Hamilton, New Zealand – For more than a century, the Hamilton Amateur Radio Club Inc., known as Branch 12 of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) and operating under the club callsign ZL1UX, has provided a home for amateur radio enthusiasts across Hamilton and the wider Waikato region.
The club was formed on March 12, 1923, and became an official branch of NZART in 1932. Today, it continues to bring together around 35 members with interests spanning HF and UHF communication, radio technology, experimentation, emergency communications and the broader amateur radio community.
The Hamilton Amateur Radio Club maintains its clubrooms at:
88 Seddon Road
Hamilton 3201
New Zealand
Postal correspondence can be sent to:
Hamilton ARC
C/- 60 Tongariro Street
Hamilton 3210
New Zealand
Guiding the Airwaves: Current Club Leadership
According to the latest NZART Branch 12 listing, the Hamilton Amateur Radio Club is currently led by a team of experienced amateur radio operators.
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President: Doug Faulkner (ZL4FS)
Email: doug.faulkner@spark.co.nz -
Secretary: Dennis Seymour (ZL1UET)
Email: dennisseymournz@gmail.comIn addition to serving as Secretary, Dennis Seymour is also listed as the club's Repeater Trustee and Callsign Trustee.
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AREC Officer: Paul Jonassen (ZL1UPJ)
Email: zl1upj@hotmail.com - Patron: Russell Richardson
The club also lists Dennis Seymour (ZL1UET) as an alternative contact through branch.12@nzart.org.nz.
Club Meetings: Technology and Fellowship
Regular meetings remain an important part of Branch 12 life.
The club's General Meeting is currently held on the third Tuesday of each month, except January, at 7:30 PM, generally at the clubrooms on Seddon Road. Meetings provide members with an opportunity to discuss club matters, explore amateur radio technology and hear presentations on different aspects of the hobby.
For a club with more than a century of history, these meetings are about more than administration. They provide a place where experienced operators can exchange knowledge, newcomers can learn from long-time amateurs, and members can simply spend time with others who share an interest in radio.
Staying Connected on the Air
Hamilton Branch 12 also maintains regular on-air nets, allowing members to keep in touch even when they are not at the clubrooms.
HF Net
3.579 MHz LSB
Monday – 7:30 PM
The club's long-running HF net remains a regular opportunity for local operators to check in and stay connected.
UHF Net
Waitomo 870 UHF Repeater
Tuesday – 8:00 PM
The latest NZART Branch 12 information lists the Tuesday evening activity as a UHF net using the Waitomo 870 repeater.
Together, the weekly nets help maintain the social side of amateur radio while giving operators a regular opportunity to keep their stations active and maintain operating experience.
Helping New Operators Get on the Air
Hamilton Amateur Radio Club also plays an important role in introducing newcomers to amateur radio.
The club provides amateur radio training as required, using a combination of NZART training materials, computer-based learning and instruction from experienced operators. The club also has qualified examiners who can arrange amateur radio examinations by appointment.
That makes Branch 12 a useful starting point not only for established radio amateurs, but also for anyone in Hamilton or Waikato who is curious about radio and wants to work towards a New Zealand Amateur Operator Certificate.
Hamilton Branch 12 Market Day 2026
One of the biggest events on the club calendar is the annual Hamilton Branch 12 Market Day, bringing together amateur radio operators, electronics enthusiasts, equipment sellers and visitors from around the region.
The 2026 Market Day will be held on:
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Gordonton Hall
1024 Gordonton Road (SH 1B)
Gordonton, Waikato
Vendors can enter from 8:00 AM, with selling beginning at 10:00 AM. Public admission is NZ$2, which also includes a raffle ticket.
Market Day traditionally offers an assortment of amateur radio equipment, electronic components and other radio-related items, making it both a trading event and an opportunity for operators to meet face to face.
For Market Day information, contact:
More Than a Radio Club
Hamilton Amateur Radio Club has been part of New Zealand's amateur radio story since the early 1920s. While radio technology has changed dramatically over the past century, Branch 12 continues to perform many of the same essential roles: bringing operators together, encouraging technical experimentation, helping newcomers learn the hobby and keeping amateur radio active in the Waikato region.
Whether you are an experienced operator interested in HF or UHF communication, a newcomer preparing for your first amateur radio examination, or simply someone curious about wireless communication, Hamilton Amateur Radio Club offers a local community in which to learn, experiment and get on the air.
Contact Hamilton Amateur Radio Club
Club Callsign: ZL1UX
NZART Branch: 12
Clubrooms: 88 Seddon Road, Hamilton 3201
General Contact: branch.12@nzart.org.nz
Website: www.zl1ux.org.nz
For current meeting notices, club activities and other updates, visit the Hamilton Amateur Radio Club website or contact Branch 12 directly.
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