18 February 2025

Hamilton Garden fee decision evokes pushback from residents who fear tourist loss

Decision to charge an entry fee from non-Hamiltonians to visit the ‘speciality’ gardens inside Hamilton Gardens, has resulted in an unexpected pushback from residents.

On June 1, the elected members of the Hamilton City Council had approved the $20 entry fee to enter Enclosed Gardens for out-of-town visitors, while mulling over its 2023/24 draft Annual Plan.

The annual operating budget for the Hamilton Gardens- city’s biggest tourist attraction, is $5.5 million.

Approximately  half a million visitors visit Hamilton Gardens annually, and a third of whom are believed to be local, and another third from across the country and the rest are considered overseas visitors.

According to Angela O’Leary, Deputy Mayor “this (entry fee) is projected to bring in between an additional $2.3m – $3.5m in the first year based on entry fee and additional tours income, retail spend in the new information centre, etc.”

Council expects that revenue collected will help to address Council’s ‘balancing the books’ shortfall that stands today at $842 million.

Hamilton Gardens
Surrounding lawns, lake, etc will remain free for everyone (Photo/NewsViews)

Now that the Council has finally approved the entry fee, people are expressing their unhappiness and many fear visitors may skip Hamilton itself from their itinerary.

Since publication and sharing of NewsViews story, city-dwellers and neighbouring area residents both have been voicing their opposition on social media, criticising and questioning this decision.

Many locals believe that this decision is ironically going to cost heavily as some outsiders are likely to skip a visit to to the city itself, while many others have said ‘no, no’ to a paid visit to the flagship Hamilton Gardens.

“The gardens are a major draw card for visitors, I think a lot of people will bypass Hamilton now which will mean our businesses pay the cost,” says one city resident.

This is echoed by another who writes: “Hamilton is boring anyway, so that new motorway south will be a way to pass Hamilton all together.”

In fact,  when submissions were invited to this proposed entry fee and Annual draft plan in 2021, more than half of submitters (55%)  opposed the entry fee increase from the then proposed $5 to $20 per person for non-Hamiltonians over the age of 16-years.

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A common concern expressed by submitters was the proposed entrance fee would also be levied on visitors from neighbouring districts such as Waipa and Waikato.

Out of 1841 submissions received, 277 had suggested the catchment area for those who won’t have to pay entry fee be increased to include those two districts.

As Council has ignored those suggestions, residents of neighbouring areas are, understandably, not happy to have been excluded from being treated as Hamiltonians in this decision.

Expressing their disappointment, one resident has commented: “Once again Hamilton City Council not listening to the people who gave them feed back. I won’t be taking anyone to the gardens who live outside Hamilton.”

Another resident is concerned about future of these amazing gardens itself that attracts millions of visitors annually.

“Don’t know why they even bother putting it out there for feedback if they are just going to ignore the majority and do what they want. Their decision worries me for the future of the gardens.”

Many residents, for example, of Ohapu, Cambridge, Ngaruawahia, Tamahere, etc work in Hamilton and some have children studying in the city as well.  

“I live in Ngaruawahia, I work in Hamilton and I have to pay $20. That seems really unfair. I consider myself local,” says one.

Similar views were echoed by a disappointed Tamahere resident who calls this decision as ‘ridiculous’ and is worried they may have to pay $20 as “Tamahere has different council.”  

Among other issues that have irked the residents was a lack of information on how visitors will have to prove their local resident status; concessions for SuperGold card holders; how flatmates were expected to  prove their local resident; whether partners have to produce separate evidence, etc.

The Council has now responded to queries raised by NewsViews and clarified that Hamilton residents will be issued a membership card to gain free entry and neighbouring area residents would be offered concessional annual passes.

“Staff are still working through the details but at this stage Hamiltonians will need to show proof of current physical address e.g. a utility or rates bill. They’ll then be provided with a membership card or similar which means they can scan straight in on subsequent visits to the gardens,” Lee-Ann Jordan, Visitor Destinations Unit Director said in a written statement to NewsViews.

“Every Hamiltonian entering the Enclosed Gardens will need to provide proof of current physical address once to receive their membership card.”

When asked what would be the acceptable forms of evidence, Jordan said “ We anticipate accepting proof of physical address from local or central government departments, banks or utility companies (e.g. power, phone, gas).

Council’s Visitor Destinations Unit Director also confirmed that neighbouring area residents will have to pay entry fees to visit the Enclosed gardens, but “there will be an annual pass option for people who visit regularly.”

Some categories of visitors, including students and SuperGold card holders will be entitled to discounts.

Jordan also confirmed “there will also be a range of concession rates for students, community service and SuperGold Card holders as well as annual passes.”

It may be recalled that in May 2021 when the entry plan fee was first discussed by the Council, Cr. Angela O’Leary had supported the plan, but had expressed “massive reservations” and felt that “projected revenue is vastly over-stated.”

She also had apprehensions at that time whether tour groups and others would be deterred from visiting the gardens because of the fee.

Whether these apprehension will come true or this entry fee decision will yield desired revenue for the Council, will only be known in years ahead.

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