Play that note again, cook it for a bit longer, draw smoother lines, clean it harder, wait until it is dry, shake it before using it, ask for help, price it right, don’t ask for help, question more, wedge the clay, stay quiet, improvise, laugh about it …By Coromind

Coromind Magazine Issue 20 Full Audio VersionBy Coromind

I’m from Thames and started playing squash at 12, but before I started I grew a love for the sport because my parents have played for many years now. When they went to tournaments, I would go with them and found squash more interesting the more I watched.By Coromind

Imagine this. It’s dark, it’s late and the music’s loud at a park in Cordoba, a city of over one-and-a-half million centred in the heart of Argentina. A happy crowd fills the open space as they dance, their movements measured, couples focused as they concentrate on the irresistible passion of the Tango. Local man Sergio Corvalan is there. He sees a…

Common Ground is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: Old Sailor by Chris Porter and This One’s For The Winos, The Working Girls, The Lovers, and The Crowds Passing By – Stewart Pedley & The SinnersBy Coromind

This month is diving deeper into our habits. I would like you to start to think about how you spend your time. Last month, we talked about habit stacking and average days, but I want you to think about how you spend each hour of your day. Do you wake up, check your Instagram, laugh at some videos, have a quick coffee before shooting out the door to…

Coromind spotlights Kendall Elise, a talented singer-songwriter, producer, recording artist, and guitarist from Papakura, South Auckland, who lives in Thames. Known for her unique blend of country-tinged tunes and soul-stirring ballads, Kendall's dynamic live performances captivate audiences, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to tears. Her …

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Craig MeiklenBy Coromind

While walking the dogs today, it dawned on me that A-R-T, are the first three letters in the word ‘artificial’. Intrigued, I looked up the origin of the word and was pleasantly surprised. The first records of the word come from around 1400 and its roots lie ultimately in the Latin artificiālis, meaning ‘belonging to art’, from artificium, meaning ‘…

Tawa Rikihana, also known as Derrick ‘Rick’ Rikihana, is a Māori artist from the Te Arawa iwi and the Tuhourangi-Tarawhai hapū. His Awa (ancestral river) is Te Wairoa, and his Maunga (mountain) is Tarawera. Rick’s wharenui, Hinemihi o Tarawhai, holds significant cultural importance to him and his whānau. I asked Rick if I could meet him and photogr…

Embark on a journey full of delicious surprises and vibrant melodies at this year’s Whitianga Oceans Festival. It's not just about the food and drinks; it's about creating unforgettable memories. But what many don’t know is that the festival is a community owned and run event that has a strong focus on sustainability and the environment.…

I attended a private high school in Auckland at which the students were all white except for one Māori boy called Ben, so obviously there was no whānau room and no te reo Māori taught. Most of us had little experience of Māori culture. However, for me, that was about to change.By Coromind

They say it takes a village to raise a child – but it also takes a village to raise a mother. From the moment she discovers she is pregnant to the day her child leaves the nest, it is the community surrounding the family unit that supports and guides them. From antenatal courses to schools and sports clubs, there are various avenues by which a comm…

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Georgie Parry, the founder of The Coromandel Youth Mentors Programme (CYM). Georgie, a young woman who emigrated to New Zealand in August 2019, struck me as a deeply passionate and caring individual dedicated to her community. Originally from England, Georgie holds a degree in Criminology; however, her true ca…

Doodling has always interested me as a quick, easy and no judgement start to art. I used YouTube as a resource and doodling led into loose urban sketching. A broad definition of loose urban sketching is the ability to observe surroundings and simplify the bustling streets, architecture and people into basic shapes and lines.…

Hi, I’m Noah Greenfield but my friends call me Greeny. I’m 13 years old and I live in Cooks Beach. I love sports, particularly surfing, football and table tennis. This year I’m playing for the Junior Boys Mercury Bay Football Club team, now that I’m at Mercury Bay Area School. Last year, my Whenuakite team lost 6-0 to a Tairua team, but by the end …

