Stories by Libby Kirkby-McLeod

A new piano festival in Hamilton, which brings Chinese and New Zealand students together with famous pianists, has attracted major international stars to the city.

A trial in Hamilton to allow some park space to rewild will end later this month when the grass is finally mowed.

The famous themed gardens in Hamilton are preparing to introduce an out-of- town visitor charge in 2024.

Catherine Chidgey wasn't sure about having two books published in a year - but she's ended up with two best-sellers.

A Hamilton community feels bitterly betrayed about two schools being closed, only to be reopened on the same site, with the same facilities - but with a new name.

Wellington Street Beach might not be Piha or Anchorage Bay but in the landlocked city of Hamilton, it is an iconic destination.

A new treatment plant is in the pipeline, but the beach-side community doesn't know what to do with the end product.

There is plenty of Waikato to be discovered at Made.

As the cost of living bites, people aren't taking in as many furry companions as they used to. And as kennels fill up, greyhounds whose racing days are over aren't being adopted. Audio

If you've got a craving for plum crumble, a bit of preserved plum with your yogurt, or some easy home-made plum ice cream, you're out of luck. Audio

The election might be behind us, but some people will be heading straight back to the polls as local councillors leave to become MPs.

Communities along the Firth of Thames are planning for an uncertain future.

Hamilton locals and visitors have a new app to help discover natural areas in the city.

Waka Kotahi's approach to train safety is being called adhoc and dangerous, and the safety model called into question, after RNZ found train safety incidents appear to be handled inconsistently.

The new $80 million regional theatre for Waikato is $2m short of its needed capital funding.

Sonning Carpark in Hamilton will now be called Opoia Paa following a vote by Hamilton City Council today.

The first distribution centre at New Zealand's biggest inland port was opened in Waikato on Wednesday. Audio

KiwiRail is disputing Waka Kotahi's claim that the Hamilton to Auckland train, Te Huia, came within 200 metres of a collision in July.

Almost 30 other trains - including eight passenger services - also broke the rules recently, but were not blocked from running services.

The passenger service between Hamilton and Auckland was restricted for several weeks after safety concerns were raised.

After languishing for a decade, there is a new sense of momentum in the centre of Tauranga.

The 41 finalist works are on exhibit at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato until 12 November.

Coromandel has seen the biggest drop in visitor spending of any region, and locals say the lack of sun is largely to blame. Audio

The first FIFA Women's World Cup game in Hamilton kicks off on Saturday night between Zambia and Japan.

The Rotorua Museum is the most photographed building in New Zealand. It is also closed, and it's not alone, as some of Aotearoa's most famous buildings face uncertain futures.