Hamilton City Council
Te kaunihera o Kirikiriroa
Hamilton City Council owns and operates a number of community facilities on behalf of the city’s residents.
Hamilton City Council owns and operates a number of community facilities on behalf of the city’s residents.
These include Te Rapa Sportsdrome (43 Church Road), Hockin House (14 Selwyn Street), Pembroke Park Clubhouse (9 Pembroke Street) and Celebrating Age Centre (30 Victoria Street).
Community facilities serve a variety of functions in our city – providing opportunities for community development, locations for social services, and hubs for community art, culture, sport, recreation, education and information. These facilities provide spaces for collaboration and interaction, acting as a focal point for Hamiltonians to experience involvement and social interaction, and contribute positively to the development of strong communities.
Council will soon be running a contestable Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for community groups interested in leasing spaces at the four sites above. The mix of these four community and recreational facilities provides interested community groups with the choice to apply for one or more facilities as part of the EOI process.
Due to increased demand for community spaces, it is important the EOI process provides transparent and equitable opportunity for all community groups to apply, with the aim of maximising the use and community benefit gained from Council owned leased buildings.
Groups need to be eligible for the community lease under the Community Occupancy Policy to apply, with consideration given to a group’s fit with the site and how best to maximise community benefit from these facilities.
An overview of the EOI process is available here.
Open days will be held at the four community facilities on the following days/times:
If you’d like to meet with Council staff, arrange to view the sites on the open day or ask any questions, please email parksandrec@hcc.govt.nz or phone 07 245 0711.
Expressions of Interest will open on 31 January 2026 and close 1 March 2026. Access to the application form will be online via Smarty Grants.
Going through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process helps to ensure we are maximising the use and community benefit gained from Council owned leased buildings. It is also a chance to test the need for community facilities and ensures equity, consistency and transparency in the allocation of occupancy, in line with our Community Occupancy Policy.
We are seeking EOIs on these buildings as either their leases have expired, or they have unoccupied spaces that could be utilised by community groups.
Groups who are currently occupying spaces in these buildings and whose leases have expired are encouraged to submit EOIs as part of the process. No decisions have yet been made regarding leases and all applications will be given equal consideration. To apply, groups must be eligible for the community lease under Council’s Community Occupancy Policy, with consideration given to a group’s fit with the site and how best to maximise community benefit from these facilities.
To apply, groups need to be a registered charity and will need to be eligible for the community lease under Council’s Community Occupancy Policy, with consideration given to a group’s fit with the site and how best to maximise community benefit from these Council-owned facilities. More information is here
Applications close on 1 March 2026.
Open days will be held at the four community facilities on the following days/times:
Information on the facilities can be viewed here
Please reach out to us on parksandrec@hcc.govt.nz or phone 07 245 0711 to discuss.
No, you can still submit an EOI application. The open days are optional and are a chance to chat to our team, ask questions and find out more about the spaces.
These costs would vary depending on the space as each facility is different. Groups will be responsible for utility costs, rates and day to day operational maintenance of the facility.
Please reach out to our team on parksandrec@hcc.govt.nz or phone 07 245 0711 to discuss for further information.
Groups can submit joint applications with other groups or be open to sharing the facility with other groups.
Applications will be assessed with consideration given to a group’s fit with the site and how best to maximise community benefit from these Council-owned facilities. Whether the facility is shared or not will be based on successful applications.
Your group will be advised of the outcome of your EOI before the 31 August 2026.
Last updated 23 January 2026