The NZ Podcast Summit is an annual event that focuses on collaboration, education, sharing and networking for Aotearoa’s podcast producers, presenters, practitioners and providers. The event stands out because, in the conference room, you will find indie podcasters sitting next to representatives of NZ's big media companies like Stuff, RNZ, The Spi…

How can we help our little blue penguins survive in this changing world? With sleek blue feathers, a small yet solid stature and cute pink feet, the kororā (blue penguin) is a beloved part of our coastal wildlife and landscapes. Being the only penguin species naturally found around the North Island coastline, kororā are a taonga (treasure) to many …

We all have potential; it is human nature. We were designed to survive, thrive and evolve. But, nowadays, many of us get stuck in a mindset of ‘stuckness’. How do we move away from it?Bởi Coromind

People often say to me ‘I’ve always wanted to play the harp’ … and I believe them – it’s an intriguing instrument which both enchants and bewitches the listener at the same time. There are also a few myths to debunk. 1. Angels play harps. I can neither confirm nor deny this, but here on earth, it’s just normal people. However……

To say Noah loved music and his violin is an understatement. His passion for both had him skipping meals, losing sleep and wandering the fields and forests, fiddling away the hours in practice. A young teenager, he was enrolled at Waihi College where he joined the school orchestra. Unfortunately, his passion just wasn't enough. For all the time sac…

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Matt BowdenBởi Coromind

Music has the ability to entertain, provide comfort, lessen anxiety and uplift the spirit. The importance of entertainment was very evident during the heady, gold rush days of the 1800s in New Zealand, none more so than in Thames. Speculators and large companies brought new prosperity to Thames, and a rush of prospectors were lured to the newly ope…

Her eyes light up as I walk in: I’ve always loved her eyes, an unusual uniform colour like a warm brown; circular pools of melted chocolate. Today, she’s alert and animated. “Stella! It's so good to see you.” Mum always speaks with emphasis. With meaning. We live too far away. I call her most days, but technology is such a poor substitute for……

Remember the days in Aotearoa when a coffee purchased away from home involved a ceramic cup, a saucer, a tablecloth and possibly a custard square on the side? When we enjoyed the whole ambience of a quaint coffee lounge, a friendly chat, the delicious smells and the people who seated us, served us and cleaned our dishes in a sink of hot water. (Wel…

For me, Matariki 2024 is about living by the words that Kīng Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Tūheitia Paki spoke at a national hui, held at Tūrangawaewae Marae on January 20th this year. “Just be Māori … build kotahitanga (unity with others) … build our future … We are all in this together … the way forward needs to bring peace and unity for everybody. These…

When I first met Bernadette (Bernie) Ross while working at Creative Coromandel, I was immediately drawn to her deep passion for the arts, her friendly warmth and her sharp wit! It wasn’t until I visited her in Whangamatā in 2021, where she was exhibiting local artists’ work alongside her own, that I really started to understand the depths of her ta…

My name is Zoe Winter, I’m 16 years old and I live in Tairua. I’m currently in year 12 at Hauraki Plains College and I am a lifeguard at Tairua Beach. My beach safety journey began when I joined our three-week summer junior surf program at around 10 years old, encouraged by my parents. The program challenged me physically and mentally, leading me t…

I have just returned from Japan after visiting my partner’s family. On arrival at Narita Airport at 9pm, we were met by Hiroshi, my partner’s brother, who said “We go to onsen (Japanese hot baths).” After flying for 12 hours, this was indeed a welcome treat and we basked in 40 degree pools of different depths, some shallow with stone pillows to gaz…

Sporadic road cone displays have always been a part of the package of visiting and travelling around the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. The breathtaking State Highway 25 and 25A take in both coastal shores and forest wonderlands, frequently peppered with segments of those delightful reflective beacons of joy – Road Cones.…

My grandfather Paul was an artist. I began painting in his studio with some of his oil colours, many of which were home-made – by grinding raw materials and mixing with linseed oil. However, most of my early work was in watercolours, learnt by experimenting and reading books. No art school for me, although I did attend a night class run by Colin Mc…

