Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton Kirikiriroa (Māori)
City
Hamilton from Till's Lookout, from Whitiora to Fairfield Bridge, traffic on SH1, Māori Garden, Hamilton Station, city offices and WINTEC
Coat of arms
Nicknames:  Hamiltron, the Tron,[1] H-Town.[1] Previously: the Fountain City.[2]
Location of the Hamilton Territorial Authority
Hamilton Location of Hamilton, New Zealand
Coordinates: 37°47′S 175°17′E / 37.783°S 175.283°E / -37.783; 175.283
Country	New Zealand
Island	North Island
Region	Waikato
Government
• Mayor	Paula Southgate
• Deputy Mayor	Angela O'Leary
• Territorial authority	Hamilton City Council
Area [3]
• Territorial	110.8 km2 (42.8 sq mi)
• Urban	110.37 km2 (42.61 sq mi)
Elevation	40 m (131 ft)
Population  (June 2023)[4]
• Territorial	185,300
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
• Urban	185,300
• Urban density	1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
• Demonym	Hamiltonian
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	3200, 3204, 3206, 3210, 3214, 3216
Area code	07
Local iwi	Tainui
Website	www.hamilton.govt.nz www.waikatoregion.govt.nz

Hamilton (Māori: Kirikiriroa) is an inland city in the North Island of New Zealand. Located on the banks of the Waikato River, it is the seat and most populous city of the Waikato region. With a territorial population of 185,300,^[4] it is the country's fourth most-populous city. Encompassing a land area of about 110 km² (42 sq mi),^[5] Hamilton is part of the wider Hamilton Urban Area, which also encompasses the nearby towns of Ngāruawāhia, Te Awamutu and Cambridge. In 2020, Hamilton was awarded the title of most beautiful large city in New Zealand.^[6]

The area now covered by the city was originally the site of several Māori villages, including Kirikiriroa, from which the city takes its Māori name. By the time English settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato River, were abandoned as a result of the Invasion of Waikato and land confiscation (Raupatu) by the Crown.

Initially an agricultural service centre, Hamilton now has a diverse economy and is the third fastest growing urban area in New Zealand, behind Pukekohe and Auckland.^[7] Hamilton Gardens is the region's most popular tourist attraction. Education and research and development play an important part in Hamilton's economy, as the city is home to approximately 40,000 tertiary students and 1,000 PhD-qualified scientists.^[8]