Issuu

2026/2027

Enjoy the beauty, energy and lifestyle of the Coromandel Peninsula

YOUR FREE COPY The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027 1 Front cover photo taken at The Lost Spring Whitianga by Felicity Jean Photography

What if your holiday could become your everyday?

Wake to the sound of the sea Step outside into fresh coastal air. Slow down, switch off, and discover a different pace of life. Set above the coast, Wharekaho’s elevated, sun-soaked sections offer expansive views across Whitianga Harbour, Mercury Bay, Flaxmill Bay and Wharekaho Beach.

Whether you’re dreaming of a permanent sea change or a place to escape to, Wharekaho gives you the opportunity to make the Coromandel part of everyday life.

Imagine having a place here to call your own. A place for long summer days, family holidays, spontaneous weekends and the simple pleasure of being close to the sea.

Visit Wharekaho for yourself. Drive on up, take a look around and see what could be yours.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

The very best sections at Wharekaho are available now Kevin Andrews sells Wharekaho and lives here year-round, so he knows what it’s really like to call this place home.

To find out more or secure your section, visit www.wharekaho.co.nz or call Kevin on 027 269 5585 The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

From the Editor I

have two guest editorials from two people I admire and am in awe of, their achievements, their attitude to life and work, and their practical wisdom. See pages 17 and 77. Local achievement of an international standard and influence under the microscope, while still being regarded as excellent, is hard to come by. Both have chosen to commit their resources to making a better New Zealand and have started their visions locally. Leigh Hopper is now all over New Zealand building better life styles – Hopper Lifestyle and Hopper Developments. Alan Hopping invites all of New Zealand to come to the Coromandel to experience what he and a

large team have created - The Lost Spring. But he also warns that some things are urgent for the Peninsula to move ahead. Both think about prosperity for all in this country regardless of circumstance, background, politics or race. I asked them to write something that they believed could speak to your mind and heart about the future - your life, and the life of your loved ones, what you are aiming for and what you will leave behind. Both Alan and Leigh believe we can influence the future of New Zealand. This magazine is written and produced with sweat, some tears and a sense of joy. The businesses, events and services advertising in this magazine are invested in

the Coromandel Peninsula. Come and enjoy the Coromandel. Pauline Stewart

The Auckland to Coromandel Ferry is here See page 49 supplied by Thames Coromandel District Council. Explore Group (Auckland Marine tourism operator) has made this possible. Skip the traffic: Auckland–Coromandel ferry with daily summer service. Explore Group Managing Director William Goodfellow says the expanded timetable is about giving travellers more choice and flexibility. “For Aucklanders, it’s an easy way to enjoy a day trip or longer stay without taking the car, while for Coromandel town and Peninsula residents it provides more options for travelling into Auckland and choosing when they return.”

Explore Group is partnering with Mad Campers to offer a range of land transport options, including a shuttle between Hannaford’s Wharf and Coromandel Town, which is included in the ferry fare. Mad Campers are providing not only the shuttle, but in Coromandel town - two vans for services and hire, plus 50cc scooters, rental cars, local tours and eventually campervans “We are excited to be part of

this initiative and allowing those wanting a longer stay to explore more of what the region has to offer,” says Andy Haslett CEO of Mad Campers. For service information and timetables, visit https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/auckland/ coromandel-peninsula/. Thank you Explore Group and Mad Campers

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

CONTENTS

COVER – THE LOST SPRING WHITIANGA

ENTRY PAGE – WHAREKAHO NORTH BEACH

33 WHITIANGA

LIFESTYLE

From Whiti with Love

Whitianga Marine

‘Two Ticks to Prosperity’ – Leigh Hopper

Summer at the movies

Concept to Completion

More than a Paint Job & A New Pool

A New Chapter – GJ Gardner

A Legacy that will Last - LBG Builders

Summer is the Easy Part – Urban Homes

Ready to be on the Move – Move It and Clean It

A Great Lifestyle Village – The Moorings

COROMANDEL AND NORTH

8-9 Driving Creek

Summer, Salt and the Sea – Opito Bay Salt

Pahi coastal walk

The Marina – Tourism & Growth

‘Our World Tomorrow’ – Alan Hopping

Welcome to Pinky’s

Whitianga Bike Park – a magical place

It all began with an idea

Coromandel Future Fund

The Peace We Long For

LIVING IN WHAREKAHO

MATARANGI-KUAOTUNU

20 EAT DRINK ON THE COROMANDEL 24

Macadamias and a winning dress

Rema’s story and Fine Wines

49 TCDC SECTION 49

The Ferry Returns

The Coromandel – a great place to live

Coromandel Tracks & Trails

53 MERCURY BAY SOUTH Summer magazine 2026/27 Coromandel, Your holiday Peninsula is published by The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga, 3510 Enquiries – phone 07 866 2090 or email info@theinformer.co.nz © 2026. All rights reserved. Editorial contributors – Garry Brandon, Verna Carr, Shaun Fay, Pam Ferla, Liz Harsant, Paul Hopkins, Jewel Hughes, Emir De Jerome, Sarah-Jane Lee, Suzanne Murrell, Dorothy Preece, Jo Scott, Beverley Sheppard, Pauline Stewart. Photographic contributors – Garry Brandon, Stephen Holmes (also AI Engineering), Togo Kubota. Cover photo — The Lost Spring by

‘48 Hours in Pauanui’

Hahei

The Sunflower Fields

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

61 Kimiko and Hanako

63 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY SPA IN THE WORLD 66 GOLFING AROUND THE COROMANDEL 70 TAIRUA & HEAVEN AND EARTH

73 ART ON THE PENINSULA WITH PAULA MCNEILL

94 THAMES - A BIG WELCOME AND THE GATEWAY 97 WHANGAMATA – THE SURF TOWN THAT ROCKS 99 ACCOMODATION 104 MARKETS ON THE PENINSULA 108 TRADES AND SERVICES 112 REAL ESTATE ROUND UP INSIDE BACK COVER - WE CALL IT HOME – SHAUN PATERSON BACK COVER – BUILT WELL, BUILT TO LAST - BAYSIDE CONSTRUCTION

Felicity Jean Photography

Administration – Emma Gaunt Design and production – Imprintz Design Ltd, also Diane Andrew, Stephen Holmes, Debbie Morgan, Salty Pipis. Proof reading – Jillian Johnston Distribution: – 17,500 - The Coromandel and Hauraki plains, Auckland and Hamilton. This magazine will be online from 30 October 2026. www.theinformer.co.nz

I’m back for another summer, and i’ve got company

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Fletcher Bay COASTAL WALKWAY Stony Bay