They say a journey takes a thousand steps … ours took about 1000 years!!! And so our journey has now been laid out in a new exhibition installed at the Mercury Bay Museum in Whitianga, named ‘Shaping Te Whanganui o Hei – People, Place & Time’. It has been a labour of love for the museum team. We started in October last year with a discussion about …

Express Yourself - The Creative World of Judy Brocas Kia ora, I’m Judy (Jude) Brocas. Among the many caps I wear, I’m an artist, an introverted/shy kind of person, who is not the best at ‘putting myself out there’, so this is a difficult write. I mainly work with plants these days, creating swathes of seasonal colour that not only feed the pollinat…

Coromind Editorial - Issue 19, 2024By Coromind

Coromind Magazine Issue 19 Full Audio VersionBy Coromind

It’s a moment in history that we have all simultaneously dreamed of and dreaded. A moment that may very well shake the core beliefs of every person, not just in the Coromandel Peninsula, but every coastal town in the whole world. This indeed may be the moment that nomads, couples and even families decide to never bother visiting the beach again. It…

I want to start with why optimal health is crucial for enhancing the quality of our lives. Our well-being + health fundamentally shape our daily experiences, which is why the saying "If you don’t have your health, you have nothing" resonates so deeply. While it's possible to be surrounded by loving and supportive people even when unwell, enjoying l…

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Ron MorganBy Coromind

When Tairua local Will Fransen fell off his boat in January while fishing beyond the Aldermen Islands, he drifted over 55 km in the currents in little over 24 hours. Incredibly, he was found alive. If the currents and tides can carry a human this far, imagine the distance a small fragment of invasive seaweed like Caulerpa can spread on the same cur…

I have always wondered what the first musical instrument would have been? Presumably, the human vocal chords – chanting, singing or wailing around a fire pit would have been the first notes, and then some sort of drum or percussion instrument would have followed suit like beating a stick on a log or shaking a gourd full of seeds. But would we consi…

Most of us are cautious when dealing with glass, but this is a versatile material, offering various possibilities for artistic and functional creations. Sandra and Mark Hosking, the owners of Sunflower Glass Studio NZ, know that well. Their creative space in Whitianga is not just a place to experiment and create but also a tribute to their late dau…

The first time I left NZ was in 1973, off on the required OE, bound for Southeast Asia. Boy, was I excited. During the flight I sat next to an effeminate guy. We chatted away and before touching down in Bali I woke up and realised my sleeping head had been resting on his shoulder. I apologised profusely but he was very nice and patted me on the leg…

I look at pregnancy as nine months of mental and physical exercise in preparation for birth, similar to how the frequent toilet visits throughout the night seem like preparation for the frequent waking and feeding once baby is earthside. It’s all hard work and every woman or seahorse dad (Google it) has a different journey in pregnancy and birth. M…

As we reported in Coromind a couple of months ago, the ALTBAYS team is hard at work building a new studio in Whitianga. This will be their third location since they started livestreaming their shows, creating a cozy and safe space for guests from various backgrounds.…By Coromind

Commodore65 consists of Joshua on keys and vox, Phil on bass and vox, and Jessica on drums and vox. Their shed-punk vibe blends punk and garage elements with a healthy dose of retro gaming nostalgia. Their lyrical themes cover a wide spectrum – from delving into deep mental and emotional experiences to taking jabs at politicians, poking fun at tras…

Imagine, if you will, a souped-up DeLorean that can traverse the tricky terrains of your life’s biggest decisions, from career moves to personal choices. Picture Marty McFly and Doc Brown by your side, zipping through time to show you the outcomes of your decisions – both the spectacular and the not-so-swell. Sounds dreamy, right? Welcome to the ‘B…

Common Ground is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: Cross Over by Ceridwyn Parr, Wisdom of age by Paul Cate and Maungauika by FĒI LÍNBy Coromind

The NZ Podcast Summit is an annual event that focuses on collaboration, education, sharing and networking for Aotearoa’s podcast producers, presenters, practitioners and providers. The event stands out because, in the conference room, you will find indie podcasters sitting next to representatives of NZ's big media companies like Stuff, RNZ, The Spi…

