New Zealand’s largest inland city, Hamilton is also known as the ‘River City’, as the mighty Waikato River flows through it. A major commercial and industrial centre that services the rich pastoral and agricultural areas around it, Hamilton is experiencing significant growth in the manufacturing and retail sectors which are providing more diverse business opportunities.
New Zealand's dairy industry is centred in Hamilton, with a strong technologically based research and development capability. Research facilities are located in and around the city, including Landcare Research, AgResearch, and Dairying Research Corporation.
The city also contains some of the region's main educational assets, including the University of Waikato and Waikato Polytechnic.