What’s the best way to get around the central city with a disability?
Use the map below to find out how to get around Hamilton’s central city area when managing your disability. It details the locations of toilets, mobility parking spots, businesses, services, buildings, bus stops, river path accessways, stairs, shared pedestrian zones. It also notes steep areas in the central city.
Accessibility map
Accessibility map word version
Accessibility map text version
See our parking and transport pages to find out about mobility parking spaces and access in Hamilton, and view our central city parking map. You can also get information on buses and accessibility needs at busit.co.nz
Which event venues are accessible?
H3 is the division of Hamilton City Council responsible for managing our event venues – FMG Stadium Waikato, Claudelands Globox Arena and Seddon Park. We make sure people with disabilities have easy access to these venues. Click on the links below or phone 07 929 3000 to get more accessibility information for each venue.
- FMG Stadium Waikato has designated areas for wheelchair users and their caregivers.
- Claudelands Arena has several features to enhance the experience for disabled patrons attending and enjoying events. These include accessible car parks, wheelchair user access, and a hearing loop.
- Seddon Park is Hamilton's boutique international cricket ground near the central city. It has a special area set aside for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
How can Council help?
We’re committed to supporting our disabled community and ensuring people with impairments are catered for at our sites and in our services. Our training video below shows how we can meet the needs of disabled customers and ensure they feel cared for.
Don’t hesitate to give our team a call if you have any other ideas about how we can make visiting Council and communicating with our staff easier for you.
Our disabled community
Our disabled community is a diverse group of people who contribute to the vibrancy and strength of our city. We recognise disability as an important part of human diversity and are committed to creating a city where everyone has equal opportunity to participate, contribute and thrive. We work alongside the disabled community to identify and remove barriers and promote accessibility across our venues, facilities and infrastructure.
Disability Advisory Group
Our Disability Advisory Group was formed in 2025 and plays an important role in providing advice and input into Council strategies, plans and projects requiring a pan disability approach and accessibility lens. The group also supports the monitoring and implementation of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2028.
The Advisory Group is made up of eight appointed members from the Disability Sector, who serve for a term of three years.
They operate under a Terms of Reference and meet every eight weeks for a duration of two hours.
Introducing the Advisory Group
Amanda Birchler
I have lived experience of disability and work as a facilitator in the disability sector. I am connected to the thriving disability community in Hamilton. I use Enabling Good Lives vision and principles in my work and life and will bring them to the Hamilton City Council disability advisory group.
Emma Farrant
I am a strong and passionate disability advocate, committed to amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and driving meaningful change. As a dedicated board member for Career Moves and an active leader within multiple disability-led groups, I work to champion inclusion, expand opportunities, and ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in every conversation. My advocacy is rooted in lived experience, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in equitable access for all.
Tim Folkema
From 2013 to 2016 I was on the Hamilton City Council Youth Council Advisory Panel as a Youth Disability Advisor. I am a founding member of Voices From The Spectrum Charitable Trust, an organisation set up by and for the adult Autistic Community in the Waikato. I am a former lived-experience advisor with Altogether Autism and have hosted many workshops, Q&A’s and presentations on Autistic Culture and Experience locally and around the country. I work with national organisations and universities as an advisor with a focus on advocacy, leadership and policy design. In this role I am very privileged to be a part of Your Way | Kia Roha’s National Disability Leadership Group and the University of Canterbury’s Autism Research Centre.
Ellen Treweek
I am a passionate advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, drawing on my own lived experience to create meaningful changes at a local and national level. I currently work with Community Living as a member of Ko Tātou Tēnei, a leadership group that advises the board, runs events, and delivers training. Outside of my advocacy work, I proudly represent Waikato in basketball and swimming through Special Olympics.
Atawhai Ohutu
I have 23 years in disability sector, caring for my mum who had matewareware and working with adults at Gracelands Group of Services, now, Enrich+. Passionate about accessibility and considerations of all whanau in Kirikiriroa. Mum of four daughters and grandmother of 10 mokopuna.
Alfredo Adams
My career spans roles across disability, social welfare, and public policy, combining advisory and healthcare experience. I have led national disability policy and strategy initiatives, with a strong emphasis on equity and culturally responsive approaches.
Eilish Wilkes
I’m visually impaired and have an amazing guide dog who helps me live with my best life. I am passionate and dedicated to improving the lives of other disabled individuals. I believe everyone should be able to access their community in a way that works for their individual needs.
