December 31, 2024 • 6 mins
The Coromandel is one of the country's most resilient regions, overcoming wild weather and its consequences over the past year.
The town is known for its beautiful beaches and scenery, most notably Cathedral Cove which has just reopened to visitors.
Coromandel mayor Len Salt joins Tim Beveridge with the low-down on how the year has been.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
What's happening in your neck of the woods summer?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We're the mess.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Is now to the sunny Corimandal again a region hit
by wild weather and it's been also been one of
the country's most resilient. The town thrives off tourism. Visitors
come for the hot water beach, the landscapes and its
most beautiful cathedral Cove, which has recently been open to
visitors again to tell us more, Corimandal Mayor Len Salt
(00:43):
is with me now, Len, good morning. Hey, the cove
is it's well and truly open for business.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's open. Well, it's open. We've got a temporary walking
track down from the top of the of the viewing
platform down to the beach. There's still more work to
be done, but she's open and welcoming visitors.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
How much does something like that make it just in
terms of the vibe in the energy to have such
an iconic place open for people to visit.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Oh, look, it does make a difference, Tim, because what's
been happening is, you know, the World Wide Web is
out there telling people visit Cathedral Cove, and unfortunately, the
World Wide Web doesn't always keep up with the reality
and events on the ground, so visitors have been coming
anyway and getting here and finding that their website that
(01:35):
sent them here isn't up to date. And you know,
we try and keep everything that we've got under our
control up to date, but that's not always possible. So
now that they can come and visit and enjoy the experience,
it's made a big difference.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I guess hopefully the net won't lag when people have
said it's closed and you get people not turning up.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It does. And we had the same issue when we
had all the road closures through the storm events of
twenty twenty three, and the net was saying to people, yes,
Tapic Corriglan is open, and it wasn't and then the
net caught up said it was closed, and you know,
so it's difficult to keep ahead of that.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
So how did the I mean, how would you describe
the struggle that the region had as a result of
the cyclone and the lack of tourists.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
It's had a massive impact and we've seen in some
areas when we had the closure of State Highway twenty
five A. We saw some areas thirty percent drop. Some
businesses didn't survive. We managed to get some direct government
support in terms of business funding, so we wanted to
(02:48):
get about eight million dollars and then we supported our
business associations. It was a tough time, there's no doubt
about it.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
But State Highway.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Twenty five A, the new bridge is in really good shape.
They've done a lot of work on the rest of
the road and it's it's holding up really well. So
I'm feeling very very confident. Still a lot of work
left to do on the rest of the roading network,
and for our district, it's all about roading. It's all
about that connectivity, that being able to get from A
(03:16):
to B. So we're we're fingers crossed for a good
summer without too many weather events.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Fingers crossed. Yeah, And actually, where do you like to
go in Conmndle? What are your favorite spots? A big area,
lots of secret spots, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It really really is, and we are so spoiled for choice.
I'll tell you where I will be on Sunday, January
twenty sixth, I'll be at the Summer concert. I'm old schoolmate,
Cold Chisel, Ice House Beck, Roger Ever Clear and our
very own Vegas Brown is going to be a cracker.
(03:54):
So I'll be there all day and loving it. But look,
you know you're in Mercury Bay. You've got the beaches,
You've got sailing and boating, and it's one of the
best and safest harves around because you're not having a
cross a bar to get out there. And you know,
you said a Cathedral Cove. You've got hot Water Beach.
(04:14):
You know you've got Thames and the Crimson Coast, and
you've got Corimandel Town. And I'll tell you a secret.
My wife's long. Oh she makes He's going to kill
me for this, I said. She she had her seventieth
birthday in May and I said, what do you want
for your birthday? And she said, I'll tell you what
I want. I want to go ziplining at the Driving
(04:36):
Creek Railway in Corimandeltown said are you kidding me? So
I said, right done. So we organized that with a
group of friends and some young people and she.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Had a blast that tore zip line tour Lady is
that a young lady called Susie. She was amazing, so look,
so many choices, Fong Mata you know, you name it,
it's all there.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
How much do you mentioned the concerts and things. How
much does the region rely on on a events rather
than just hay lock at summer, the roads are open,
the beach is a great get on over or up.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
No, it's a mixture, Tom. We don't events are great.
They do. They take a bit of managing because they
put a bit of pressure. You know, our normal populations
around thirty thousand, and we can go up to one
hundred and twenty thousand populations, so it puts pressure on
(05:34):
and we love them. They really bring a big beach hop.
For example, I get one hundred and twenty thousand people
in Fong the Matar. But outside of the events, there's
so much to do when the coramandle and so many
fabulous things to see. At the moment, the Crimson Coaster
is looking fabulous and it's just an experience for anyone
(05:55):
to do at anytime.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
It's that's spectacular with all those perder cawor isn't it
mine blooms really really these days and business is optimistic
as well. Looking ahead to the summer.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
They're certainly feeling a lot better than they were, you know,
twelve eighteen months ago when we had the road closures. Look,
some of the retailers. Retail is tough at the moment.