PORT JACKSON

Sandy Bay

HAURAKI GULF

PORT CHARLES

Waikawau Bay Otautu Bay COLVILLE

Papa Aroha Shelly Beach

< To Auckland

NEW CHUM BEACH KŪAOTUNU Otama MATARANGI BAY Beach BEACH

WHANGAPOUA

COROMANDEL TOWN

PASSENGER FERRY

Te Kouma

Te Kouma Harbour

Opito Bay

WHITIANGA

Manaia

309 Kauris

Ferry Landing

Marine Reserve

Cooks Beach

MOUTOHE CATHEDRAL COVE HAHEI

Coromandel Forest Park COROGLEN

WHENUAKITE

Orere Point

TAPU

WAIOMU

Sailors Grave Te Karo Bay

Square Kauri

TAIRUA THE PINNACLES

KAIAUA

FIRTH OF THAMES

To Auckland 70km

HOT WATER BEACH

THAMES

Pūkorokoro/Miranda

PĀUANUI

Puketui Slipper Island (Whakahau) OPOUTERE

Kauaeranga Valley 25a

Kōpū

MARAMARUA To Auckland 2

ONEMANA

Waitakaruru

Mangatarata

WHANGAMATĀ 2

NGATEA

Wentworth Valley

WHENUAKURA ISLAND 25

HAURAKI RAIL TRAIL To Rotorua/ Taupo

Whiritoa

PAEROA Waikino

WAIHĪ

KARANGAHAKE Waitawheta GORGE Kaimai Forest Park

Waimama Bay

OROKAWA BAY

WAIHĪ BEACH

To Tauranga 70km

Bowentown

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH

COROMANDEL & NORTH A TOWNSHIP PACKED FULL OF GOODIES. EXPLORE • DISCOVER • TASTE • SHOP • EXPERIENCE • STAY • FAMILY FUN • OUTDOORS

o matter how you approach Coromandel Town (by road, air, ferry, boat or yacht), you will have had a beautiful journey… and what you discover while in the upper Coromandel will be sure to inspire you.... experience the mysterious mountains, native bush, shopping, art, food, culture, crystals and stars… Coromandel has a great selection of shops and has had several new businesses open recently, all well worth a visit. Spot-X is situated in the old Weta building and operated by Morz, selling streetwear & supporting NZ labels such as Cloke and Finest Clothing, as well as outdoor (tramping) gear and men’s underwear. Tuateawa Boutique has beautiful, ethical

ethnic fashion, locally designed & made from organic cotton & bamboo fabrics. And there is now The Wharf Road Variety Store, next to the best 4 Square in the country, where you can also get rolled ice-creams. JUEL Designer Jewellery has beautiful gold & silver jewellery made by Julie Pijfer at her gorgeous shop in Kapanga Road. Star Gallery has a fantastic variety of furniture, homeware, art, gifts, clothing & jewellery. Julie is the new owner of Moss who stock fashion labels such as Thing Thing, Stories Be Told, Ivy & Jack, Among The Brave, Home Lee & Amber Jack candles. And at Tara’s Beads next door, you can make your own jewellery or buy a readymade

creation. There is an eclectic variety of art at The Source - a collective of local artists selling original clothing, jewellery, pottery and lots more. Gallery 6 is another vibrant, artist-run co-operative art gallery in town, & Ashley Thor sells his renowned pottery at Kotare Ceramics in Tiki Road. All are a must see! Not to mention there are various Artists dotted around town who are happy to share their talents from their home studios. In Wharf Road you can find Funky Frocks - Christine’s cute shop where she makes & sells her timeless clothing, Copperworkx where Karl makes amazing copper wall art, & Paul Cornwall has his art studio. > Continued on page 10

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

BEHIND THE TR ACKS:

The Charity Quietly ha i the C r a In 1975, Barry Brickell was simply trying to solve a practical problem. A working potter based in the hills above Coromandel Town, he needed a way to haul clay and firewood down to his kiln, so he began laying narrowgauge rail track by hand across land that decades of kauri logging and gold mining had left scarred and, to most people, worked out. What started as a practical solution grew, almost by accident, into one of the Coromandel's best-loved visitor experiences. The little red train that now carries passengers through native bush and up to Barry's Eyefull Tower did not open to paying visitors until 1990, fifteen years after the first sleeper was laid. But riving Creek was never ust about the railway. As the tracks climbed higher, Barry planted, and today more than 0,000 native trees line the route, part of a predator-proof wildlife sanctuary established in 199 , one of the first of its kind on the Coromandel eninsula. That work continues today. riving Creek's conservation team services more than 0 traps across hectares of its own land and a further 00 hectares of public conservation land. The team has removed more than 1, 00 introduced predators in the past year alone, nearly ,000 since 019. As a result they have protected species including the northern striped gecko, Coromandel brown kiwi, Archey's frog and p teke. egular biodiversity monitoring, from kiwi call counts to li ard surveys, tracks the sanctuary's slow but steady recovery. 8

olunteers contributed 0 hours to this work last year, and community outreach matters ust as much last year's Conservation rero brought around 100 people together to hear from guest speakers, part of a growing programme of talks and hands-on volunteering days. Alongside the forest, Barry's pottery tradition lives on through an artist residency programme that hosted 1 artists in the past twelve months, eighteen of them from overseas, working across ceramics, textiles, photography, painting, music and writing. one of this happens by accident, or by profit motive. Before his passing in anuary 01 , Barry established the riving Creek ailway, Arts and Conservation Trust as the sole shareholder of the riving Creek ailway Company. t is a registered charity, which means every railway ticket, pottery class and ipline booking exists to fund the Trust's purpose, not shareholder returns. The train ride, the pottery wheel and the treetop adventure are not the point. They are how the point gets paid for.

el That purpose is broad. The Trust works to protect and enhance the Coromandel's natural environment, maintaining the habitat Barry created and continuing to restore native biodiversity across the peninsula. t fosters emerging artists through the residency programme and workshops. t also creates opportunities to display Barry's own art and ceramics collection alongside work from other significant ew ealand potters, sculptors and visual artists, as well as from the residents who follow in his footsteps. At its heart, the Trust exists to celebrate the Coromandel's natural and human heritage, and to manage riving Creek as the cultural and tourism treasure it has become.

Barry created something precious at riving Creek, says Trust Chair teph arkyn. e wanted to restore the biodiversity of a damaged environment, to support artists, celebrate pottery, and showcase his art and ceramics collection for others to en oy. By giving so much, his magical train ride through the bush continues to inspire. As she puts it,

ow it is o r privilege to keep Barry s legacy lo ris ing. The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Your Coromandel Summer Adventure Awaits ide t e ailwa ind through cool native bush on km of hand laid track, past tunnels, viaducts and switchbacks, all the way up to arry's yefull ower for views over Coromandel own and the auraki ulf.

et Creative in Cla ry your hand at pottery in a daily class, or let the kids loose in a play with clay session this summer. refer something ready made rowse uni ue, premium pottery in our shop.

Soar on t e i line Fly across eight ziplines, through the treetop canopy, guided every step of the way by experts who share stories of Driving Creek's remarkable history and ongoing conservation work.

0800 327 245

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH > Continued from page 7 Leather works made by Juliette is found alongside the clever ladies from Crafty Crafters. There is also a new Funky Crafts & Gifts shop further up Rings Road, opposite Elizabeth Carter’s Coromandel Flowers stall. James & Turner is our most famous and oldest store. Here you can find everything you need for a home, garden or DIY, or special occasion gift and it also hosts the local Post Shop and an outdoor piano offering local musicians to play for shoppers. Jenny and Rob Ashman, owners, have now added an outdoor fashion clothing store- fish, dive, swim, hunt and casual summer wear. Out on the Tiki…. hand clothing the Coromandel Garden & goods – two Centre has a beautiful are operated by selection of plants & local organisation landscape supplies and a Coromandel Independent big white cockatoo named Star Gallery LIving Trust (CILT) ; The Cockie will keep the kids amused Bizarre which has been around while you browse. Karyn & staff can for over 60 years & The Goldmine situated also assist with the design and planting at the Refuse Transfer Station in Hauraki of your garden. Art and craft can be found Road. at Coromandel Fish & Kayak, next to Salty There is also Tried & True with their Towers - a tackle and bait shop. antique ware in Wharf Road as well as The There is a great selection of second-

Hub at the top end of town hosting many interesting stalls.

