Coromind

Tēnā koutou kātoa.  Thank you, Lord, for all that I am.  Kia ora, Roimata Taimana tōku ingoa. I whakapapa back to the far north – Hokianga, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi – and whakapapa to Ngāti Huarere, Whangapoua, Hauraki Coromandel. 

Born in West Auckland and raised there and in Whangapoua, I have travelled parts of our beautiful world and come back to reside in our wonderful village, Kūaotunu, with my ātaahua wife Carolyn, our cute little rescue kurī Esme, six chickens, all the amazing creatures of the ngāhere, manu galore and great neighbours who are more whānau than friends. 

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En Pointe Dance Studio is buzzing as five senior ballet students, Milly Lamason, Charli Thackray, Indaria Bainbridge-Davies, and sisters Courtney and Elizabeth Till, prepare for their annual end-of-year show. They can't wait to showcase their passion and hard work on stage!

We sat down with them to learn… 

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Hi, my name is Caleb Mahoney, I am 12 years old. I am in year 7 at Mercury Bay Area School and I have lived in Whitianga for six years. I started to play golf when I was nine years old. That was in 2020. I enjoy playing golf because I get to spend time with my grandparents. My grandad has taught me to play…

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I am sharing what I have learned after losing my beautiful man to suicide in the hope that it helps someone else, in the hope that there can be some meaning from this tragedy. Grief is profoundly personal. I hope the bravery of my sharing my own experience will help others pull through.

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Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world.

In this edition: Jasmine Simpson

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How many of us are doing what we really want to do? Are you at work thinking about the things you'd rather be doing? How many of us are willing to do what it takes to make our dreams come true? Now imagine telling your friends and whānau about what you wanted to do. Did you feel like there was a whiff of doubt from them? Did it make you doubt yourself? Welcome to my world!

Kia ora, my name is Fredrick Pokai…

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The sunlight filters through the window illuminating a glorious bunch of flowers on an old kitchen table. Inside, the basement studio is a hive of activity …heads are bowed over colourful creations as members of this group settle into their mahi. The programme has been running since 2002 and now has Lizzy at the helm, ably assisted by Christine. Lizzy is a textile artist from Kūaotunu; used to working alone in her studio, she is beaming as she introduces the artists. It’s obvious she is enjoying herself as much as they are. “This programme is such a success,”….

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When it comes to art, some folks are just born with it in their blood. They breathe creativity, they live it, and it becomes a part of who they are. Jenny McLeod, a local artist based in Thames, is one of those artists. With more than 30 years of experience in glassmaking, she's got the magic touch, and she's not afraid to share it with her community.

Jenny's artistic journey started with a leap of faith…

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Every year, locals and tourists alike enjoy sunny afternoons at Lukes Kitchen. What many don't know is that before serving epic pizzas and cocktails, Paul Reilly, Luke's father, ran a mechanic shop in that same spot. "I managed a nearby farm for five years with low power and a kerosene fridge…

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Common Ground is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: I Had a Dream by Yazmin Todd, Limitations by Bernie Spangenberg and illustrations by Kaia Kerai

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