Anthony Curl
In my role as Accessibility Co-ordinator, I am pleased to represent CCS Disability Action as a member of the Disability Advisory Group. My association with CCS goes back over 25 years when, as an architect, I was commissioned to design their Hamilton offices on Claudelands Road and bearing in mind the potential mobility issues of both staff and visitors, universal design was very much to the fore. Combining my role with CCS and the Disability Advisory Group allows me to advise on accessibility in the built environment and to encourage universal design principles across a wider audience.
Disability Advisory Group contact:
Michelle Rivers, Disability and Older Persons Advisor | email michelle.rivers@hcc.govt.nz or phone 07 838 6699.
Resources for our disabled community
Whether you’re new to Hamilton or not, you’ll find some useful information for people and their families, including people with disabilities, in our 2023 Your Guide to Hamilton. It includes a list of schools and community groups in Hamilton, as well as information and contact details for community, health, and social services organisations.
Our Disability Action Plan
Planning and strategy
Our Disability Action Plan has also been developed in collaboration with the disability sector. It ensures Council operates and manages all its infrastructure, facilities and services in a way that gives all people equity of access, inclusion and opportunity. Our partners included the Disabled Persons Assembly, Enabling Good Lives, CCS Disability Waikato, Blind and Low Vision Foundation, Deaf Aotearoa, Enrich Plus, Life Unlimited.
Planning and strategy initiatives
- Our Community and Social Development Strategy 2021-2026 (He Rautaki Whakawhanake Hapori) encompasses the needs of our diverse communities. One of its outcomes is high community use of our places and services because they are accessible, safe and welcoming.
- Our Welcoming Plan has aged-focused support as part of its overarching goal of ensuring all Hamiltonians get the most out of their community and the opportunities Hamilton can offer. You can also contribute to updates in the Plan – see information on the Plan in welcoming communities.
- Council’s He Pou Manawa Ora – Pillars of Wellbeing strategy, sets out how Council will work with others using the pillars (pou) of History, Unity, Prosperity and Restoration to build a proud and inclusive city for the wellbeing of all its people, including those with disabilities.
Council decision-making - have your say
As a significant part of Hamilton’s community, we also want to make sure people with disabilities – and the organisations that support them – have a voice in Council decision-making.
See share your voice for more details.
You might like to join Hamilton’s Age-Friendly Group and/or our Access Advisory Group. Contact our Community Advisors (Older People and/or Disability) on 07 838 6699.
Get involved in your community
Council supports a variety of events and provides venues and facilities where all Hamiltonians can connect and/or collaborate as individuals or groups.
Getting out and about
Our city has some great public spaces and places everyone can enjoy. Some of these have specific features that are aimed at making it easier to bring Hamilton’s disability community together for a variety of educational, work-related, community group-related or just plain fun-related activities!
See above for our central city access map and information on accessing our H3 venues, to help you get the most out of your city and make it easier for you to access these opportunities.
Find out how Council’s information, services, funding and resources are helping Hamiltonians to use our public spaces and places more – and how your group can use them.
Council’s community meetings
Find out about Hamilton’s regular community network meetings. These are for all residents including those who have recently moved to the city.
Community groups
Use the links below to connect to your community’s groups and networks. You’ll also find a comprehensive contact list of community groups across Hamilton, in our 2022 Your Guide to Hamilton.
- CCS Disability Action – Hamilton – supports and advocates for disabled people and positively shapes others’ attitudes towards those with disabilities.
- Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) – works with the disability community, the Government, the wider community, media, and disability service providers, so disabled people’s views and needs are heard by decision-makers.
- Enabling Good Lives (NZ) – ensures disabled people have more choice, control and support in their lives.
- Blind and Low Vision Foundation (NZ) – provides practical and emotional support to people who are blind or have low vision, advocates for inclusive communities, and leads the way in vision rehabilitation.
- Deaf Aotearoa (NZ) – provides a range of services for the deaf community, from employment support to assistance with equipment.
- Enrich Plus (Waikato) – provides programmes and works alongside those living with disabilities, autism or neurodiversity, their whaanau and community.
- Your Way Kia Roha – provides health and disability services, advice and equipment to people with disabilities to achieve Living Independence For Everyone (LIFE).
- Sport Waikato – sport and keep fit activities for older adults.
- Volunteering Waikato – matches volunteers with people and organisations.
- K’aute Pasifika Services – supports those with disabilities in the Pasifika community.
- Progress to Health – supports people with mental and physical disabilities throughout Waikato, Taranaki and Taupō.
- Parent to Parent Waikato – supports parents, caregivers and whanau of children with disabilities.
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Last updated 2 March 2026