FOOD OPTIONS GALORE The hugely popular Weta Café adjacent to the Samuel James Reserve in the centre of town & The Coromandel Oyster Company heading south, are a must. Take the oysters away or enjoy them overlooking the Harbour. Other options available in Wharf Road are the famous handmade Coro Pies. Pat’s

COROMANDEL TOWN’S HISTORIC, ICONIC PLACE TO SHOP (EST. 1889)

CLOTHING OUTLET

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

BEACHWEAR, OUTDOOR, SUMMER

HOMEWARE, HARDWARE AND GIFTWARE STORE

CASUAL MEN’S, WOMEN’S, CHILDRENS.

ANYTHING YOU NEED – THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS JAMES & TURNER • Everything for the outdoors especially fishing and hunting, hiking and camping • Everything for the garden,- soil OPEN: & compost, tools, plants & seedlings Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm • Décor for your home and many gifts Sat & Sun 8.30 - 4pm • Your local post office

Ph: 07 866 8805 | info@jamesandturner.co.nz 131 Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town. 10

OPEN: Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm Sat & Sun 8.30 - 4pm

Ph: 07 866 8797 | info@jamesandturner.co.nz 95 Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town. The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH Tasty Treats sell $5 yum tacos and Mei’s spicy dumplings - both situated in the park. Take home snacks from the local’s favourite Coromandel Bakehouse. And enjoy the best coffee from John at Naughty Bean - enjoy it there and take some beans home with you. For lunch or dinner is everyone’s favourite Peppertree Bar & Restaurant, as well as three rocking pubs - all with loads of history.. the bottom pub - Admirals Arms has reopened recently after a big spruce up, Star & Garter is smack in the middle of town (and serves awesome and cheap Sunday pizzas), and you can enjoy a beer or meal up

at the Top Pub (Rings Road). Coromandel is proud to now have its own Brewery – The Coromandel Town Supply situated next door to the Peppertree in the town centre is where you can sample their eight varieties of beer on site, and take away a six-pack. The new Taj India Restaurant in Wharf Road complements the Solo Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine Cafe & the Bula Kitchen found in Kapanga Road, plus there is a Fish & Chip shop at both ends of town. Café 36 can be found at 36 Kapanga Road - an artisan bakery & café. The

Coromandel Smoking Company sells a variety of smoked products and Matt at The Chopping Block Butchery next door is your go-to for a home kill service. And if you need hoses? There is Hoses Plus.. Plus Coromandel ITM has your home renovation needs.

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO? Driving Creek Railway is a must see –ride the 8 ziplines on the canopy tour, take the

Looking for the perfect gift, something beautiful for your home, or a little treat for yourself.

OPEN s

7 day pm 10am - 5

stargallerycoro@gmail.com 021995732 110 Kapanga Road, 3506 @stargallery

your place by the harbour Stay in the heart of Coromandel Town, an easy stroll to cafés, restaurants and local walks. Choose from our spacious three-bedroom Apartment, private king Studio, or book the whole property for family & friends. • Harbour Views • Private Decks • BBQs • Private Parking • Pet Friendly

Book Direct at www.wharflanding.com The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH

> Continued from page 11 hand built railway up to the EyeFull Tower lookout, enrol in a pottery or art workshop, visit the conservation sanctuary see more on page. Learn how Potter Barry Brickell developed the 25 hectares over 40+ years with his own hands, just to share with others. Coromandel is certainly a place like no other… heritage buildings, murals and the nearby beautiful harbour & beaches such as Long Bay, Wyuna Bay, Shelley Bay and Te Kouma. Go fishing on one of the charter boats out at the mussel farms, check out The Waterworks, The Coromandel Stamper Battery, the Coromandel Museum and Over The Fence. Visit the Community Library, the Community Swimming Pool, the fantastic Ride Coromandel Bike Park and Coromandel Golf Club). The Coromandel Information

to benefit Coromandel Area School

SHO

ALL

This is truly another world which also must be experienced. Drive up the west coast through tiny coastal settlements to Colville where you must stop at the Colville Store

9AM-4PM COROMANDEL AREA SCHOOL GROUNDS

www.kelticfair.co.nz

AIN

TRAVELLING NORTH ON THE WEST COAST?

and the Himalaya Shop. Community run Colville Junction have a 2nd hand shop and there are often locals selling their wares nearby. Enjoy some food at the Hereford ‘n’ a Pickle then carry on north to see the huge pohutukawa trees and be dwarfed by the Moehau Mountain Range. Venture right to the top – on the Eastern side is Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay. Experience the walk across the top to the West to camp at Stony Bay and fish at Port Charles. Complete the loop back to Coromandel via Waikawau Bay, Little Bay and Harataunga (Kennedy Bay) on the west coast. Bookahead with some friends The Pahi Walk (page 15). Such talented people from the past and the present have shaped Coromandel… there are plenty of places to stay - you are unlikely to see it all in just one day and will want to keep coming back.

2ND JAN 2027

Only $2 Entry!

Centre has more information on all of the above. See elsewhere in this magazine the annual, huge Keltic Fair held in Coromandel on 2 January. Visit the weekly markets held at the Anglican Church or in the park in Wharf Road, and monthly there are car boot sales. The Coromandel Open Studios Art Tour is also a must do during the first two weekends in October and there are often exhibitions held at Hauraki House and the Coromandel Players regularly perform at the Hauraki House Theatre.

MENT

AGES

UP TO 300 TRADE & FOOD STALLS The Keltic Fair is organised by CEDACT in co-operation with the Coromandel Area School. Proceeds to support the Coromandel Area School and education in the district.

Come and celebrate the New Year at New Zealand’s Largest One Day Fair! The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH

AMAZING FOOD ON OFFER MEI’S DUMPLINGS Mei is a genius when it comes to dumplings. It is not the only scrumptious dish she prepares from her little caravan stall which is a very popular fixture in Coromandel town. Her personality and kindness match her ability to cook textured deliciously aromatic dumplings. Mei is there every day in summer. There are places to relax, take a seat and enjoy your dumplings or they can be takeaways. The dumplings are freshly prepared daily and cooked while you wait. Sometimes you see customers lining up before she has even opened up her mobile kitchen. Mei’s menu has become a daily mouth watering treat for quite a few residents and visitors catch on quickly. There are different fillings for her dumplings including vegetarian which is the most popular along with pork; and her servings along with prices are very generous. With the ferry making daily visits to Coromandel from 27 November, Mei will extend her summer hours. When coming in to Coromandel town, just turn right at the roundabout and you will see Mei’s caravan and her Mei’s Dumplings sign on your left.

