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Hamilton Business Facts - Opportunity Hamilton

Hamilton is located in the heart of New Zealand’s largest export region and largest dairy farming region. Manufacturing, dairy, health, education and scientific research are among the key local industries.

Click here to view a recent Versus Research survey commissioned by The Katolyst Group which details why companies chose to locate their businesses in Hamilton.

Hamilton's Economy

  • Hamilton is located in the Waikato Region, which is a global “food bowl,” producing over $6 billion in food products - milk, meat, vegetables and fruits.
  • The city is New Zealand’s centre of agricultural products manufacturing.
  • Hamilton is a national centre of innovation with 40,000 tertiary students and approximately 1,000 PhD scientists.
  • We are home to the majority of New Zealand’s scientists, with 25% of the country’s research taking place in the region.
  • Hamilton is close to major markets, with 1.5 million people living within 90 minutes of Hamilton city.
  • Hamilton’s population was 134,400 in June 2006 and is projected to increase to 194,800 in 2031
  • The Waikato is New Zealand’s leading export region, accounting for around 20% of the country’s total exports
  • Approximately 13,000 businesses are located in Hamilton
  • A total of 77,310 employees worked in Hamilton as at February 2007
  • Hamilton’s biggest employers are property and business services (16.6%), health and community services (14.5%), retail (12.9%) and manufacturing (12.6%) and education (8.9%)
  • In March 2008 the unemployment rate in Hamilton was 4.5% down from 5.8% in March 2007
  • The value of non-residential building consents in Hamilton increased by 55.7% between 2007 and 2008 compared to a national increase of 7.4%
  • The average age in Hamilton is 31.3 years compared to 35.9 years nationally
  • More than 80 ethnic groups are represented within Hamilton’s population

Hamilton has the infrastructure required for today’s largest companies. It is located along the country’s main State Highway 1 and has a large railway network and international airport. The city is also located close to both of New Zealand’s major ports at Auckland and Tauranga.

  The borough of Hamilton was established on 27 October 1877 and Hamilton became a city on 13 December 1945.  Hamilton’s Maori name is Kirikiriroa meaning long stretch of gravel.  New Zealand’s longest river, the Waikato, flows for 16km through the city.  Mild climate and moderate year round rainfall keep the city and surrounding area very green.  Mean temperatures - 18C in January (summer) and 9C in July (winter).  Hamilton has135 parks and gardens and 58 sports areas and over 1,000 hectares of open space.  Hamilton has 3 public swimming pools and over 55 kms of walkways in parks and reserves. Hamilton is student city, with more than 46,000 people in tertiary study Hamilton Zoo is home to over 600 native New Zealand and exotic animals, set in 25 ha of tranquil surroundings  Hamilton is the business, service, and educational centre of the Waikato region.  Waikato Hospital is a 600 bed regional base hospital located in Hamilton and is the largest tertiary training hospital in the Southern Hemisphere.