Hamilton has been ranked in the top 50 Smart City Governments in the world.
Photo: 123rf
It has come in at 21st, ahead of the only other New Zealand cities ranked, with Wellington at 33rd and Christchurch at 43rd.
More than 230 municipalities submitted entries to make the list, with Hamilton applying for the first time this year.
Singapore ranked number one, followed by Seoul, London, Barcelona and Helsinki rounding out the top five.
The rankings, by the Singapore-based Eden Strategy Institute assess each city's governance on 10 key indicators for achieving smart city outcomes, such as increasing citizen participation, improving service delivery, and enhancing digital inclusion.
The report highlighted the council's nation-leading project to replace the city's streetlights with LED bulbs, which led to significant cost savings and improved environmental outcomes.
It said for Hamilton, being smart is not just about technology, it is about creating a society that makes the most out of people, innovation, technology, and partnerships to create the best outcomes for its community.
The report said Hamilton's smart society plan is set to improve the city's liveability and sustainability and is leading Hamilton's development into becoming New Zealand's tech-centre
Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs said the ranking reflects the commitment to innovation by council and the wider Hamilton community.
''The report is testament to council's intent to be transformational and reimagine the role of local government. Through technology and data, council and our partners are improving the wellbeing of the community, enabling better decision making and responding to our city's greatest challenges."
The Top 50 Smart City Governments was first conducted in 2019, with London then ranked in first place.