Anne

Mei

ANNE AND THE COROMANDEL OYSTER COMPANY This café, restaurant and production house is just a few miles south of Coromandel town. Amazing fresh fish and chips served in a basket, oysters and burgers of every kind plus a very relaxing place to eat happens everyday for a travelling population and local and town residents. Their locally grown and harvested fresh oysters bring tourists from all over NZ. Coromandel Oyster Co. sends out fresh oysters to local eateries across the Peninsula as well as operating a national online shop www.

coromandeloysters.co.nz “The Coromandel Peninsula is the perfect place to grow oysters,” says Anne. “We grow them naturally. They come from our ocean right here.” Anne points to the sea which is right behind their location. I have a fabulous team and a great partner John, in our Coromandel Oyster Company. It is just a few kilometres south from Coromandel town but for anyone coming from Thames or across from Whitianga, they are on the beautiful Pacific coast; an ideal stopping place. Open seven days 8.30 -5.30pm (over summer). Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

OPEN 7 DAYS 9:00am - 5:00pm

MEI ’S

FRESH PACIFIC OYSTERS INSTORE! DIRECT FROM THE FARM GATE

DUMPLINGS Relax in ou r g arden and eat fresh oysters and hot food from ou r takeaway menu on the edge of the sea. . . Sycamore Station 105 Wharf Road, Coromandel 3506 The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

1611 SH25 Manaia Road, Coromandel Phone 07 866 8028 www.freshoysters.co.nz www.coromandeloysters.co.nz/shop 13

COROMANDEL & NORTH

Supporting our community FIND YOUR SUMMER LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATION?

SANCTUARY IN THE COLVILLE VALLEY

hether you’re a passing traveller, a curious seeker, or a dedicated practitioner, a profound spiritual hub awaits you in Northern Coromandel. Nestled on eight acres of park-like grounds framed by native bush and rolling hills, the Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity offers a tranquil refuge for all. Affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), our sanctuary brings authentic Tibetan Buddhist wisdom and warm, welcoming energy to the local community. Stay your way-in self-contained retreat cabins, cosy single, double, or triple rooms, or spacious campsites. Unwind in our large meditation hall, browse the Dharma

library, or simply wander the peaceful grounds. Immerse yourself in rich conversations on philosophy and transcendental wisdom or simply enjoy a quiet place to lay your head. Just minutes from the Colville store and café, we offer the ideal balance of retreat and convenience. Join us this January for a transformative weeklong silent group retreat at the Centre. Whether for a night or an extended stay, come soak up the calm, clarity, and Zen vibes. Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity www.mahamudra.org.nz Office hours: 10am–4pm | Phone & email bookings welcome.

them. The transport and disability programmes have become vital to the well-being of many people in the Coromandel region. People get help attending medical appointments in Thames and Waikato hospitals, with social and family support for whanau in need, initiatives tackling rural isolation and promoting digital connectivity and literacy. CILT employs approximately 30 staff members and are supported by over 50 local volunteers.

ringing people together who face barriers to participation is a key role of the Coromandel Independent Living Trust. To locals across the Coromandel, this important community centre is known as CILT. Currently based at 150 Pound Street in Coromandel Town, the trust is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals across the Upper Coromandel Peninsula by identifying the unique needs of our communities and creating programmes designed to address

A group outing organised for community members

THE

COMMUNITY RESALE SHOP

BIZARRE Coromandel Town's Best-Loved Secondhand Shop!

209 Kapanga Road, Coromandel

THE GOLDMINE C

N OPE

a ra

AYS 7D

Road, Coromandel

N7 OPE

YS DA

Heartlands Service Centre

N7 OPE

YS DA

N7 OPE

Financial Mentoring

Community Participation Groups

Social Housing

Whānau Social Services

Sustainability Projects

Foodbank

Digital Accessability

Transport

www.cilt.org.nz |

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH

Pahi Coastal Walk COASTAL ADVENTURES AND COUNTRY HOSPITALITY

here is something special about reaching the quieter end of the Coromandel, where farmland meets the sea and the holiday pace slows. At Pahi Coastal Walk, visitors can spend three days exploring this coastline, with accommodation, delicious food and their luggage taken care of. Set on a private coastal farm near Port Jackson, this three-day, two-night experience offers up to 30km of walking, with options to suit how much hiking you want to do. Your bags are transported between overnight stops, leaving you free to enjoy the trails with just a daypack. The adventure begins in Colville, where a shuttle takes you along the coast to the Pahi Coastal Walk in Port Jackson - the tip of the Coromandel. After homemade morning tea and a welcome briefing, day one’s walk crosses rolling farmland and native bush, climbing to expansive views across the Hauraki Gulf. The trail then follows the river down to Pahi Retreat, where afternoon tea, dinner and a comfortable bed await.

Day two offers a choice of routes, allowing walkers to enjoy a shorter ridge walk or stretch their legs on a longer adventure towards the eastern coastline. Expect changing perspectives, sweeping sea views and plenty of reasons to pause for photographs. The day finishes along Port Jackson beach, with the second night spent at the farm’s Shearers’ Quarters. On day three, enjoy a shorter farm walk or a leisurely morning beside the beach or river before returning to Colville. For a different perspective, swap walking boots for an e-bike with Hike n Bike Coromandel. This optional

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

extra follows the scenic coastal road back to Colville, while your luggage travels separately. Food is central to the Pahi experience. Home-cooked dinners, desserts, breakfasts, homemade baking and day two lunch provisions keep walkers well fuelled, with the preparation done for you. Guests can upgrade to the the Pahi Premium Package to have that linen, predinner platter, a goodie bag and lunch on day one included. Behind the welcoming retreat is a team of seven women, including owner and founder Cath Ward. Their hospitality helps make Pahi a place to unwind, reconnect and enjoy a corner of the Coromandel that many visitors never discover. Whether travelling with friends, as a couple or gathering a group for a special occasion, Pahi offers the pleasure of an active escape with the comforts waiting at the end of each day. Bring your walking shoes, an appetite and time to enjoy the journey. Find out more at pahicoastalwalk.co.nz.

COROMANDEL & NORTH

JULIE PIJFERS DESIGNER JEWELLER ‘ JUEL’ MY JOURNEY

lmost 10 years ago, I arrived in Coromandel Town with my husband and two daughters to establish my business here. “Why Coromandel Town?” people often ask. Family connections aside, Coromandel has a beautiful heritage backdrop dating back to the early gold mining days. Steeped in history and full of character, it has a unique vibe that draws people in and often makes them never want to leave. Known for its thriving arts community and spirit of adventure, it felt like the perfect place for us.

For the first couple of years, I worked from a home studio. Then, in 2019, I took the plunge and moved into town, taking over the old Weta Gallery space, which felt especially fitting as it had stocked my jewellery in my earlier years. My husband’s parents used to supply the gallery with Kete and handcarved gourds, and his younger sisters had school jobs there, making the connection even more special. Unfortunately, only six months after opening, COVID struck. Then came

the cyclones and road closures. It’s certainly been a rollercoaster ride, but despite the challenges, I’m still going strong in my new premises, JUEL. Today, JUEL welcomes both locals and international visitors. While I am a trained manufacturing jeweller, I see myself more as a creative jeweller. My inspiration comes from the unique combination of Coromandel’s rugged landscapes and stunning coastline, with the colours, textures and natural forms of the region often

finding their way into my designs. I now limit repair work and no longer take commissions, allowing me to focus entirely on creating unique pieces for the shop There truly is something for everyone - from my distinctive NZ beach shell collections to high-end, one-of-a-kind dress rings. We also stock a selection of Pounamu, cut and crafted by my husband. After more than 25 years of perfecting my craft, being able to share my work with visitors from NZ and around the world is the ultimate reward and a source of immense satisfaction.

