The business of giving back with the greatest of ease

Aerial acrobatics require courage, discipline and trust. So does building a legacy partnership that lifts a community when it matters most.

For over a decade, H3 Group and Hospice Waikato have transformed collaboration into millions of much-needed dollars raised for Hospice Waikato’s end-of-life care by delivering a memorable legacy event and establishing a business-community partnership model that other cities now look to replicate.

Backing Hospice Waikato’s fundraising efforts is part of H3 Group’s commitment to the well-being of Hamilton’s residents and those working in or visiting the city. Just as acrobats rely on trust and timing, this partnership has thrived on collaboration, time, and shared goals.

Hospice Waikato wraps clinical excellence with dignity, time, and space for whānau to be together, caring for people with terminal illnesses regardless of background, status, wealth or otherwise. As CEO Alex Gordon puts it, “We’re here to help any person referred to us with a life-limiting condition with psychosocial support being extended to their whānau too.”

“Every dollar raised translates into time with a doctor in our dedicated in-patient unit, a nurse at home, a better night’s sleep for a caregiver, and the confidence for a family to focus on love, not logistics. That’s our why,” he explains.

As for the acrobatics? A group of aerialists starred at one of the previous Hospice Waikato and Montana Food and Events Bucket List Banquet events in recent years, just one of many impressive elements the event has offered thanks to support from the H3 Group and their tech team.

Buckets of fun and fundraising

The Hospice Waikato & Montana Food and Events Bucket List Banquet is one of the region’s most high‑profile charity events. The combination of Hospice Waikato’s community support and Montana Food and Events’ reputation makes it a standout occasion in the calendar.

“Each year, guests at the banquet enjoy a night filled with fun, great food, bidding for coveted auction items, and plenty of surprises,” says Cherie McCleery, Hospice Waikato Director of Communications and Engagement.

“The 2026 event takes place on 16 May and is shaping up to be another exceptional evening.”

The event attracts a loyal following, enjoys strong backing from local businesses, and is known for its first-class dining and entertainment. Cherie says it’s the only event of its kind in Hamilton.

“Every year, within a few weeks of release, we sell out almost three-quarters of the available 100-odd tables for the black-tie event. We have so much practical support and generous donations of time, money and auction items from businesses and the community alike – many of whom have been supporting us year after year.

With the Government only funding 60-70% of the work Hospice does throughout New Zealand, Alex Gordon says each regional Hospice has to fundraise the rest for their community themselves. “So it’s really valuable to have such a great venue for the Bucket List Banquet event. Working with Montana Food and Events and the H3 Group to achieve its success has also seen the funds raised increase year on year.”

“We are sincerely grateful to these companies and our wider business community for their generosity and their belief in the importance of hospice care,” Alex adds.

Leanne Jack, business event delivery lead at H3 Group, loves seeing the banquet come to life: it’s very rewarding for her team. Like every event, she says the banquet is designed with adaptability in mind, so Hospice Waikato can welcome whānau and supporters in spaces that fit the kaupapa.

“It takes months of planning, collaboration and brainstorming. Every single decision goes back to the heart of ‘let’s make this a good revenue raiser for Hospice’. In November we’re hosting the 2026 Hospice NZ Palliative Care Conference too.”

Size matters – big or small

It’s a big plus that Claudelands can host everything from sports events, conferences, concerts and shows, with multiple events of different sizes on at the same time, says H3 Group’s Leanne. “We’re home to the annual Waikato Home & Garden Show, and have also lured the March 2026 Homegrown music festival to Hamilton for the first time.”

Hospice Waikato’s Cherie and Alex have plenty of positives to share about the venue too.

“We take the Arena over for the banquet, it’s such an amazing and unique multi-purpose space,” Cherie enthuses. “We work with Janda Productions, an Auckland based Event Management company, who absolutely love working in this space too. Along with the team at H3, they totally transform the Arena with lighting, furniture and props to create a visual masterpiece. It wows our event guests every year.”

Rewards and awards

Given the success of the legacy partnership between Council and Hospice Waikato over many years, it’s no surprise H3 Group’s work with and support for Hospice Waikato saw them named as a finalist in the Legacy Impact Award category at the 2025 Aotearoa Business Events Awards (the Bizzies – read more at thebizzies.nz).

Cherie says having H3 Group support Hospice Waikato’s work and financially back the banquet event is truly special.

“There’s so much pressure on councils these days, so the H3 Group’s understanding of the importance of what we do and how their team and the Council can support that, is awesome.”

Make your next event count

If you’re looking to run a successful business, entertainment, corporate, conference or charity event – or you’re keen on partnering with venues for community impact, contact the H3 team and talk about Hamilton’s great range of venues. Located right in the heart the Golden Triangle (Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga), H3 venues are easy to get to, with great parking and transport connections too. Visit claudelands.co.nz/events/all-events for more information.

About

H3 is home to Hamilton’s premier event venues, including FMG Stadium Waikato, Seddon Park, Hamilton Gardens and Claudelands (encompassing Claudelands Arena, the Conference & Exhibition Centre and The Grandstand). As part of Hamilton City Council’s Destinations Group, H3 brings together world-class facilities with experienced, passionate event specialists to deliver exceptional experiences across sport, entertainment, business events and community gatherings. More than a venue manager, H3 connects people through unforgettable events and plays a key role in showcasing Hamilton as a leading destination for visitors and major events. Find out more about how Hospice Waikato (hospicewaikato.org.nz) and Hospice NZ (hospice.org.nz) are making a difference in your community.