Coromind Editorial - Issue 18, 2024Bởi Coromind

Coromind Magazine Issue 18 Full Audio VersionBởi Coromind

The paradox of probability Many of us are all too familiar with the game of tossing a coin to decide a choice, question or stake. To the Romans, it was known as ‘Ship or Head’ – a game of choosing between a ship on one side of the coin or the head of the emperor on the other. In German, it’s ‘Kopf oder Zahl’, and the most common in English is ‘Head…

Becoming a parent is like going through a second puberty. You can know all the theories, but nothing can prepare you for the lived experience. It can unveil things about you that you weren’t aware of. It can test your relationships. And while each overall journey is different to the next, there are many shared moments and feelings between all paren…

Creating art has always been a part of my life; my earliest memories were of drawing. The other constant throughout my life has been the Coromandel. On my first visit to Hahei, I was bathed in a bucket at the camp; until Dad died, we had a family bach there. Thirteen years ago, my partner Lance and I moved to Whenuakite to be closer to him.…

Coromind Editorial - Issue 17, 2024Bởi Coromind

Coromind Magazine Issue 17 Full Audio VersionBởi Coromind

I am eleven years old and have been riding since I was five. My first pony was Possum. He is a grey (white) bush pony who loves the mud. I now ride Knight and I am starting to ride Lacie. These were my big sisters' ponies. I have had many fun adventures on my ponies – jumping, swimming, doing tricks, trekking, beach rides, dress-ups, pony club and …

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Jacob SkeenBởi Coromind

In 2017, at the age of 43, I arrived in Hamilton, NZ, with the goal of pursuing a doctoral degree in Law at the University of Waikato. This decision came after accumulating 25 years of professional history in Brazil and abroad. Throughout this journey, I have been fortunate to receive unwavering support from my wife and three boys, making it a deli…

The first time I saw Flaxxies playing live, I was impressed by their musicianship, enthusiasm and stage presence. After that show, we ended up at a cool party and bonded pretty quickly. I’m at least 10 years older than drummer Neo Lee, Eric Goodger lead guitar, Nick Tait rhythm guitar, Chris Manning bass/trumpet, and lead singer Benji Humphries, bu…

Back in February 2022, if you had told the ALTBAYS Table Talk podcast team that within two years, they would have live-streamed over 260 episodes, hosting guests from all over Aotearoa NZ for engaging conversations in their studio in Whitianga, they might not have been surprised. However, if you had mentioned that they would be building a new studi…

How much of your thinking is about the past? Where you were, how good things were, or how bad they were … Most of us do this at some time or other. We remember. And rightly so. Our sense of self is partly defined by what we’ve experienced and how we felt about it. The challenge comes when we get locked...…

When I was growing up, I remember that in our house we had a Japanese katana (samurai sword) hanging on one wall and a small Japanese wooden pagoda on a cabinet in the lounge. My mother also had a beautiful kimono with birds and flowers flowing down the sleeves which she used to put on sometimes. These were relics for which my father had traded foo…

Millions of years ago, this story began with the emergence of early hominins in Africa, the cradle of humanity. These were not yet modern humans, but their bipedal movement marked the dawn of a new era. In this primitive world, survival was the daily script, and adaptation was the key player. The landscape was a rough canvas, slowly being painted w…

Namaste; the soul in me greets the soul in you. My name is Verna Carr, I live in Whitianga, and I am a Conscious Energy Healer, Tarot Card Reader, Author of Metamorphosis Wisdom for a Changing Consciousness, Workshop Facilitator and mentor for people wanting to explore their own spirituality.Bởi Coromind

Common Ground is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: Love With Love by Waimā De Souza, The sad limitations of love by Helen Oliver , and drawings by Eli Thomas “ET” TahatikaBởi Coromind

Educating the younger generation about conservation is crucial for the future of our planet. By creating a love for nature and wildlife, we allow them to become future conservationists who actively care for our environment. As someone who has looked after wild birds for many many years, I always felt it was an important part of my role.…

The World of Sarah Alves' Quilling Quilling artist Sarah Alves of Tairua makes fascinating creations out of strips of paper. It’s an ancient craft from the Middle Ages, when nuns would gather excess bits of paper from the monks’ writings and turn them into art. The term ‘quilling’ comes from the feather quill which they used to twirl paper strips a…

