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Take a bow, Hamilton.
The city has scored highly in the annual awards for New Zealand’s most beautiful towns and cities, confirming what many Hamiltonians have quietly bragged for years: that we live in an amazing place.
Hamilton has been judged the most beautiful large city in the country, blessed with what the judges describe as “the wow factor.”
“Every Hamiltonian should be shouting this news from the rooftops,” said Rachel Grunwell, one of two Keep New Zealand Beautiful judges who visited the city in September.
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“When we came to Hamilton to stand trial, I couldn’t forget how much the city had changed since I lived here as a student. The art in the city, the vitality, the nature, has that surprise factor “.
MARK TAYLOR / Stuff
Hamilton’s Victoria on the River City Park impressed visiting judges.
Grunwell studied at the University of Waikato in the mid-1990s and said the city had undergone a surprising transformation in the intervening decades.
As part of the evaluation process, Grunwell and his fellow judge, Heather Saunderson, were taken on a tour of the city.
The couples’ visit included Victoria on the River, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Zoo, Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, and a new $ 10 million materials recovery facility.
Whanganui also competed for the title of Most Beautiful City, and both cities had to demonstrate recycling projects, examples of community beautification, sustainability initiatives and environmental excellence.
In the end, Hamilton was named the most beautiful big city at Thursday night’s virtual awards ceremony, while Whanganui was named the most beautiful small city.
Christel Yardley / Stuff
The Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is Hamilton’s most prominent eco-project.
Grunwell said Waiwhakareke, a 65-hectare park on the city’s northwestern outskirts, was noted for its beauty.
Waiwhakareke is considered the most important ecological project in the city and tries to recreate the main ecosystems found in the Hamilton Basin before the arrival of humans.
“For me, Waiwhakareke is really a highlight, but you also have these beautiful winding roads down to the Waikato River. Having so much vegetation in the city improves your well-being. “
Grunwell and Saunderson said Hamilton also displays impressive murals that speak to the history of the area.
“What stood out to me in terms of the beauty of Hamilton were the murals and how the city plans to create a mural trail,” Saunderson said.
“There’s a lot of representation from New Zealand history, from Hamilton, and it’s a great opportunity to really engage with a certain demographic of new and emerging artists. It’s also a great graffiti deterrent. “
Dominico Zapata / Things
The wall at Te Koopuu Mania or Kirikiriroa in Hamilton is adorned with what is believed to be the largest single mural in the country.
Many of the murals are created during the city’s annual Boon Hamilton street art festival, which attracts artists from New Zealand and abroad.
Saunderson, who serves as CEO of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, praised Hamilton for his initiatives around reducing waste, including the recent implementation of new trash and recycling bins. Emphasis has also been placed in the city on educating youth about the importance of recycling.
With the Covid-19 pandemic reducing international travel, Hamilton should rank high on New Zealanders’ vacation must-see list, Grunwell said.
After his visit to Hamilton, Grunwell posted photos of his trip on his Instagram page. Some of his old friends from college questioned whether the photos were taken in Hamilton.
“I went back to them and told them that if you haven’t been here for a while, you really have to go. Is awesome.
“When you get an award like this, there should be time for a break and a thank you to the people who run the city because they care about it and are doing a great job.”
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate is delighted with the title win, but said it would come as no surprise to people who knew the city well.
While Hamilton has amazing parks and is anchored by a beautiful river, creating a beautiful city takes hard work and foresight.
“This award belongs to all of us and that includes the people of Hamilton City Council, as well as the dedicated community groups working hard to make this a place where people thrive,” said Southgate.
Cambridge’s Victoria Street picked up the top gong from Best Street.
