Coromind

My childhood laid the groundwork for where I’m at as an artist, as I often found myself either drawing, reading or constructing something while dealing with an on again/off again disability … www.coromind.nz

This issue of Coromind marks our third anniversary. Still young, still energetic and proudly community-driven, Coromind has grown into a platform that brings joy, connection and positive stories to our region and beyond. www.coromind.nz

Hauraki-Coromandel is a place of rich hidden histories that sit just beneath the golden beaches and abundant ngahere (native bush). It is somewhere that for the last 50+ years has offered artists and creatives a welcoming place to live and make their art. In the 21st century, these creatives are now able to use local publications such as Coromind as a means to keep this art scene not just alive bu...

After lunch I opened my computer desktop to be greeted by a flashing, beeping Windows page with an annoyingly loud female voice repeating itself over and over, “Security breach. Security breach. Your bank accounts and email address have been compromised.” www.coromind.nz

"I am a textile artist, and I make rug-tufted artwork that weaves together stories of land, connection and belonging." For Leah, wool is more than a material – it’s a bridge between her Irish roots and her life in Whangamatā, a way to explore memory, identity and the quiet magic of slow creation. www.coromind.nz

If you look out at Great Mercury Island from Black Jack Road, you can see the full length of the island from north to south. On the southern half, there is a big pine tree plantation which is now over 40 years old, planted during the Muldoon ‘Think Big’ era on land which is considered very poor farmland. The pine forest became economically and environmentally difficult to harvest. www.coromind.nz

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition, Pylat Senior. Brought to you by CFM and Safer Coromandel www.coromind.nz

In this Sure-Shot series, Coromind invites photographers to break down their favourite shots, sharing the stories, techniques and moments that make each image special. This month, Lia Priemus takes us behind the scenes of her inspiring work. www.coromind.nz

Last year I had the opportunity to watch the Bold Theatre production of ‘Be More Chill’ at the Meteor Theatre in Hamilton. If you are not familiar with it, ‘Be More Chill’ is a sci-fi musical that follows Jeremy Heere, an awkward high school student desperate to fit in. Harry Marshall played Michael in their Hamilton theatre debut, best friend to our protagonist Jeremy who... www.coromind.nz

At 239 South Highway, Whitianga, it’s a hive of activity each day as the Wāhi Tukurua team and volunteers are busy rescuing good, usable items from heading to landfill and giving them a fresh start in the community. www.coromind.nz

Art is a visual language. It improves observation and perception. It is a good skill to be able to read images, and to understand symbolism and what is real and what is photoshopped, made unreal, unobtainable. www.coromind.nz

After the big storms of 2020 and 2021, Thames- Coromandel District Council (TCDC) proposed to reshape the eroded dunes at Pāuanui’s south end into a wide, gentle slope and replant it in native sand-binding species. Not everyone in the community was convinced... www.coromind.nz

In this Sure-Shot series, Coromind invites photographers to break down two of their favourite shots, sharing the stories, techniques and moments that make each image special. This month, Felicity Jean takes us behind the scenes of her inspiring work. www.coromind.nz

Conservation, education, and acting as kaitiaki for our incredible backyard are at the heart of the Glass Bottom Boat. When conversations began with the Destination Hauraki Coromandel team, the idea of a project we could truly get behind started to take shape... www.coromind.nz

Continuing on from part one of my Hawaiian adventure … I enjoyed my boat trips down the wondrous Napali coast of Kauai, especially when my Whitianga friend Graham was skipper. www.coromind.nz

Gold prices continue to rise, and mining companies are coming to our area wanting to extract it. They aim to mine in and under the forests and mountains – and, as seen in Waihī, even beneath our homes. www.coromind.nz

The crackle of a campfire might feel like the spirit of summer – but in the wrong place, at the wrong time, it can become the spark that destroys a forest. www.coromind.nz

Originally hailing from Hamilton, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Vegas Brown had an illustrious career before moving to Whitianga. In the ten years he’s lived on the Peninsula, Brown has been active in the local scene and continues to record and release music. www.coromind.nz

Stefan Field has been creating and solving problems in metal for nearly three decades. Through his Whitianga-based workshop, Ironworks Coromandel, he turns raw steel into gates, stairways, and custom structures that are functional and beautiful. www.coromind.nz

Howard’s connection to the Coromandel ran deep. He restored our dunes, planted our ngahere, and carried a genuine love for this place and its people. Howard supported Coromind contributing his writing and his encouragement. With aroha to his whānau, we share this piece in honour of a man whose life has touched many in our community. www.coromind.nz

My creative practice is all over the map. Aside from my sock “monstahs”, I’ve painted cityscapes, done playful pet portraits, and illustrated a beer label. www.coromind.nz

One of Dive Zone Whitianga’s ex Diploma in Professional Scuba Instructor graduates, Freya, has plenty to say about her amazing world working in the dive industry.   www.coromind.nz

The crew at Liquorland Whitianga have put together their personal picks for the silly season – the drinks they actually take home, pour for friends and whānau, and keep chilled over the holidays. www.coromind.nz

Digital surveillance is when companies and governments collect data on what you do online, like the sites you visit, things you buy, or even your location. www.coromind.nz

I was full-time island bound, a novice ranger on Great Mercury Island in 2016, not at all well versed in environmental sciences, but with a natural love of nature via curiosity and respect.  www.coromind.nz