WTS Waikato

Come fly the friendly skies with the Hamilton Model Aero Club. WTS producer Gary Farrow joined them at their airstrip in the south of Hamilton, and found what a supportive social group it is, as well as enabling the fun hobby of flying safely and freely with radio control planes.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

Badminton is a sport on the uptick in the Waikato. WTS producer Gary Farrow went to the Cambridge Badminton Stadium to meet club president Graeme Shaw.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

The New Zealand Christian Community for Meditation held a silent retreat in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, specifically at the Lady Goodfellow Chapel at Waikato University. WTS producer Gary Farrow met with Katherine Houston from the World Christian Community for Meditation at the chapel, to learn more.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior assembled for its annual conference in Rotorua for 2023. A public event was also held called VolcanoFest, where people could meet volcanologists, ask questions, and learn more about what’s going on in the earth under our feet. WTS producer Gary Farrow went along to meet the experts.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

The Hamilton Inline Hockey Club is very unassuming from the outside, but as soon as you walk in, you find it is an international standard inline hockey court. But what they do stretches well beyond hockey. WTS producer Gary Farrow paid the club a visit to meet with president Jan Botha, and to hear about what makes the operation tick, as well as the challenges it faces.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

Our backyards are battlefields. Weaponised weevils, shield bugs, and stag beetles are constantly waging war in the quest to reproduce. These invertebrates and many more are of interest to Dr Chrissie Painting, a senior lecturer at the University of Waikato. She joins us on WTS to talk about battles among our local bugs.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

Have you ever thought of trying stilt walking in public? The Free Lunch Street Theatre Company started right here in the Waikato in 1999. Among the performances that Free Lunch provides, is stilt walking. They’re in high demand post-Covid, and I had a chat about the art with Free Lunch managing director Sandra Jensen.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

Whizz Bang Science brings science to life in exciting shows & hands on activities for kids and those curious at heart. The show currently doing the rounds is called the Unbelieve-a-bubble Show, providing a fun, interactive science experience to help with STEAM learning. Whizz Bang Science is based right here in the Waikato – in Putaruru, to be exact. Its owner, Emma Lucas, joins us on WTS.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

The Mexican Day of the Dead occurs in early November each year, and an event was held to commemorate it in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, run by a group of Mexican people from the community. They created an outstanding altar at the Earth Diverse centre, and brought food, music, and knowledge together. Two women who organised the event spoke to WTS, to tell us all about the Day of the Dead.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.

Mike Bain is a Te Awamutu resident who was involved in a cycling accident in July 2022, through no fault of his own. It was a close brush with death. Nearly four months later, Mike’s been through hospital, numerous operations, rehab – and he’s still only at the beginning of his journey to recovery. He joins WTS producer Gary Farrow to share his experience and his road safety philosophy.

Telling the hyperlocal, controversial and quirky stories of the Waikato region under the new normal.