HAMILTON
NEW ZEALAND
Hamilton is situated in the North Island about an hours drive south of Auckland. Hamilton is the centre of the Waikato Region, one of New Zealand's richest agricultural region's. The city is built around the beautiful Waikato river. The Waikato river was once Hamilton's only transport and communications link. Now the main highway passes through the city linking the whole of New Zealand. While agriculture has traditionally been the dominant industry in Hamilton, other sectors (such as manufacturing and retail) are catching up and providing more diverse business opportunities in Hamilton. Buy a map, look for a rental car hire or job for employment in Hamilton New Zealand.
HOME
ACCOMMODATION
ACTIVITIES
AIRPORT
AREA GUIDE
BACKPACKING
CAMPER HOLIDAYS
ENTERTAINMENT
GOLF
MAPS
SELF DRIVE
SURF REPORT
WALKING TRACKS
WEB CAMERAS
 



ABOUT HAMILTON NEW ZEALAND
Hamilton - New Zealand
Hamilton is situated in the North Island about an hours drive south of Auckland. Hamilton is the centre of the Waikato Region, one of New Zealand's richest agricultural region's. Hamilton has a population of around 118,000 people. The city is built around the beautiful Waikato river.

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 area has been settled by Maori from the Tainui iwi for centuries. Several villages were situated on the banks of the Waikato River. The rich soils were used extensively to grow traditional crops such as kumara. Fortified pa were built on strategic headlands, particularly on the bends of the river. During the late 1840s to early 1860s Waikato tribes used the river to transport large quantities of flour, maize, pigs, potatoes, kumara, flax, timber and fish to the markets Auckland.

The Waikato river was once Hamilton's only transport and communications link. Now the main highway passes through the city linking the whole of New Zealand. Hamilton also has the largest railway junction in New Zealand, connecting the North Island Main Trunk line and the East Coast Main Trunk.

While agriculture has traditionally been the dominant industry in Hamilton, other sectors (such as manufacturing and retail) are catching up and providing more diverse business opportunities in Hamilton. The Hamilton Airport connects to many popular destinations in New Zealand and Australia.


HAMILTON NEW ZEALAND ACCOMMODATION TRAVEL TOURISM INFORMATION GUIDE