Coromind Magazine Issue 16 Full Audio VersionBởi Coromind

What should we do when the world is spinning too fast? Should we make more motorways to cut three seconds off a trip from wherever to wherever? Should we limit and undermine the Te Tiriti rights of tangata whenua? Should we shut people out of local decision-making? Should we remove protection from freshwater and mine the hell out of the Peninsula?…

Grab your ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and get ready to ‘Rock Around the Clock’ to the irresistible beat of Rock ‘n Roll! With hot music that’s endured since the 1950s, those gorgeous skirts and a thriving Rock ‘n Roll club in most towns, no wonder this dance phenomenon has recently grown in popularity.Bởi Coromind

Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Kohana Kauika-Rameka toku ingoa. I am a Year 7 student at Miller Avenue School in Paeroa. Two years ago, I started to enjoy playing touch. My pāpā Greg Hine came to our training after long days at work to show us some touch skills from his referee's perspective. He would tell me how proud he was when I tried to learn new skill…

In the planning for our annual Anzac exhibition, we came across three photos of soldiers posing in their World War I uniforms. These photos made us ponder – who are the men in the photos? When starting the research, we were lucky enough to know the soldiers’ names.Bởi Coromind

Nick Fedaeff transitioned from the world of music to the field of visual arts, marking a notable shift in his creative journey. Prior to delving into visual arts, he captivated audiences as the frontman of a rock band and as a composer for various theatrical productions and films. When questioned about the source of his inspiration, Nick often resp…

Coromind Editorial - Issue 16, 2024Bởi Coromind

In an era where digital platforms are saturated with content tailored to specific demographics and interests, carving out a unique niche can seem like the golden ticket to success. Based in Whitianga, on the Coromandel peninsula of Aotearoa New Zealand, the podcast ALTBAYS Table Talk has defied convention by embracing the niche of not having a nich…

I remember when I was three, having a bath with my mother, and when I was four, leading my sleepwalking sister back to bed before she woke up and freaked out. And I remember wars with the kids down the road in which we threw stones at each other. Once, I even hid in our garage and thrust a metal bar through the spokes of an enemy kid’s bike as he r…

Herbs and Herbaliser are not just cool bands, they are natural remedies you can grow in your own backyard – ranging from Aotearoa's native rongoā to folk herbals. The plant world has been offering its support to benefit human health for centuries. Animals also eat their way to health through their native ecosystems; this is known as zoopharmacognos…

I'm Leo. I write for Coromind magazine and I bang on drums. Music plays a big role in my life and, over the past decade, I've rocked many stages alongside Mr. Stewart Pedley, aka Stu. While we've been tearing it up in a punk band called Corrosive Moses since 2020, Stu and I have a deeper connection that goes way back.…

Not every living thing has a heart. All multicellular organisms need to induce nutrient flow, but not all have a heart, so let's forget about those heartless creatures for a bit. I'm half a bottle of whiskey done and I am bored. So let's talk about the Heart. The heart is located in the middle of your chest ... kinda. Many people seem to forget tha…

The cool thing about Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) When I started studying BCST, I was surprised by the diversity of health issues helped by BCST and the results people gain from BCST in only one or a few sessions. The changes I have witnessed in others and the experiences I’ve had myself show me that this therapy is capable of healing som…

Common Ground is a space dedicated to expression. In this edition: Do You Believe in Magic by Denise Allen, the places I write about by Fauze Hassen, and drawings by Siobhan CoxBởi Coromind

Proud to be Local is our inspirational feature, highlighting homegrown Coromandel Peninsula folks doing wonderful things out in the world. In this edition: Toni PayneBởi Coromind

The Eco-Friendly Art of Annemieke Kregting It is common to hear people expressing their love for animals, but not many carry the passion and dedication to care for them as deeply as Annemieke Kregting does. For many years, Annemieke ran the Bird Rescue in Kūaotunu, and it is no surprise to hear "Yes, I’ve taken an injured bird to Annemieke before" …