About Us

About Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism Ltd (HWT) is the official Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) for the Waikato region in New Zealand.

Our role is to attract domestic and international visitors and increase length of stay and expenditure through effective destination marketing, development, and management activity. HWT promotes the Waikato as a preferred destination for domestic and international business, events and leisure travellers and provides leadership in regional product and event development, investment, and sector capability. As passionate ambassadors of the region, HWT aims to ensure visitors enjoy the wide variety of experiences and places throughout the mighty Waikato, in turn contributing to economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for the community.

Who we are

We have an independent governance board and a dedicated team who work for Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.

Find out more about our board and team

What we do

Our funding

Working under a private-public partnership model, we receive funding of $1,215,000 from our six city and district councils, including:

  • Hamilton City Council
  • Waipa District Council
  • Waikato District Council
  • Waitomo District Council
  • Otorohanga District Council
  • Matamata Piako District Council.

The funding enables us to undertake core promotional activities to promote the region to visitors, media and the travel trade.

Trade & leisure marketing

Our marketing activities include our regional website waikatonz.com, media and trade pitches, familiarisations, sales meetings/trips, attendance at trade shows, working with key industry partners including Tourism New Zealand and neighbouring RTO’s and running complimentary local industry events and communications.

Find out more about our industry events

Find out more about travel trade support, please contact the team.

As part of the private-public partnership model HWT also looks to local industry to partner with us each year on various opt-in regional marketing and promotional initiatives.

These initiatives enable us to work collaboratively as a region and achieve scale and impact in what remains a highly competitive marketplace both internationally and domestically.

Find out more about our business partnership opportunities

Convention bureau & business events

We assist with the organisation of all types of business events, including conferences, meetings, networking functions, workshops and special events. A range of services are available, from suggestions and advice on venues, information about support services or ideas on team-building activities, through to full proposals and conference bids.

Find out more about conventions and business events

Product development

HWT has also expanded the scope of its activities to focus on product development which involves identifying and supporting opportunities to strengthen our region’s visitor proposition.

Find out more about Waikato Destination Management Plan

Statement of Intent

To request a copy of our statement of intent, please call +64 7 843 0056 or click here.

Contact Us

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
C/o Hamilton Airport
Airport Road, RD2
Hamilton,3282

Phone: 07 843 0056
Email: info@waikatonz.com