NZ Made Jewelry Pounamu Shop and working studio 24 Kapanga Rd, Coromandel Town www.designerjeweller.co.nz 16

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COROMANDEL & NORTH

Our world tomorrow - TOURISM By Alan Hopping Let’s consider who the beneficiaries should be in a just and perfect world.

RATE PAYERS • They hold council and infrastructure together. • They pay bills and raise their children • They need good income • They deserve to enjoy their life and playground

Alan at The Lost Springs.

OUR CHILDREN • They deserve to be inspired • They deserve opportunity • They deserve good schooling without suffering bullying or intimidation • They deserve job and career opportunities that are stimulating, well-paid and where they don’t lose their jobs through offseason downturns. They deserve to have the incentive and ability to save and own their own home. Other dependents -They deserve to live with dignity and security, both in health, security and happiness. We need to be much better selling the attributes of our Coromandel to potential tourists - particularly international tourists. Currently, we are not exceeding expectations when compared to other tourist destinations. Strategies: what I refer to as Tourism Yesterday will not ‘cut the mustard’ on Tourism Tomorrow expectations. Growth in tourism is vital, not arbitrary – our future life depends on it. Our Peninsula is in two parts the lower and the upper. The reason for defining the two is very simple. The Lower Kopu Hikuai (Great

Eastern Highway) - gorgeous forest, a multitude of volcanic mantes, is potentially unstable. Pacific Coast Highway from Pauanui to Whitianga including South Highway intersection, Pauanui Flats, Delmaney corner, Mill Creek Road, McLeod straight, are all serious flood plain situations. The Government may improve these zones by dredging and try to uplift the flood zone but it will not happen as it is not a government priority and there will never be enough rates. We hardly have enough resources to repair the damage. My Point? Upper Coromandel – we need several small international standard hotels at favourable dollar value for tourists. From international visitors we need less tourists, thus having less community impact but with a much higher customer spend. The advantage is higher rates of user pays and more insulation from the ups and downs of domestic market affordability. Alongside this we need to grow our domestic market both permanent and holiday makers but it is the internationals who will raise the level of the quality of life. OUR AIRPORT IS KEY We must concrete the main runway paid for by the hotel

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

developers. Bookings of international guests on a daily basis will never be achieved with constant interruption by flooding and slips. The current airport is not an attraction and cannot operate in saturated conditions. Going forward without an all-weather runway is impossible. With this development, we will see property values rise; our kids with local career aspirations will have opportunities and a tomorrow which has only been dreamt of in the last 50 years. Local legend Joan Gaskell who put a 5,000 pound mortgage against her farm to enable purchase of the current airport believed in this tomorrow when she stated, “One day this investment will set Whitianga free to grow to its full potential.” She was right. If the current situation is the best we can offer and a promotional statement, “Good For Your Soul” is the stimulus to visit, then perhaps Gold mining is our future. As we face the rising sun, we should face the future. Tourism Tomorrow – we can do this! See more about the Lost Springs on pages 62 & 63.

LIVING IN WHAREKAHO NORTH BEACH, WHITIANGA Three households commented on their experience of being residents. GLENDA AND KEVIN We came seven years ago and we were one of the first to build in Wharekaho. Q: What were your first impressions? The biggest change for us was just being a little bit out of town -a kind of semi-rural paradise. We had built a house on the Waterways but we missed the proximity to the beach. We love the dedicated walking trail that links up with Harbour Lights. There are 147 steps and it keeps us fit. Of course you don’t need to use any steps here, but we do. The trail takes you from the subdivision to Harbour Lights and then you can follow the path into town after that. It is six kms into the centre of town - a really good walk and many do it. People from town drive out to use the trail and the steps. That trail also goes to Leah Road to take you to the Wharekaho Beach. It is very well used by runners as well as mums and dads with pushers. Q: What is it like as a community? It is a diverse community - young families, older people - many in their forties and early fifties. It is a good mix. We are connected to town water and sewerage and we have ultra-fast fibre to each gate. If you are looking for a peaceful environment; Whitianga is peaceful in itself but it is that little bit of extra distance which is such a rural feeling. Our view is out to the sea and you can see across to Cooks Beach. We can see 18

cows grazing out our window.

JOHN AND MARIE We have not been living here very long but we have had the section since 2018. We spent a lot of time then choosing a place to retire. Whitianga ended up being on the top of the list. We have always been boating people so we needed to take that into consideration. We like the subdivision very much. It has got some covenants that you need to keep which in the beginning I felt a little miffed about but when I sit and look at the subdivision, it is actually very pleasing. I’m a builder, says John, “I have built this by myself with the help of a couple of other builders; so it has taken longer. It is a ‘high performance’ house. There is a code in NZ for that category-3604 - everyone tries to achieve it. This house is 50% better insulated and it is orientated for the sun. Over the years I have become a bit of an expert in SIPs panel construction. The SIP panels (structurally insulated panels) which are the exterior walls are close to 200mm thick and not 100mm. We don’t have aluminium windows we have uPVC, and there is no condensation. It was either the waterways or a view in Wharekaho; we chose the view. We have that not only during the day but at night. It is

beautiful-you just get a heaven full of stars. This is our last home and we have built it so we can have people living with us if we need it later on. We are here for the long spell. You can take us out in a box. “We have built a house we love in the place we love,” says Marie.

MARK AND HAYLEY We chose to live here because we like the rural aspect. It feels like you are out of town, so peaceful and spacious but you are so close to town. We have two young daughters 9 and 10, and there is quite a community of similar age children. They jump on their bikes and do what we used to do -visit their friend’s houses. It is safe and relaxed and with the way Wharekaho is set out, our walks are like strolling through bush. The girls have gone and built huts in the flaxes. It is a one km walk to Simpson’s Beach and we do it as a family quite a lot. We run a business in Whitianga and it can be very busy, especially in the Summer and holiday periods. At the end of day, it is five minutes to town and compare to what we do to get to work to driving in a city; - here, we drive along beautiful Buffalo Beach for less than ten minutes to get to our Glass Bottom Boats office or the Wharf-it’s a dream.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

MATARANGI & KUAOTUNU

MATARANGI & KUAOTUNU EXPLORE • DISCOVER • TASTE • SHOP • EXPERIENCE • STAY • FAMILY FUN • OUTDOORS

VISIT STUNNING MATARANGI BEACH AND THE DUNES

BAR & RESTAURANT WEDDING VENUE PRIVATE FUNCTIONS MEETING ROOM GOLF COURSE BOWLING GREEN

EXPERIENCE THE DUNES THIS SUMMER EVERYONE WELCOME

Come & enjoy our family friendly facilities and relax taking in the view from our large covered deck overlooking the 18th green and the Coromandel Ranges. en for runch unch inner ar nacks ood ired i as and a refreshing range of everages including Cocktails. atarangi is situated way etween Coromandel own and hitianga just off .

DINNER BOOKINGS ADVISED PHONE 07 866 5394

745 MATARANGI DRIVE MATARANGI

CHECK ONLINE FOR OPENING HOURS, LIVE MUSIC & SUMMER EVENTS

thedunesmatarangi

thedunes.co.nz

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Matarangi / 07 866 0322 www.richardsons.co.nz Discover the refreshing difference of partnering ith a rea estate agenc that is dedicated to transparenc tr st and a shared passion for o tstanding service ith ichardsons ea state it s not st a o t c osing a dea it s a o t a ing a rea difference

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Licensed Salesperson REAA2008

DINING

EAT, DRINK ON THE COROMANDEL 3/1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga

Lunch Dinner Seafood Cocktails

Check our socials for opening hours & live music

07 866 0013 thewhitiangahotel.co.nz

1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga | 07 866 0620 | saltwhitianga.co.nz

CORO CLUBCORO CAFE - CLUB ALL WELCOME, CAFE - ALL WELCOME, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE HAVE A MEMBER TO A VISIT US. YOU DON’T TO BE MEMBER TO VISIT US.

