Coromind

On a gloomy Thursday morning, as a heavy rain warning loomed over Hauraki, a group of whānau (people) gathered at the waharoa (entrance) of Kerepēhi Marae, awaiting the karanga (welcome call) that would welcome them in. 

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To date, I’ve spent $9,204 NZD on visas alone. I still have another $315 to go when I apply for Permanent Residency in 2027, and $560 more if I decide to go for NZ citizenship in 2032. I knew it would be expensive, but it ended up being about $4,000 more than I’d expected, thanks to both an extra, unexpected medical exam and Immigration nearly doubling its fees – with very little warning – in October 2024.

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I was exhausted, but I couldn't fall asleep. I tried meditating, which usually does the trick, but not this time. The day's challenges and residual issues still pervaded me. I lay awake while the full moon and stars filled the room with surreal and magical light, sedating me somewhat...

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Kauri forests like those found in Coromandel are extraordinary places. Kauri trees are an  awe-inspiring taonga species, but these giants are only part of a much bigger story …

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My art studio is my happy place, full of light, colour and music. It’s where I feel most myself. Sometimes I enter with a vague plan, sometimes with no plan at all. Often it’s just the music that takes me on a journey as I paint. The fun is seeing what evolves … or sometimes what doesn’t.

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Cuppa Words is a space dedicated to expression and creative writing. In this edition: 'Breath in the Forest' by WORDsmith and 'The Unknown' by Melissa Ireland

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Mary and Donald are old friends from Wellington who have been coming to Wharekaho on holiday for the last 40 years. They were always there for Christmas and after a few years we decided to give each other funny, unusual presents. I remember receiving a giant condom called Big Boy one Christmas. Unfortunately, it was way too big, even for me, so it now...

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Behind every discarded item is a choice made weeks, months, or years earlier. A bargain that didn’t last. A quick purchase that became clutter. Multiply that across thousands of households, and the scale becomes overwhelming – for communities, for the environment, and for the people tasked with managing it all.

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Proud to be Local is our CFM feature, highlighting inspiring characters from the Coromandel. In this edition, local artist Gary Nevin. Words by Ayana Piper-Healion.

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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, Bella Muir takes us behind the scenes of her inspiring work.

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