Life is good in the Waikato.
With easy access to Auckland, Tauranga and surrounding areas in the region – it’s easy to commute to work, catch up with friends, and take children to child care, school and sports activities. In fact, 85 per cent of residents say they love living in the Waikato.
Location
Located at the heart of the upper North Island with easy access to New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, and the rest of New Zealand, Waikato people can enjoy the benefits of being part of a large population without the stress of big city living. Excellent roading and communications infrastructure make it easy to do business and keep in touch with family and friends.
Environment
The environment underpins our economy and is also our playground. Waikato has the most varied environment of any region in New Zealand - stunning coastlines, lush pastoral landscapes, forests, cave systems, mountains, the largest lake in Australasia, the longest river in New Zealand, geothermal activity, and internationally renowned wetlands – which means you can experience all the different elements of New Zealand’s great outdoors in a single day.
Economic Diversity
The region has one of New Zealand’s most diverse economies so job and career prospects are generally good, and further enhanced by the region’s world class education, science, research, health and other professional services
Culture and Connections
The region’s rich Māori and European heritage creates a unique regional identity. People are warm and welcoming, with around 70 per cent of Waikato people saying they know they can call on others when they need a hand. There are countless opportunities to gather as a community thanks to a varied cultural and sporting events calendar.
The Waikato region is home to a vibrant artistic community.
This is evident in the number of events, museums and galleries throughout the region. From sculptors and painters to illustrators and fashion designers, creativity is flourishing in the region providing ample opportunity to enjoy the arts.
View a locals guide to the arts scene, or visit Creative Waikato's Facebook page.
Housing
There is a wide range of housing, from apartments to lifestyle blocks with room for a pony and other livestock.
News
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The Stars Shine Bright in the Waikato with the iCLAW Matariki Dish Challenge back for its sixth year.
Waikato Food Inc’s Matariki Dish Challenge is set to brighten the local hospitality scene for its sixth year. This unique challenge dares local chefs to create a dish inspired by Matariki while celebrating local ingredients.
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Making a feast
Denise Irvine talks to Vicki Ravlich-Horan and Julia Clarke about putting Feast on the Waikato’s Easter table The motivation is simple: run a key event at Easter that celebrates the Waikato’s amazing food and producers, make it a joyous occasion that builds pride in the region. The challenge is harder: find the money, the sponsorship, the people, places and producers to make it fly.
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Behind the scenes with New Zealand's school lunch programme
New Zealand’s healthy lunch in schools programme, Ka Ora, Ka Ako aims to deliver lunches to around 200,000 primary and secondary students by the end of this year, and Wintec is training people to implement it at schools and kura.
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Elevating Waikato creative mahi to the next level
Waikato creatives can get ready to super charge their creative journey, as a life-changing opportunity to line up a solid career in the arts, launches across Aotearoa.