Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is New Zealand's 4th largest metropolitan area. It is situated in the Waikato district about one and a half hours drive south of Auckland.
The local iwi (Maori tribe) is Tainui.
Originally called Kirikiriroa when the first Maori inhabited the region, it was later 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 at the southernmost navigable reach of the Waikato River, amidst New Zealand's richest and most fertile agricultural land.
Initially an agricultural service center, it now has a growing and diverse economy.
Education and research are important to the city, through the University of Waikato and through the agricultural research center at Ruakura, which has been responsible for much of New Zealand's innovation in agriculture.
Hamilton annually hosts the national
Urban Area
Population |
179,000 |
| Extent |
north to Taupiri; south
to Kihikihi; southeast to
Cambridge; and extensive
adjacent countryside
|
Territorial
Authority |
Name |
Hamilton City |
| Population |
125,000 |
| Extent |
Te Rapa to Glenview;
Dinsdale to Silverdale
|
| See also |
Waikato District
Waipa District
|
Regional
Council
| Name |
Waikato |
Because of its rapid growth, some consider its more recent suburbs lacking in character; however the centre of the city is vibrant and lively, with the Waikato river bisecting the city. In 2004, the city is a vibrant place enjoying the benefits of rapid growth and not yet suffering from the negative consequences.
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 and the Art Post art gallery.