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Delicious cabinet food, a seasonal menu & now fully licensed.

cabinet food,TO a seasonal & now fully YOUDelicious DON’T HAVE BE A menu MEMBER TOlicensed. VISIT US. CORO CLUB CAFE - ALL WELCOME, CORO CLUB CAFE - ALL WELCOME, 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield. CORO CLUB CAFE - menu ALL WELCOME, Dakota Whitianga Airfield. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO VISIT US. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO VISIT Delicious cabinet7US. food, aDrive, seasonal & now fully licensed.

Delicious cabinet food, a seasonal menu & now fully licensed. 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield.

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Delicious cabinet food, a seasonal menu & now fully licensed. 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield. 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield.

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Delicious cabinet food, a seasonal menuWWW.CORO.CLUB & now fully license FOR OUR OPENING HOURS

7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield. CHECK OUT WWW.CORO.CLUB FOR OUR OPENING HOURS

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A spacious, fully Serving Up Breakfast, licensed venue, ready Lunch & Brunch since 2004 to host your next event.

Located at 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield. Formerly ‘Flightclub Ballroom’.

10 Coghill St, Whitianga 0592 A spacious, fully | 07 866 www.mainhangar.com Open 8:00am-3:00pm every day Located at 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga licensed venue, readyAirfield. Formerly ‘Flightclub Come Ballroom’. & see us, to host your next event. we look forward to serving you

info@mainhangar.com

A spacious, fully 20 licensed venue, ready to host your next event.

A spacious, fully The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027 licensed venue, ready Located at 7 Dakota Drive, Whitianga Airfield. info@mainhangar.com www.mainhang Formerly ‘Flightclub Ballroom’. to host your next event.

CHECK OUT OUR SOCIALS & WEBSITE FOR OPENING HOURS & LIVE MUSIC GIG GUIDE.

DINING

WOODFIRED PIZZAS LOCAL SEAFOOD LIVE TUNES EPIC SUNSETS

20 BLACK JACK ROAD, KUAOTUNU. ph: 07 866 4480 dine in or takeaway. LUKES_KITCHEN

LUKES KITCHEN

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

www.lukeskitchen.co.nz 21

DINING

Marina Bay Eatery and Bar

Clove Indian Eatery & Bar

Cooked

Excellent dining experience across the road from the Whitianga Estuary. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their sharing plates are very popular with the variety of EuropeanAsian fusion plates. This restaurant has an extensive menu, with full meal options and a children’s menu. Excellent take-aways.

Elevated dining experience. Navi, your host, provides a timeless charcoal oven which cooks breads and meat with delicious flavours. Traditional and modern Indian cuisine. Perfect ambience for large groups. Open 7 days. Clove also has a popular food cart in Tairua called Clove To Go on Tairua’ s main street.

Your local Mexican restaurant in the Coromandel. Our food is designed to be shared amongst friends and family and can be enjoyed with a Margarita or a local craft beer. The menu has been lovingly created by head chef and owner Christian, a chef by trade with more than 20 years of international experience.

07 867 1710 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga marinabayeatery.co.nz

07 867 1983 13/1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga clovewhitianga@gmail.com

020 4191 9628 2 Mill Road, Whitianga www.cookedcoromandel.com

Curry ‘n’ Coffee House Indian Restaurant

Mercury Bay Club Restaurant

Wharf Café

In the centre of Whitianga township. Open every day – Lunch and dinner menus. Aromatic Indian cuisine from very mild to hot and spicy. Dine in or take away. Open Monday-Sunday: 11:30pm - 9:00pm. There is a Coffee N Curry in the main street of Coromandel Town.

A fabulous place to dine with delicious food and great prices. Warm and friendly environment. Play area for children. A menu full of variety - starters and full meals, children’s menu and desserts. Bar snacks available. We cater for special events on and off-site. Open 7 days.

Located adjacent to The Wharf fish and takeaways, this rustic cafe started as a small store that was converted to become a licenced cafe. Enjoy a meal of fresh fish n chips with a cold beer or glass of wine while overlooking the water. There is indoor seating, an outdoor covered area as well as BBQ tables.

07 211 6567 65 Albert St, Whitianga www.curryncoffee.co.nz

07 866 5576 Ask for Chef Nee. 69 Cook Drive, Whitianga www.mercurybayclub.co.nz

07 868 6828 Shortland Wharf, Queen St, Thames www.thewharfthames.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

DINING

The Dunes Bar & Restaurant

Indian Aromas

The Lost Spring Restaurant

Experience vibrant all-day dining from brunch through to dinner. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, bar snacks, delicious meals, refreshing drinks and cocktails, plus chefs’ specials. Check our socials for live music, events and hours. Open 7-days from Boxing Day for summer dining.

Whether you are a fan of classic Indian favourites, eager to indulge a spicy Thai cuisine, or enjoy a familiar European styled Indian/Thai dish, at Indian Aromas, you can enjoy the best of the three worlds. Indian Aromas offers authentic flavours made from fresh Coromandel ingredients. 7 days & takeaways.

Indulge in exquisite food, elegant cocktails and natural beauty at The Lost Spring Restaurant. From leisurely breakfasts and long lunches to intimate dinners, indulgent platters and sunset cocktails, savour every moment overlooking our lagoon and cascading waterfalls. The perfect place to eat, drink and linger.

07 866 5394 745 Matarangi Drive, Matarangi www.thedunes.co.nz

07 866 4028 59 Albert Street, Whitianga www.curryncoffee.co.nz

07 866 0456 121a Cook Drive, Whitianga www.thelostspring.co.nz

Blue Lagoon Bar & Eatery

Blue Ginger

The House of Chang Thai

Welcoming dining environment located on the picturesque harbourside in Whitianga. We serve modern New Zealand food with a European twist and offer fine dining that changes frequently with seasonality and market availability. Our fully licensed restaurant provides a delicious brunch and dinner menu.

Blue Ginger brings together Polynesian, Asian, Thai, and Vietnamese flavours with fresh, delicious dishes straight off the wok. Whether you’re new to Asian flavours or an Asian-fusion connoisseur, there is something for everyone at Blue Ginger. Whitianga’s longest established owner-operated eatery. Local favourite.

Deliciously authentic Thai Cuisine in very gently genuine Thai surrounds. This restaurant sits above street level in the centre of the Whitianga township. Dishes are served with exquisite presentation. A full selection of entrees, menus and desserts. Tasteful, live music to enjoy on weekend evenings. Open 7 days in summer.

