Welcome to the Full Audio version of Coromind Magazine, Issue 38

There is something powerful in the saying, “There are dreamers and there are doers”, especially when it comes to our slice of paradise – Hauraki Coromandel...

What a journey it is, with so much to learn. I’ve always loved painting and drawing; in high school, it was my main focus. About six years ago, I found my way back to painting when my daughter placed a canvas in front of me and told me it wa...

I made the decision to move to New Zealand sometime in the late 80s, which would have put me in the 9 to 11-year-old range. I wasn’t looking to escape home because I was unhappy; I had a truly wonderful childhood growing up on Cape Cod, Mass...

The major pest eradication on Ahuahu / Great Mercury Island in 2014 was a public/private project. I was then employed directly by the Island; the island paid my salary (funded privately) to ensure that the multi-million-dollar investment tha...

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition, Catherine (Black) Doyle. Supported by Ron Morgan.

Art continues to educate us centuries and millennia later – from prehistoric cave drawings to the use of glass beads for jewellery and terracotta clay figurines, and for everyday functions such as storing grain or water.

Jiwa in the Indonesian language means ‘soul, spirit or vital force’. It is also the name given to a 28-foot trimaran yacht by its builder Wayne and his wife Jill who were practitioners of an ancient Indonesian meditation at the time....

When you picture New Zealand’s natural wonders, wetlands might not be the first thing that springs to mind. Yet these quiet, waterlogged landscapes are ecological powerhouses – filtering water, storing carbon, and providing sanctuary for our...

Driving Creek was the net that caught me after a long period overseas; a nest for getting in touch with my creative voice. When I arrived at the residency, it’d been over a year since I’d used a pottery wheel. I’d been thinking about art a l...

Here in Mercury Bay, we’re incredibly lucky to have Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve – one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most amazing marine environments – right on our doorstep. It is a place full of life and biodiversity, and more importantly...

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, Kate Beauchamp takes us behind ...

I was sipping tea at my aunt and uncle’s house in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) when I clicked an article about 2026 Auckland Pride and Director Hāmiora Bailey. Inspired by the kid from Whangapoua I went to kindergarten with, I want to celebrat...

A longstanding stalwart of the Colville music scene, John Veysey’s musical talents have gone largely unnoticed. Veysey is a prolific singer-songwriter whose penchant for toe-tapping country/blues tunes with catchy hooks and riffs have made h...

Sandy and Eric are the proud owners of one of the Coromandel’s most iconic holiday destinations. After 19 years of operation, Combat & Fun Zone will be refocusing on paintball only from mid-March 2026, moving to a new bookings-only syste...

How much do you know about our native pigeon, the kererū? Annemieke shares some great educational information about this well-beloved Aotearoa New Zealand bird!

The word photography comes from the Greek phōs meaning light, and graphé meaning drawing or writing. So, photography literally means drawing or writing with light...

If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of early mornings, nervous first sessions, quiet breakthroughs, and moments of pride that never make it onto a leaderboard...

Welcome to the Full Audio version of Coromind magazine, issue 37Coromind Magazine Issue 37Full Audio VersionJanuary, 2026www.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 m...

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.

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 …

Most of us would be familiar with the sayings, ‘Don’t just sit there, do something!’, or ‘Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop’, a slightly more sinister version.  This seems to be excellent advice for most life situations, as inaction i...

If you’re looking for somewhere to safely store photos and documents of local or family interest, The Treasury, in Thames, a charitable trust run by The Coromandel Heritage Trust (2...

At 36 years old, I am still regularly asked for ID when trying to purchase a bottle of my favourite Shiraz-Viognier at the local supermarket. This isn’t a brag – more than once, I’ve smiled at the request, only to be told “Not to worry, actu...