Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

We’re pleased to see central government highlight tourism’s role in New Zealand’s economic growth. As our GM Nicola Greenwell says, this is a welcome shift that perfectly aligns with our mission at Hamilton & Waikato Tourism to attract visitors, encourage longer stays, foster deeper engagement, and support local operators. While challenges like securing sustainable funding persist for RTOs like us, hearing the central government’s commitment to supporting tourism growth gives us hope for a brighter future. #WaikatoTourism #Tourism #EconomicGrowth #RegionalDevelopment #MightyWaikato

As our team wraps up for the year, we extend a heartfelt “thank you” to our exceptional tourism sector, the broader visitor industry, and our local ambassadors. We made no secret of the challenges we faced early in 2024 with navigating the Long Term Plan processes across multiple councils for our ongoing funding. Thanks to our dedicated advocates, the outcome was more favourable than anticipated. Despite this, we had to carefully evaluate our work and adjust the size of the organisation due to reduced funding. The second half of the year brought much to celebrate for our team and the mighty Waikato region. Highlights include the announcement of direct international flights to Hamilton, being named among the top 10 trending detour destinations for 2025 by Expedia Group’s Unpack ‘25 report, new hotel builds announced, the near completion of the Regional Theatre with Live Nation’s involvement, and major developments at Hobbiton Movie Set, Hamilton Gardens, and Waikato Museum. We also hosted and secured incredible events, showcasing the vibrancy of our region - there is much to be proud of! Our team is looking forward to a well-deserved break to recharge and gear up for 2025 with renewed energy! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our colleagues, suppliers, mighty Waikato supporters, partners, and visitors. Your contributions and engagement have been invaluable to our work and the wider visitor sector and community. Wishing you all a joyful festive season and a prosperous, busy summer! #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #Tourism

After six months of extensive renovations, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery is now open and ready to welcome visitors with a jam-packed season of amazing exhibitions and programmes in store, including the awe-inspiring Astronomy Photographer of the Year, making its Aotearoa New Zealand debut. The renovation focused on modernising the building, including crucial roof repairs and a new airlock entry for enhanced climate control, ensuring the protection of taonga, objects, and artworks. The new flooring and open spaces offer stunning views of the awa and Te Winika from almost every gallery. Beloved favourites like Exscite have also returned, promising a vibrant summer filled with art, culture, and discovery. Be sure to visit Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery this summer to experience the new space and exhibitions. #Waikato #Tourism #Summer #WaikatoMuseum

Last week was a double-header for Hobbiton™ Movie Set with the launch of their new and exclusive Behind The Scenes Tour and the New Zealand premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim held at the iconic Green Dragon Inn™ all taking place in one week. Hobbiton’s new Behind The Scenes Tour has been years in the making and will take visitors on a deeper exploration into this slice of Middle-earth with a guided walk around the set, a banquet lunch and a glimpse behind the scenes at the Art Department. Last Tuesday, the stars of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim also celebrated the film’s New Zealand premiere at the Green Dragon Inn on set. Congratulations to the team at Hobbiton for delivering a hugely successful week! #Waikato #Hobbiton #Tourism

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting our members breakfast at the beautiful Tieke Golf Estate. The event was a fantastic opportunity to provide an organisational update on our recent HWT activities, including the launch of our new online members portal and a sneak peek at our upcoming domestic campaign. It was also well-timed to bring our members together, reconnect, and gear up for the busy Christmas and summer season ahead. Thank you to everyone who attended, we look forward to continuing our mahi together into 2025. #Tourism #Industry #Waikato #MemberEvent