07 866 4566 8 The Esplanade, Whitianga www.blue-lagoon.co.nz

07 867 1777 1/10 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga www.blueginger.co.nz

07 869 5919 33 Albert St, Whitianga

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

BUFFALO BEACH CLUB IS WAITING FOR YOU

LIVE MUSIC & DJS EVERY WEEKEND Easy food, drink, relaxation and music on the Buffalo Beach waterfront. Come, sit back, enjoy the music and chill at BBC. Serving Texas Pete’s Barbecue, seafood, burgers, tapas, gelato, ice creams and other great food. For takeaways order online: https://texaspetesbbq.co.nz www.buffalobeachclub.bar

BBC PRESENTS

QUIZ NIGHT

Every Tuesday 6pm-8pm

BUFFALO BEACH CLUB – right on the beach 18 The Esplanade, Whitianga • www.buffalobeachclub.bar

The Coromandel From 12 noon to 9pmInformer daily.– Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

DINING

Macadamia farm inspires a winning dress

Jillian Johnston ready to serve up a nutty treat.

n the hills behind Cathedral Cove , Jill and Doug Johnston have 1000 45 year-old fruit bearing macadamia trees. It is a fully functioning self-sustaining, commercial rural enterprise farm. The beautiful shop staffed by Jill who owns this amazing place with Doug, has a range of macadamia products – choc covered, natural, and macadamia ice-cream is ready for the eating – made every day on their farm. Their products are packaged for export all over the world. Some were seen in Nepal. However, little did Jillian and Doug know that their granddaughter saw something else in those delicious macadamia nuts.

Cathedral Cove Macadamia nuts were recently used to create a garment for the Toi Wearable Arts awards in Auckland. TOI is a nationwide student wearable art development programme and competition in New Zealand. A combined effort of 3 students from Beachlands School, Auckland (Toby France, Nina Killian and Lucy Hayes - granddaughter of Doug and Jillian Johnston who own Cathedral Cove Macadamias), resulted in the outfit you can see. The three students called it, “What the Land Leaves Behind” “This entry was inspired by my grandparents orchard, to show that we can reuse natural waste to create something meaningful,” said Lucy. The dress was made from the shells of macadamia nuts from Doug and Jill’s orchard, macadamia leaves plus hessian sacks and thread from hessian sacks. Over 2000 macadamia shells are handstitched onto the dress design and it weighs over 8kg. They won 3 awards for the dress - an outstanding achievement as 951 garments were registered for the competition with over 80+ schools involved. • Auckland Regional Award Innovative Use of Materials Award • National Award - Top 10 Finalist • National Award - Sustainable Garment Award The dress will be on display at Cathedral Cove Macadamias, 335 Lees Road, Hahei over summer.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

The Best Irish Tavern on the Coromandel Peninsula Whitianga’s Esplanade Tavern – Open 7 days Come to Grace O’Malley’s. Enjoy our great menu and beverage choices. Fantastic waterfront views. We have an inside and outside fireplace with extended alfresco deck (dogs welcome on deck). 12 beers on tap, cocktails. Rockfleet Bar and Function Room available for hire. Enquire today. Grace O’Malley’s Irish Inn provides a great ambience. There is plenty of space for guests, and it is a great venue to have entertainment which happens a lot at Grace O’Malley’s. From the deck you can enjoy harbour views and there is a children’s playground across the road on the waterfront.

9 The Esplanade, Whitianga (07) 866 4546 www.graceomalleys.co.nz info@graceomalleys.co.nz 25

DINING

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

DINING

FINE WINES & SPIRITS

REMA’S STORY & FINE WINES R

ema and Gary came in 2015 after they got married. . “ My first job was at a place called That Curry Place. I worked there for three years. Gary worked at Liquor Land and sometimes I would go and help him out. I found that I had a passion for wines and spirts. We decided to do something ourselves to work towards a boutique wine store. We didn’t want to compete with the Bottle stores as they serve a good purpose but they don’t cater for international people or those looking for something rather special or for a gift that’s different. We contacted small wineries rather than go to a big supplier. It took us two years to get a licence for the store but it was worth it in the end. I left my job at the restaurant and we opened Whitianga Fine Wines and Spirits in the main street of Whitianga right next to Well Stocked Deli. “This is us. Gary is at Bottle O and my passion is beautiful wines and spirits. I keep doing

online study so I can have more knowledge of wines. I admit this is an unusual occupation coming from India. I never thought I would be pursuing this in New Zealand. I absolutely love this work. “We were the first in town to start a wine tasting club and offering regular events. Last year we had Italian, French, Spain, and American tasting nights and we matched the food with the wine tasting. People have a great time and they learn a lot from the special guest who speaks about the different wines. Gary and I send invitations to our regular customers as they are our loyal business. We are going to add Whisky and Gin tastings. Q: How has business been? Definitely it has been way quieter then before. The highway being closed due to the massive slip effected so many businesses including this one, and it has taken time to catch up. Q: What is the most popular item? The most

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Rema from Fine Wines and Spirits popular is gin - we have 150 varieties of gin in this store and Awildian Gin from Thames is very popular. Vodka remains in demand from many of our customers. The younger ones go for RTD’s – 10 pack or 12 packs. These have less than zero percent sugar. > Continued on page 31

DINING

Silver sponsor of the Mercury Bay Art Escape

Serving beach, food and drinks since 2023. The Waterways, Whitianga This summer come and soak up the sun at Basker. Start your day with a smooth Atomic coffee at sunrise and chill out with a Peroni on tap or a refreshing margarita as the day winds down. With a vibrant, laid back atmosphere, great sounds, and a delicious array of tapas, Basker is the perfect place to take in Whitianga’s stunning sunsets. Whether you’re catching up with friends, taking the kids to the park, or simply relaxing solo, there’s always a spot to bask at Basker.

3 Rewiti Drive, The Waterways, Whitianga Open 8am-Late 7 Days a Week info@basker.co.nz | www.basker.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

DINING

Summer, Salt and the Sea By Perry Cornish, Opito Bay Salt Company

ome of the best dinners at Opito Bay begin at the end of a fishing line. After over 20 summers here, I still never tire of bringing home a snapper or two, getting the barbecue hot and keeping things simple. Fresh fish, a squeeze of lemon, good NZ olive oil and sea salt. When the ingredients are that good, the cooking is less about adding flavour than accenting what is already there. That is how I think about salt. Taste a couple of our crystals and there should be more than a quick smack of saltiness. Opito Bay sea salt gives an immediate minerally lift, then dissolves slowly across the tongue, releasing a softer, rounder flavour. It fills the palate. On fresh fish or a marbled Wagyu steak, our Natural sea salt simply makes the food taste more like itself. Our flavoured salts grew from a love of cooking, travelling and the question I always ask: what will this make genuinely better? Black Garlic sea salt brings mellow sweetness and deep savoury flavour to steak, chicken, mushrooms or roast potatoes. Rare Dry Gin salt was made for fish— bold juniper, citrus and coriander pair wonderfully with salmon or kingfish—but it has enough backbone to deal with the gaminess of venison and duck. I spent two years searching for the world’s best black pepper. The best, I found ,was grown in Kampot in Cambodia. The pepper is not just spicy; it is fragrant, floral and lingering. Paired with our salt, it is

brilliant on beef, prawns, kumara and, frankly, Kampot Pepper sea salt is great on any food. Fennel and Thyme sea salt takes me back to a summer working in Greece. We toast the fennel to bring out its nuttiness. Rub it into lamb or pork, or scatter it over halloumi and summer vegetables, and you are on your way to tasting the Mediterranean. Our Furikake seasoning is pure savoury pleasure: a slightly salty mix of NZ kelp, toasted sesame, chilli and bonito. Try it over avocado, eggs, poke bowls or fish. It also makes dangerously good fries. The Black Perigord Truffle sea salt gives eggs, risotto or steak a bit of swagger, while Chilli salt belongs not only on a margarita glass, but over barbecued meats, charred cabbage or sweetcorn. Behind those flavours is provenance and a process we do not hurry. We collect pure seawater when the tide, swell and beach are right, filter it, then let it slowly concentrate in shallow salt pans. Sunshine, wind and time make the salt; a summer batch takes five or six weeks. There’s no processing. The weather shapes each harvest and the naturally irregular crystals carry the mineral character of the coast. This summer if you want to peek behind the scenes, we are running a Guided Tastings & Tours. A chance to ask questions, see how we make our award-winning sea salt and have a curated tasting with one of our salt farming team. Discover how a few small crystals can completely change the way you cook. Come curious. Leave with flavours shaped by the ocean.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

DINING

FINE WINES & SPIRITS Whitianga’s spot on the water.

