Blog - Local News
Quest Hamilton opens soon
Quest Hamilton opens soon Quest’s second property in the Waikato is currently under development in the heart of Hamilton Central on the corner of London and Victoria Street and is set to open 25FEB. Set within an historic building, Quest Hamilton is ideally located and will offer a mix of 38 studios, one and two bedroom self contained serviced apartments. It has special opening rates on request. Email host@questhamilton.co.nz
Read the full postNew Zealand’s Hobbit-forming ways
USA Today has just carried a big story on Hobbiton and Ian Alexander’s farm outside Matamata, where the movie set was created. It tells of the farmer’s astonishment at being approached in 1998 by a location scout for permission to film Lord of the Rings on his property. Nowadays his woolshed is reborn as the Shire’s Rest cafe and function centre,
thousands of fans visit the farm every year, the attraction’s website is offered in eight languages and Alexander’s son is GM of the operation.
Hobbiton could pull 150,000 tourists a year
Hobbiton, which last year attracted 30,000 visitors, is expected to welcome as many as 150,000 visitors a year by 2015 if plans for the expansion and development of the quaint set for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies are approved. Rings Scenic Tours, owner operator of the Hobbiton movie set outside Matamata, has lodged an application for a resource consent with the local District Council. In it, the applicants have detailed a three stage plan that would see the establishment of car and coach parking, paths and toilet facilities, followed by the development of the Hobbit Hole conference and incentives centre in a marqueestyled building, and eventually as multi-purpose exhibition space containing movie stage sets and memorabilia, plus a Visitor Centre with restaurant/cafe, function areas and retail, and outdoor dining at the thatched Green Dragon Inn.
Read the full postHamilton Runway Extension Approved
Approval has been given to extend Hamilton International Airport’s runway to just short of 3000m at any time over the next 15 years. New approvals and recommendations allow for an extended runway, taxiways, extended apron, associated air noise boundary changes and include land designations at both ends of the runway for the protection of runway lights and navigation aids to allow the implementation of instrument landing system high intensity lighting.
Read the full post20th Great NZ Muster™
All stops are being pulled out as Te Kuiti celebrates 20 years of its iconic street festival – The Great NZ Muster™ on the 31MAR. The festival which celebrates Te Kuiti’s self proclaimed title “Shearing Capital of New Zealand” started out as a small Friday night promotion for spectators who came to see the top national shearers compete at the annual three-day NZ Shears. 20 years later, thousands flock to Te Kuiti to soak up the rustic atmosphere and enjoy what has been described as an old-style Kiwi day out.
Read the full postKawhaikai Festival
Organisers of the upcoming Kawhia Kai Festival on 04FEB have confirmed that the headline act is “poly fonk” band Ardijah, who will perform for an hour from 4pm.
Read the full postKai time in Kāwhia
Kawhia is turning on the kai once again to celebrate Waitangi Day with some traditional flavours on Saturday, 04FEB.
Now in its 7th year, The Kawhia Kai Festival attracts some 10,000 visitors to a feast of music and entertainment, as well as contemporary and traditional Māori cuisine. Among the more than 25 kai stalls, four local Kāwhia marae will each have a stall dedicated just to hāngi.
