Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton Today

Hamilton is a rapidly growing city of over 197,000 people, including 25,000 students, mostly enrolled in one of the city's two tertiary institutes, the University of Waikato and Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology).

Related Topics:
University of Waikato - Wintec

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It is centrally located within the North Island, with around 1.5 million people - 40% of New Zealand's total population - living within a 250-km radius.

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The city lies at a major rail and road nexus.

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Its airport has now been upgraded to service international flights, although these are still largely restricted to trans-Tasman and Polynesian destinations.

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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, and has the second-largest collection of cafés in the country—second only to Ponsonby Road in Auckland. As of 2004, the city is a vibrant place enjoying the benefits of rapid growth and not yet suffering from the negative consequences, though traffic congestion is increasing at a faster rate than population growth.

Related Topics:
Auckland - 2004

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