How can we help our little blue penguins survive in this changing world? With sleek blue feathers, a small yet solid stature and cute pink feet, the kororā (blue penguin) is a beloved part of our coastal wildlife and landscapes. Being the only penguin species naturally found around the North Island coastline, kororā are a taonga (treasure) to many …

We all have potential; it is human nature. We were designed to survive, thrive and evolve. But, nowadays, many of us get stuck in a mindset of ‘stuckness’. How do we move away from it?By Coromind

People often say to me ‘I’ve always wanted to play the harp’ … and I believe them – it’s an intriguing instrument which both enchants and bewitches the listener at the same time. There are also a few myths to debunk. 1. Angels play harps. I can neither confirm nor deny this, but here on earth, it’s just normal people. However……

To say Noah loved music and his violin is an understatement. His passion for both had him skipping meals, losing sleep and wandering the fields and forests, fiddling away the hours in practice. A young teenager, he was enrolled at Waihi College where he joined the school orchestra. Unfortunately, his passion just wasn't enough. For all the time sac…

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Matt BowdenBy Coromind

Music has the ability to entertain, provide comfort, lessen anxiety and uplift the spirit. The importance of entertainment was very evident during the heady, gold rush days of the 1800s in New Zealand, none more so than in Thames. Speculators and large companies brought new prosperity to Thames, and a rush of prospectors were lured to the newly ope…

Her eyes light up as I walk in: I’ve always loved her eyes, an unusual uniform colour like a warm brown; circular pools of melted chocolate. Today, she’s alert and animated. “Stella! It's so good to see you.” Mum always speaks with emphasis. With meaning. We live too far away. I call her most days, but technology is such a poor substitute for……

Remember the days in Aotearoa when a coffee purchased away from home involved a ceramic cup, a saucer, a tablecloth and possibly a custard square on the side? When we enjoyed the whole ambience of a quaint coffee lounge, a friendly chat, the delicious smells and the people who seated us, served us and cleaned our dishes in a sink of hot water. (Wel…

For me, Matariki 2024 is about living by the words that Kīng Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Tūheitia Paki spoke at a national hui, held at Tūrangawaewae Marae on January 20th this year. “Just be Māori … build kotahitanga (unity with others) … build our future … We are all in this together … the way forward needs to bring peace and unity for everybody. These…

When I first met Bernadette (Bernie) Ross while working at Creative Coromandel, I was immediately drawn to her deep passion for the arts, her friendly warmth and her sharp wit! It wasn’t until I visited her in Whangamatā in 2021, where she was exhibiting local artists’ work alongside her own, that I really started to understand the depths of her ta…

My name is Zoe Winter, I’m 16 years old and I live in Tairua. I’m currently in year 12 at Hauraki Plains College and I am a lifeguard at Tairua Beach. My beach safety journey began when I joined our three-week summer junior surf program at around 10 years old, encouraged by my parents. The program challenged me physically and mentally, leading me t…

I have just returned from Japan after visiting my partner’s family. On arrival at Narita Airport at 9pm, we were met by Hiroshi, my partner’s brother, who said “We go to onsen (Japanese hot baths).” After flying for 12 hours, this was indeed a welcome treat and we basked in 40 degree pools of different depths, some shallow with stone pillows to gaz…

Sporadic road cone displays have always been a part of the package of visiting and travelling around the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. The breathtaking State Highway 25 and 25A take in both coastal shores and forest wonderlands, frequently peppered with segments of those delightful reflective beacons of joy – Road Cones.…

My grandfather Paul was an artist. I began painting in his studio with some of his oil colours, many of which were home-made – by grinding raw materials and mixing with linseed oil. However, most of my early work was in watercolours, learnt by experimenting and reading books. No art school for me, although I did attend a night class run by Colin Mc…

Coromind Editorial - Issue 18, 2024By Coromind

Coromind Magazine Issue 18 Full Audio VersionBy Coromind

The paradox of probability Many of us are all too familiar with the game of tossing a coin to decide a choice, question or stake. To the Romans, it was known as ‘Ship or Head’ – a game of choosing between a ship on one side of the coin or the head of the emperor on the other. In German, it’s ‘Kopf oder Zahl’, and the most common in English is ‘Head…