We are pleased to introduce the team behind the mighty Waikato brand and activations. The team at Hamilton & Waikato Tourism are dedicated to showcasing the best of our region, supporting our amazing industry and attracting both leisure and business event visitors. Despite recent challenges and changes, our team has remained resilient and committed to our mission. We are excited to introduce the fantastic individuals who make up our team. We are all ready to drive our initiatives forward and highlight the unique offerings of the mighty Waikato. Jessica Sanders, our newest team member, joins us as our RTO Operations Coordinator (ROC). With a background in events, venues, hospitality, and social enterprise organisations, Jess will support all our projects and help smooth out the craziness. Carly Jackson is our Events Lead, joining us from Hamilton City Council’s H3 team. Carly is well-versed in Business Events and focuses on attracting this lucrative market to our region. Natasha Pearce has transitioned to our Marketing & Media Lead after two years with the organisation. Tash will oversee our domestic marketing campaigns and media activations. Aimee Tyson moves from Business Events into the Destination Lead role, having been with HWT for four years. Aimee will provide capability-building opportunities and support to our industry, along with assisting travel trade with information about the mighty Waikato. Natasha Chevtchenko is our Digital Marketing Lead, managing our digital presence since “two days before Lockdown.” Natasha oversees our website, social media, and newsletters, and ensures our online presence aligns with campaign activities. Caz Wood continues with us while the last of the Regional Event Fund is utilised. As REF Secretariat, Caz assists the Panel across Taupō, Rotorua, Ruapehu, and Waikato. As General Manager, Nicola Greenwell is pleased to have established an amazing team. She ensures the team have the tools they need to deliver the magic our industry deserves. With our team now complete, we have plenty of work planned and are eager to share how great our region is! If you see our team out and about, please say ‘hello’ and ask how the visitor industry in the mighty Waikato is going. #Team #MightyWaikato #Tourism

Our amazing new Events Lead, Carly Jackson, had a very busy first month with us, filled with exciting events and productive engagements. Carly kicked off by attending the Unleashing the Potential of Business Events Forum at the Aotea Centre in Auckland; she then hosted an engaging Wellington Soiree; conducted productive sales calls to Wellington and a visit to Tourism New Zealand. Auckland Spring Buyers lunch held at Amano provided a perfect setting to connect with Auckland-based buyers and discuss future collaborations. The two busy weeks wrapped up with the Business Events Expo at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, alongside Hobbiton™ Movie Set, SkyCity Entertainment Group Hamilton, Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre and Hamilton Gardens. We’re excited to see what Carly has in store for more rewarding events and activities ahead! #BusinessEvents #Networking #Waikato

Congratulations to Hamilton Airport NZ for hosting a very successful NZ Airports Hui 2024, and on the well-deserved recognition last night for their hard work and dedication.    As the proud host of this year’s event, Hamilton Airport shone at the Hobbiton-themed Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony, taking home awards in two impressive categories:    - Sustainability Initiative of the Year (Medium Airport)  - Airport of the Year (Medium Airport)    It is always rewarding working together on bringing events such as this to the Mighty Waikato and seeing Hamilton Airport shine this week is the cherry on top!    Well done Hamilton Airport team! #Waikato #NZAirportsHui2024 #Team

We loved once again working with the team at Kia Ora to put together this ‘Weekend in Cambridge’ article, which shines a spotlight on the many activities and experiences that make this town such a special getaway! From picture-perfect leafy streets and scenic cycling trails to boutique shopping and vibrant eateries, the article explores everything that makes Cambridge a perfect weekend destination. The article dives into unique experiences like relaxing at the Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments, going on a cycling adventure with Riverside Adventures Waikato, and experiencing Grassroots Trust Velodrome. For those who enjoy indulging their senses, highlights include the Cambridge Distillery, Inspirit Studio & Gallery, Zen Medi-Spa, and immersive nature spots like Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum. Catch the full article in #KiaOraMagazine on your next flight or in the Air New Zealand app for ideas on your next escape to the mighty Waikato! #CambridgeNZ #Waikato #Waipa #Waipā #Tourism

Last week, our Waikato tourism whānau gathered at Zealong Tea Estate for our Spring Industry Symposium. It was inspiring to hear from industry leaders and experts. Waikato Regional Airport (Hamilton Airport NZ) shared valuable insights on new international flight options to Hamilton. Enlighten Designs talked about the power of data-driven decision-making. Expedia Group presented strategies for enhancing online presence and reaching global markets. Our very own Nicola Greenwell shared key insights and a vision for the future of the region’s tourism industry. We also heard about exciting developments from Tieke Golf Estate and Hobbiton™ Movie Set Thank you to all who came along and supported the event! 💚 #waikato #tourismindustry #businessevents #waikatodistrict #matamatapiako #hamiltoncity #waipa