Coromind

Discover how Stilo Hair Co. in Whitianga is creating opportunities for local young people through Gateway placements and hairdressing apprenticeships. Owner Mary Hardstaff shares how real salon experience can build confidence, career skills and pathways into the hair industry, with former students going on to become qualified stylists in New Zealand and Australia. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Go behind the scenes with Golden Ratio, a student film team from Thames High School, as they take on the 48 Hour Film Competition. From writing and costumes to filming, editing and a last-minute upload, discover how the team created their short film ‘THE GRATE HIEST’ in just 48 hours, with plenty of laughs, challenges and teamwork along the way. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Discover the story of Henery Mackeson, self-taught builder, earth building pioneer and collaborator of Barry Brickell at Driving Creek Railway in the Coromandel. Learn how Henery helped create the iconic Eyefull Tower, why he believes in building beyond straight lines, and the pioneering spirit behind Driving Creek’s unique architecture and landscape. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Why do we so often treat creativity as optional? Hannah Beasley explores the power of creative thinking in everyday life, education, work and communities, and why creativity matters for problem-solving, confidence, connection, innovation and human potential. From the classroom to the workplace, discover what we risk losing when creativity is pushed aside in favour of measurable outcomes. www.corom...

Meet Coromandel artist Mike O’Donnell in this deeply personal Featured Artist story exploring clay, creativity, spirituality, ancestral memory and the landscapes of Hauraki. From his time working with Barry Brickell at Driving Creek to his connection with Māori and Hawaiian elders, Mike reflects on art, whenua, wairua, healing and his vision for a new beginning. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Experience Coromind Issue 46 in full right now with the complete audio version of the magazine! From local stories and inspiring people to arts, culture, community, and everything happening around the Hauraki-Coromandel — sit back, listen, and enjoy the whole issue. Read the full mag at coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Learn about Te Kawaurua, Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki’s free, independent and culturally responsive ACC navigation service across the Hauraki rohe. Meet kaiārahi Jo and discover how face-to-face support, manaakitanga and practical guidance can help whānau understand ACC, access their entitlements and navigate the claims process. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Discover Old Mill Café in Tairua, a relaxed waterfront café tucked beneath Mt Paku opposite the marina. Learn how this locally loved spot has grown into a community hub, with seasonal food, themed dining nights, Sandbank Smoothies, local art and a laid-back coastal atmosphere. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

In Part 4 of From Cape Cod Shores to Coromandel Sands, Hilary Emerson Lay explores homesickness, distance and the complicated feeling of missing the people we love while building a new life in Aotearoa. From the USA to New Zealand, she reflects on family, friendship, time zones, long-distance connection and finding ways to carry the people we miss with us. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Discover the creative makers of Waihi, New Zealand, in this Coromind feature on Crafty Ladies Waihi and Happy Space Mosaics. Meet local artists creating pottery, textiles, eco-printed fabrics, hand-carved wood and mosaic art using recycled and reclaimed materials. Hear their stories, explore local crafts and discover how creative workshops, markets and community spaces bring people together. www.c...

Meet Hauraki Coromandel photographer Moa Raud in this Sure Shot Photographers Series feature. Moa explores authentic family photography, natural moments, in-home sessions and analogue film, focusing on real connection and preserving genuine memories in an increasingly AI-driven world. Discover her approach to photography and storytelling in Aotearoa. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Need extra space in Whitianga? Undercover Storage offers secure, flexible storage for boats, classic cars, caravans, campervans, household belongings and business equipment. Discover purpose-built storage units, monitored security, convenient access and short- or long-term options for locals, visitors and businesses across the Coromandel. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Cuppa Words is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: ‘A Powerful Gift' by Melissa Ireland and ‘Look Up' by Viola  www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

In Part 1 of Ross’ Ramblings, Ross reflects on his lifelong encounters with religion, spirituality and alternative belief systems. From Presbyterian churches and Christianity to Buddhism, Hare Krishna, Rajneesh and evangelical movements, he shares stories from his travels and life in Aotearoa with curiosity, humour and plenty of scepticism. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Meet Carolyn McKenzie, chair of Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga, in this Proud to Be Local feature. Carolyn talks about moving to Thames, her passion for local history, the Thames heritage community, the museum’s Taonga Māori Gallery and what makes living in Thames special. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Discover how young Coromandel musicians took the stage at Amplify Aotearoa’s sold-out concert in Hamilton. Representing the Coromandel, The Coromind Band performed Hello Sailor’s “Gutter Black” alongside some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading musicians. Hear the story behind the project, the young musicians involved and the grassroots music community bringing rangatahi and NZ music legends togethe...

In the Fifteen Months Out backpacking series, Ayana Piper-Healion shares the unexpected beginning of her journey from Aotearoa to Europe. After leaving New Zealand for a planned summer in Europe, a sudden breakup in London forces her to rethink everything. From Kuala Lumpur and London to Paris, Barcelona and Montserrat, she discovers that travel rarely goes to plan and that unexpected moments can...

Meet Kūaotunu musician Peter Matai Johnston, also known as Pelroy, Dubious Bare and MC Ising. Discover his journey through reggae, dub, soul, DJing and live music, from growing up in a musical family in the Coromandel to touring New Zealand with Castle Rock and performing with Dunedin reggae collective Zuvuya alongside some of Aotearoa’s best-known acts. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

Meet Coromandel artist Nigel Sparrow and explore a creative journey spanning screen printing, fabric marbling, digital art, photography and stone carving. From vivid childhood discoveries with colour to a lifetime of experimentation, Nigel shares how curiosity, practice and the Coromandel environment continue to shape his ever-evolving work. www.coromind.nz

Spring is a time for fresh beginnings, and at Driving Creek, that means returning to the raw earth. Long before the railway tracks climbed our hills, this valley was a sanctuary for potters and artists. This season, disconnect from the digital world and experience the tactile magic of shaping raw clay with your own two hands. Listen to Driving Creek’s spring feature in Coromind magazine, and check...

D iscover how one appearance as Donkey in Shrek Jr. sparked Baxter Ward’s lasting love of theatre. From performing to Becoming Musical Director at Morrinsville Theatre, Baxter shares the joy of helping young performers find their confidence, discover their talents and experience a little bit of theatre magic. Proud to Be Local is brought to you by Coromandel's CFM www.coromind.nz www.coromind...

In this episode, Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki explores a kaupapa Māori approach to alcohol and drug addiction support. Through Te Hīnātore, practitioners Darryl and Tash use pūrākau, te ao Māori and collective wānanga to create a safe, non-judgemental space where whānau can reflect, connect and find a pathway from darkness towards change and hope. www.coromind.nz www.coromind.nz

We’re delighted to be partners for the Coromandel Open Studios Arts Tour once again, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and marking two decades of showcasing the vibrant artistic community in and around Coromandel Town. Proudly presented in partnership with Coromind. On the first two weekends of October, Coromandel Town opens its studio doors to the public – an event no art lover should mi...

An exciting milestone for Wāhi Tukurua and its plans for a new Building and Construction Resource Recovery Facility in Whitianga. Discover how salvaging and reusing building materials could reduce waste, make affordable supplies more accessible, and help create a more circular future for Mercury Bay and the wider Thames-Coromandel community. www.coromind.nz

Meet artist Lucas Rocha, whose journey from São Paulo to the Coromandel has been shaped by creativity, community and a desire to keep exploring. From illustration and painting to his ambitions in tattooing, Lucas embraces art as a form of freedom, always experimenting, evolving and searching for the next path. www.coromind.nz