Preserves (jams, pickles, chutneys)

Garden tools, pots books

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Zero Waste Harvest

No money needed just sharing, swapping and connecting.

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For more information contact Mel-twk.engagement@gmail.com

Te Whare Kokonga - 07 843 8811

Fresh from international tours, this unique show blends science and comedy for an unforgettable night at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

ALSO CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF THE RIFF RAFF STATUE AND 50 YEARS OF THE ROCKY HORROR
PICTURE SHOW!

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When: 7.30pm-11.00pm, Valentines Day, Saturday 14 February 2026.
▪ 7.30pm One Man Hit Squad plays a few tunes to warm us up.
▪ 8.00pm Sambatron brings the carnival.
▪ 8.30pm RICHARD O’BRIEN arrives, and with Mayor Tim Macindoe re-unveils the Riff Raff
Statue, and we all DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!
▪ 9.00pm The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens, with performance by the Hot and
Flustered shadow cast.

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Where: Embassy Park, now the plaza for the new BNZ Theatre, south end of Victoria Street, The
Tron-Kirikiriroa-Hamilton.

WHY IS RIFF RAFF RETURNING, WHERE HAS HE BEEN?
The Riff Raff Statue left Embassy Park when it closed in October 2021 to allow the building of the new
Waikato Regional Theatre next door (now the BNZ Theatre). He was outside the Waikato Museum from
March 2022 to July 2024, but has been in hiding since then.
Riff Raff was uncovered and returned to the public space last week, in time for the opening of the Theatre
- it was not possible to keep him under cover from then until our celebration, but we all knows what he
looks like anyway.
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Return of Riff event hosted by The Riff Raff Public Art Trust with the support of Love the Centre, Trek N
Travel and Hamilton City Council.
Riff Raff Cam and new website hosted by The Riff Raff Public Art Trust and supported by BluTui, Central
Communications, Divoli and Foster Group.
Embassy Park 3.0 rebuild designed and built by Hamilton City Council, Jasmax, Foster Group, and the
Embassy Park Working Group of The Riff Raff Public Art Trust.

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Riff Raff Cam will be re-activated in time for the event, for the first time since Embassy Park closed in 2021,
keep an eye on www.riffraffstatue.org.
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Contact: Mark Servian, The Riff Raff Public Art Trust, mark@mcgillicuddy.org.nz, 021 888 469.

Three dates to choose from in November!

Critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality, Alan Davies, is delighted to announce an extensive Aotearoa tour for July and August 2026, unveiling his brand-new show, Think Ahead. It marks his first visit to Aotearoa in a decade!

The tour will commence in Kirikiriroa Hamilton on Friday, July 31 before heading to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Tauranga, Ahuriri Napier, Pōneke Wellington, Ngāmotu New Plymouth, Papaioea Palmerston North, Ōtautahi Christchurch, and concluding at Ōtepoti Dunedin’s Regent Theatre on August 13.

TOMMY EMMANUEL, CGP is a living legend in the world of acoustic guitar, celebrated for his jaw- dropping technique, innovation, and boundless musicality. He has enthralled audiences around the globe with his dazzling fingerstyle performances, and now, New Zealand will have the privilege of witnessing his mastery up close and personal.

“I feel like the Indiana Jones of the guitar world,” says the globe-trotting fingerpicker. “I’m on this wild journey, just making it up as I go, and I’m thrilled that so many people are having fun joining along with me.”

Tommy will be joined by the amazing Mike Dawes on his NZ tour shows. Mike is an English guitarist known for composing, arranging, and performing multiple parts simultaneously on a single guitar. He is regarded as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists, with a repertoire spanning original viral videos and popular arrangements, alongside mainstream chart success performing with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues.

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A new concert by 3-time Grammy®-winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR; celebrates songs and anthems of Nelson Mandela’s Freedom Movement in South Africa and the Civil Rights Movement of Dr Martin Luther King’s America.

Opening with a rousing program of South African freedom songs, the repertoire moves down through time to the USA, with beautiful renditions of the protest music of the Civil Rights Movement and more contemporary classics, including works by legendary artists Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only Aretha Franklin.

Formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of South African Gospel music, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world, receiving critical acclaim and audience adoration for their powerful renditions of African American spirituals, gospel and classics.

Red Sunset will be released on Friday, February 13.

Recorded in Paris during the winter of 2025, the album is now available for pre-order and is Bic’s first collection of all-original material since 2011’s Belle, marking a radiant new chapter for one of Aotearoa’s most beloved artists.

The album’s lead single and title track, "Red Sunset," is out now. A powerful torch song of longing and desire, it evokes the tumultuous emotions of being the one left behind. The song and album are co-produced by Bic Runga and Kody Nielson.

The Red Sunset Tour kicks off at Black Barn in Hawkes Bay on Saturday, March 7, before heading to new venues in Hamilton and Auckland: the BNZ Theatre on Saturday, March 21, and the NZICC Theatre, Auckland on Friday, March 27. Bic will return home to Christchurch to play the Isaac Theatre Royal on Sunday, March 29, followe by a very special show with the NZSO at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Thursday, April 2.

Bic Runga will be joined by special guest Silicon.

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