WAIKATO WIPEOUT

In today’s highly anticipated Budget 2025 announcement, Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed that absolutely no funding has been allocated to promote Hamilton as a tourist destination — not even a couple of bucks for a pamphlet.

“Look, I’m not going to sit here and pretend Hamilton is some sort of hidden gem,” said Willis.

“It’s not hidden. It’s just… there. And it’s certainly not a gem,” said Willis, now even more resolute that Hamilton will be getting zero dollars in her 2025 Budget.

Despite pressure from local MPs to fund a campaign encouraging both domestic and international tourists to “Give Hamilton A Go”, the Finance Minister was again firm.

“Let’s be honest, most New Zealanders only go to Hamilton when they’ve accidentally missed the turnoff to Raglan or if  their team from out of town is playing against the Chiefs,” she added.

“I’m not going to be putting the hard earned dollars of New Zealanders into promoting a city, that well, I’m not really sure what’s actually there,” said Willis, pondering whether some council buildings and a river was it for the city.

Willis later revealed to the Whakataki Times that $8 million had instead been set aside for a new nationwide campaign encouraging tourists to simply “go to Queenstown again.”

Self-proclaimed “Hambassadors” Steve Holloway and Seamus Marten, also hosts of the Between Two Beers podcast were contacted, but were reportedly too distraught about the funding snub to comment.

More to come. 

The post BUDGET 2025: $0 Allocated To Promote Hamilton As Tourist Destination appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

OH, THOSE BIG CITY LIGHTS

One long-term Palmy resident is rubbing his eyes today, as he tries to recover from a dazzling trip to the far north metropolis of Hamilton.

David ‘Dave-o’ McGregor, 19, could not believe his luck when his employer secured a contract for a big job on a Hamilton office redevelopment. He was first to put his hand up for the three week stint in the ‘Tron, and was in shock when the boss said ‘yes’.

“Mate. It was my first time outta Palmy and I gotta tell ya, it’s a different world up there.”

When asked to recount some of the highlights from his trip, McGregor pointed to the prevalence of high profile fast food chains like Taco Bell, and the fact that Hamiltonians appeared to stay up well past 9pm. 

Life in Kirikiriroa, it seemed, worked to a different schedule.

“Honestly mate, we’d clock off at 4 and the sparkies would have us down at this place they called a gastropub. I dunno how to describe it, it’s like beer and more…Then all the missuses show up and take us out for cocktails!”

McGregor likened the northern excursion trip to a European Contiki tour that his cousin Damo did back in 2009.

“Damo says in Spain they’re just up all night and drinking wine and stuff. Like, we didn’t have wine and it wasn’t all night but those places were serving drinks till about 10.”

With the office refurb now complete, it’s time for McGregor to return to normal life back in heart of the Manawatu. When asked how he’s recovering, McGregor said he was looking forward to the long weekend. 

“I think I’m still a bit jet lagged so I’ll probs just do a siesta all day Monday.”

More to come.

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The post Palmerston North Man Returns Home From Trip Of A Lifetime To Hamilton appeared first on The Whakataki Times.