Coromind

A long way from the Coromandel, in the middle of the Southern Alps somewhere, my two rock-climbing partners’ looks of concern terrified me! “Rachael, we have taken off your helmet and replaced it with mine and we have set off your emergency locator beacon!” I felt sorry for my partner at home, in Whitianga, my first emergency contact! He’d be receiving an almighty fright as emergency rescue servic...

The world’s languages are dying! Every single language on this earth is an intangible taonga, each containing an entire people’s identity, history, philosophy, culture, economic and technological knowledge, and more. And when a language dies, that intangible part of humanity dies with it. www.coromind.nz

Pete Sephton was raised in Thames but left at 18, first to attend university and then to travel across Australia and South-east Asia. In 1972, he returned to university to qualify as a teacher, and by 1977, he was teaching art in Kawerau. www.coromind.nz

Being married to Dianne, who generally prefers vegetarian food, has presented challenges for me as someone who is more naturally carnivorous. However my tastes have certainly flexed over the years and I am passionate about several plant and fruit items grown in NZ. I’m also involved in vegetable growing as a Director of a large-scale Hawkes Bay-based cropping operator.  Here I introduce certain ve...

Hi, Alisa Clapham here. Mother of two young children and the owner of BOD. Skincare & Massage in Whitianga. As an advocate for mental wellness, I often wonder – are people truly happy in their day-to-day lives? I can sympathise with your never-ending to-do list. www.coromind.nz

From the moment Emma Lovell could move, she was dancing. As a child, her mother would watch her twirl on tiptoes before she could even walk, captivated by the rhythm and movement that seemed ingrained in her very being. That innate love for dance led her on a lifelong journey – one that has now brought her to Whitianga with a mission to share the joy of movement with the community. www.coromind.nz

Thames Music and Drama (MAD) produce plays and smaller revue-type shows at their base at the Tararu Cultural Centre. Their upcoming production, School of Rock, gives rangatahi an opportunity to showcase their talents in acting, singing, and musicianship.  www.coromind.nz

Is your digital self deciding what you get to see and do in real life? Every time you scroll through TikTok, ask Siri to play a song, or search for a cool new recipe on your tablet, you’re adding to what’s called your ‘algorithmic identity’. www.coromind.nz

Nature isn’t just a place to visit; it’s where we find balance, restore our energy, and reconnect with ourselves. With a passion for the natural world and a background in environmental and outdoor education, DOC Community Ranger, Maree Limpus, has witnessed the positive impact nature can have on people and their well-being. www.coromind.nz

Kanani Cowell is originally from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, and arrived in Aotearoa 40 years ago after spending time in Tahiti and Samoa. Kanani Cowell pursued art and art history, teaching in Aotearoa (including at Thames High) and completed a Master’s in Art in 2001. www.coromind.nz

Coromind Editorial - Issue 28, 2025 www.coromind.nz

Coromind Magazine Issue 28 Full Audio Version www.coromind.nz

Following up on Part 1 of the Barton Wood story: One day one of my housemates, Dave, decided to explore the several sheds on the property, which unfortunately weren’t locked. I say unfortunately because they contained some pretty interesting stuff which immediately caught Dave’s aesthetic eye... www.coromind.nz

Did you spot Whitianga Waka Ama on the water this Waitangi Day? Our local club welcomed more than 40 new paddlers who took to the moana (ocean) for the first time as part of the Waitangi ki Whitianga celebration held at Buffalo Beach Reserve.  www.coromind.nz

Hazy and the Jays is a dynamic alternative pop/rock band based in Thames, New Zealand. The group features Izzy Fitzsimons on lead vocals, Harris Elliot-Hogg on guitar, Jacob Rush on bass, and Jacob ‘Sticky’ Wenhold on drums. Together, they craft a unique sound shaped by diverse musical influences. www.coromind.nz

T hey say Coromandel is good for the soul and I reckon the lovely Rapaura Watergardens at Tapu are good for the soul and the heart. With 64 acres (about 26 hectares) of native bush, lush gardens and delightful waterfalls, it’s a welcoming haven for those needing rest or some space and time with nature. www.coromind.nz

Most in the Coromandel will be familiar with the story of Driving Creek: established in the early 70s by polymath potter, train enthusiast and conservationist Barry Brickell, Driving Creek evolved organically over its more than fifty-year history. It became a significant... www.coromind.nz

I have loved fishing for most of my 73 years. As a youngster, I went with my father and his mates game fishing in Bay of Islands waters. I was sometimes seasick and had to be dropped off at Deep Water Cove to while away the day while the fishermen scoured the ocean towing a dead kahawai along the surface. www.coromind.nz

Each one of us carries the ability to communicate and understand the world around us through language. The languages that we use are not inanimate objects or meaningless tools that we use as a means to an end. They are an extension of culture, containing all the different ways to describe, categorise, and interpret the world. www.coromind.nz

Wink is a one-eyed Conservation Dog from Invercargill with an important job: detecting pests and sniffing out Spartina grass. His well-tuned nose has brought him up all the way up to Hauraki and Coromandel... www.coromind.nz

H ow comfortable do you feel being alone? Ideally, being alone, spending time in our own company, is based on liking who we are, otherwise it can be a nasty spiral downwards.  www.coromind.nz

There’s a big sparkly sign in the shape of a surfboard as you pass the Tairua home of Dessa Bluu. It’s done in mosaic with a Pacific design and is just one of this imaginative artist’s creations. www.coromind.nz

The ocean floor suddenly comes to life – a grey winged creature unveils itself. It takes flight, gliding effortlessly along the sand. The stingray – or ‘whai’ in te reo – can be found in abundance on our coast during the summer months. Belonging to the same family as sharks, whai also have skeletons of cartilage. They bury themselves beneath the sand to hide from predators and flee when they feel...

Continuing from my introductory story of my arrival at Te Puia (Hot Water Beach) in 1964, I will explore the reasons why I became so passionate about restoring the biodiversity of the enchanted Te Puia Pa site. www.coromind.nz

If the locals love a place, you know it’s worth a visit. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Craft Haus Gastropub in Whangamatā – a warm, welcoming spot where great food, craft beer and community come together. Owned and operated by Phil and Natalie Keogh, along with their daughters Poppy and Isla, Craft Haus has quickly become a favourite for both locals and visitors. www.coromind.nz