The world's changing, the way that people the way that
people do their shopping and their experiences, and we're hearing
(06:26):
that now people are looking more at experiences than buying
things gifts. So the world's changing. But I think we've
got lots of those bases covered. There's lots of things
to do.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Good stuff. Hey, Len, thanks so much for your time
and all the best for twenty twenty five pleasure.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
What's happening in your neck of the woods summer?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We're the mess.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Is now to the sunny Corimandal again a region hit
by wild weather and it's been also been one of
the country's most resilient. The town thrives off tourism. Visitors
come for the hot water beach, the landscapes and its
most beautiful cathedral Cove, which has recently been open to
visitors again to tell us more, Corimandal Mayor Len Salt
(00:43):
is with me now, Len, good morning. Hey, the cove
is it's well and truly open for business.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's open. Well, it's open. We've got a temporary walking
track down from the top of the of the viewing
platform down to the beach. There's still more work to
be done, but she's open and welcoming visitors.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
How much does something like that make it just in
terms of the vibe in the energy to have such
an iconic place open for people to visit.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Oh, look, it does make a difference, Tim, because what's
been happening is, you know, the World Wide Web is
out there telling people visit Cathedral Cove, and unfortunately, the
World Wide Web doesn't always keep up with the reality
and events on the ground, so visitors have been coming
anyway and getting here and finding that their website that
(01:35):
sent them here isn't up to date. And you know,
we try and keep everything that we've got under our
control up to date, but that's not always possible. So
now that they can come and visit and enjoy the experience,
it's made a big difference.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I guess hopefully the net won't lag when people have
said it's closed and you get people not turning up.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It does. And we had the same issue when we
had all the road closures through the storm events of
twenty twenty three, and the net was saying to people, yes,
Tapic Corriglan is open, and it wasn't and then the
net caught up said it was closed, and you know,
so it's difficult to keep ahead of that.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
So how did the I mean, how would you describe
the struggle that the region had as a result of
the cyclone and the lack of tourists.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
It's had a massive impact and we've seen in some
areas when we had the closure of State Highway twenty
five A. We saw some areas thirty percent drop. Some
businesses didn't survive. We managed to get some direct government
support in terms of business funding, so we wanted to
(02:48):
get about eight million dollars and then we supported our
business associations. It was a tough time, there's no doubt
about it.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
But State Highway.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Twenty five A, the new bridge is in really good shape.
They've done a lot of work on the rest of
the road and it's it's holding up really well. So
I'm feeling very very confident. Still a lot of work
left to do on the rest of the roading network,
and for our district, it's all about roading. It's all
about that connectivity, that being able to get from A
(03:16):
to B. So we're we're fingers crossed for a good
summer without too many weather events.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Fingers crossed. Yeah, And actually, where do you like to
go in Conmndle? What are your favorite spots? A big area,
lots of secret spots, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It really really is, and we are so spoiled for choice.
I'll tell you where I will be on Sunday, January
twenty sixth, I'll be at the Summer concert. I'm old schoolmate,
Cold Chisel, Ice House Beck, Roger Ever Clear and our
very own Vegas Brown is going to be a cracker.
(03:54):
So I'll be there all day and loving it. But look,
you know you're in Mercury Bay. You've got the beaches,
You've got sailing and boating, and it's one of the
best and safest harves around because you're not having a
cross a bar to get out there. And you know,
you said a Cathedral Cove. You've got hot Water Beach.
(04:14):
You know you've got Thames and the Crimson Coast, and
you've got Corimandel Town. And I'll tell you a secret.
My wife's long. Oh she makes He's going to kill
me for this, I said. She she had her seventieth
birthday in May and I said, what do you want
for your birthday? And she said, I'll tell you what
I want. I want to go ziplining at the Driving
(04:36):
Creek Railway in Corimandeltown said are you kidding me? So
I said, right done. So we organized that with a
group of friends and some young people and she.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Had a blast that tore zip line tour Lady is
that a young lady called Susie. She was amazing, so look,
so many choices, Fong Mata you know, you name it,
it's all there.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
How much do you mentioned the concerts and things. How
much does the region rely on on a events rather
than just hay lock at summer, the roads are open,
the beach is a great get on over or up.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
No, it's a mixture, Tom. We don't events are great.
They do. They take a bit of managing because they
put a bit of pressure. You know, our normal populations
around thirty thousand, and we can go up to one
hundred and twenty thousand populations, so it puts pressure on
(05:34):
and we love them. They really bring a big beach hop.
For example, I get one hundred and twenty thousand people
in Fong the Matar. But outside of the events, there's
so much to do when the coramandle and so many
fabulous things to see. At the moment, the Crimson Coaster
is looking fabulous and it's just an experience for anyone
(05:55):
to do at anytime.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
It's that's spectacular with all those perder cawor isn't it
mine blooms really really these days and business is optimistic
as well. Looking ahead to the summer.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
They're certainly feeling a lot better than they were, you know,
twelve eighteen months ago when we had the road closures. Look,
some of the retailers. Retail is tough at the moment.
The world's changing, the way that people the way that
people do their shopping and their experiences, and we're hearing
(06:26):
that now people are looking more at experiences than buying
things gifts. So the world's changing. But I think we've
got lots of those bases covered. There's lots of things
to do.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Good stuff. Hey, Len, thanks so much for your time
and all the best for twenty twenty five pleasure.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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