Coromind

Coromind Editorial - Issue 29, 2025

Coromind Magazine Issue 29

Full Audio Version

Born from a simple callout for sock donations, Children in Care – Te Manaaki Tamariki is a grassroots initiative supporting vulnerable tamariki (children) across the Thames/Coromandel District.

In 2019, Carl committed and trained to do my bit to help change the trajectory of men’s health in New Zealand. Since then, Carl has worked in a private capacity with hundreds of Tāne from around Aotearoa who turn up to me in Tairua, with burnout, depression, trauma, addictions like alcohol/vaping, mental unease, relationship issues – an awareness that there is a better way to live – and are looking for answers.

Using language is this cool inbuilt ability, when you think about it. It takes the basic sounds we make with our mouths, or the signs we write or make with our hands, and forms entire codes that we then use to communicate.

If you’ve lived in New Zealand all your life, you should know by now that this season could bring some of the harshest weather conditions damaging to roofs: Strong winds, Heavy rainfall, Condensation and Moisture...

Have you ever wondered about a plant, animal or insect you’ve seen in nature? Your observations can make a valuable contribution to scientific research and conservation.

In 1975, after a three-week stay at a Buddhist monastery in Sri Lanka, I made my way by ferry across the Palk Strait to Tamil Nadu in southern India and from there caught a train to Pondicherry, a city south of the state’s capital Chennai, which at the time was called Madras...

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition, Johnny Greaves. Brought to you by Ron Morgan.

Gaming isn’t just for teenagers – it’s a cultural phenomenon for millions of people around the world, including a lot of adults. It’s more than just a way to pass the time; gaming lets people explore different identities, build skills and connect with others.

In the last five issues of Coromind, I took you on a trip, sharing my insights into the great food and drinks you’ll find in our lovely Hauraki-Coromandel region. For this last article, I wrap up with a few special things which occasionally feature as a real indulgence in my diet.

Eggsentric Café operators Sam Fowell and Rachel Saunders are showing that hospitality and sustainability go hand in hand.

I clearly remember the purpose that brought me to Hot Water Beach sixty years ago – looking for a site for a family beach home with room for gardening. I was 15 years old. My parents came down and bought a beachfront section and a DIY beach home project was created.

Kupe, the legendary Polynesian explorer, journeyed from the Pacific to Aotearoa on the Matawhaorua, a great double-hulled waka. According to tradition, Kupe was ‘chasing a wheke’ – a giant octopus – which metaphorically describes how he and his crew navigated the vast Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean) using the many different currents. 

While browsing through the museum collections, I was drawn to a photo of a gentleman in a uniform, with a number of medals pinned to his jacket. He appeared to have dressed carefully for the photo, with a sense of pride in his appearance and the uniform he was wearing. 

Possum hunting is the unlikely catalyst for a historical novel written by Hikuai man, Jonathan Peet. But this ex-farmer, musician and history lover says when hunting possums years ago he discovered evidence of old mining sites in the bush, sparking his love of history and the writing of his first book, Wairata.

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition, Megan Carmichael. Brought to you by Ron Morgan.

What is flotation therapy? It involves floating in lukewarm water saturated with Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom salts). The weightless, zero-gravity environment induces deep relaxation while the absence of external stimuli allows the brain to rest, escaping daily distractions.