The destination for food lovers and cocktail enthusiasts. Gary and Rema at the recent annual Oceans Festival

Rema showed me a very exquisite unusual ceramic, liqueur bottle. “It is called Te Tiki and is exclusive to this store. It is made from the Te Toki berry found only in New Zealand forests.” Q: What do you enjoy most about your work? “Everything really, but it’s the people in Whitianga who are the

most important reason for staying in this town. We have never been judged. I had to go back to India for a back operation – I was away six months. The support and love received from people in this town and further afield helped me get through those 6 months. That’s what makes this store. It has kept us going

WHITIANGA FINE WINES AND SPIRITS

Curated for those who appreciate the Finer things in life

> Continued from page 27

1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga 07 866 0620 saltwhitianga.co.nz

/saltrestaurantwhitianga @salt_whitianga

The heart of Whitianga since 1869 Great food, cold beer, live music, big-screen sport, gaming, Garden Bar and kid’s play area.

ASK US ABOUT OUR WINE/SPIRIT AND CRAFT BEER CLUB

23A ALBERT STREET, WHITIANGA PH 07 211 6542 | OPEN 7 DAYS

3/1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga 07 866 0013 thewhitiangahotel.co.nz

/thewhitiangahotel @thewhitiangahotel

See what’s on! Scan to view our upcoming events The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

 Over 150+ gins in store  Huge range of international wines  Massive range of craft beers from local breweries  Explore our collection of local beers/wines and spirits. We even have local chocolates, honey and crackers  Unique bottle gift ideas you can’t find anywhere else  Free gift wrapping  Great new variety of gifts in store for Christmas and New Year’s

Scan to follow us on our socials

DELIVERING TO YOU IN

WHITIANGA 15 MONK STREET, WHITIANGA 07 211 6559

1 LARGE FAVOURITES PIZZA & 2 SIDES DELIVERED FROM

$ 32

T&CS APPLY. LIMITED TIME ONLY.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

FROM WHITIANGA WITH LOVE By Suzanne Murrell

ne of my favourite places in New Zealand is Whitianga. Only 2.5 hours from Auckland, Hamilton or Tauranga and one that needs to be experienced. With a population of approximately 9,000, Whitianga is unique. Nestled in

Mercury Bay, it is one of New Zealand’s most attractive and fast growing beachside resorts. There is a welcoming and vibrant local culture in this small town with its lovely safe beaches a short walking distance from the centre. The main beach is named after the HMS Buffalo which sank in a storm in 1840 and the remains of the wreck can still be seen at low tide.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

With Hahei, Cathedral Cove, Cooks Beach, Hot Water Beach, Kuaotunu and Matarangi all a short drive away, there are so many options for water sports - daily swims, surfing, fishing, sailing and just enjoying a ride gazing at sea life on a glass bottom boat. You can book a tour > Continued on page 34

WHITIANGA > Continued from page 33 The Banana Boat offers everything from a wild ride right down to a slow chug and it’s wonderful. To arrive at Cathedral Cove is so exciting! It is also the centre for deep sea fishing tournaments which attract anglers from all over the world. In March each year, it hosts one of the biggest fishing tournaments in the world. The Kubota Billfish Classic. One of my favourite places to experience is The Lost Spring - a truly magical place with its soothing mineral pools and waterfalls surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The mineral waters come from a hidden spring 669 metres below the surface which sooth and calm the body. Couples can enjoy a full body massage or sip champagne poolside. One of my favourites is the foot massage pamper treatment with coconut and sugar cane lotion. Bliss!! Diners in the adjoining restaurant are serenaded with soft Pacific tunes and we are transported to a tropical world. There are people everywhere enjoying themselves in the busy streets and local cafes. The Whiti markets every Saturday morning from October Labour Weekend through to Easter and Kings Birthday are a highlight. There is live music, local crafts, funky stalls, perfect brunch food, local produce and a Tarot Card reader. The Mercury Bay Museum nearby is a must visit. It is the Coromandel’s most visited museum with interactive displays for adults and children The museum tells the history of the area from Kupe to Captain Cook who arrived in 1769, stayed 12 days and named

Decor Gifts & Little Darlings 11A Coghill St Whitianga (07) 280 0536 www.chique.nz Summer Hours Mon- Sat 10am - 4pm Sun 10am - 2pm Closed Xmas, Boxing Day, Jan 1 & 2, 2027

The new Buffalo Beach Club right on the beach (BBC) is the perfect place to just relax, enjoy live music, a drink, some smoky BBQ and ice-cream. There are some great eateries, cafes and bars to upmarket restaurants. Smitty’s Bar and Grill right in the centre of town with its huge screen, outside dining area and meal specials, is very popular. The Whitianga Hotel is a fun watering hole, The Coro Club at the airport is so worth the short drive and you get to watch the small Isite Whitianga Cheryl and Andrea planes take off and land. For good seafood, other excellent menu choices and that special occasion - Salt Bar and Restaurant, Stoked by the beach and Basker on the Waterways are top Mercury Bay. choices. All types of international cuisine One of the clubs which defines the area feature from Asian Fusion, Indian, Chinese, is the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club. They Thai and Filipino as well as speciality cafés host so many great fishing tournaments, and bakeries. Slice, Slice Baby makes even an “off the wharf ‘ tournament for pizzas to die for. Mike and his dad knead small children at Christmas - New Year. The the dough every day and their toppings are Thursday meals and quickfire raffles are uniquely created instore. Whitianga has legendary. It is also extremely meaty! Huge so many good take-aways you never have sides of beef are raffled off. The winners of to cook when you choose to stay in. I even the chicken raffle must catch it when hurled ordered delivery. across the room. I missed it. For a walk on the wild side and The Mercury Bay Club is host to gala something different, catch the ferry which nights with tribute bands, a great dance runs continuously from the Whitianga side. floor culture and also regular meat pack A few minutes later you arrive at Ferry raffles. Elvis was in the building when I was Landing. There are pa terraces, historic there! There are other great bands and beaches and great views especially from activities which include a quiz night and Shakespeare Cliffs and Flaxmere Bay. Take dance off. Each year the American Custom a walk and enjoy a day of fun and adventure. and Muscle Car Club hold a competition and I have found the best holidays are having fair by the Ocean with over 200 hot rods, great choices and the time to enjoy them. bikes and trucks. Whitianga with its effortless charm makes In September the town hosts the annual it a great place to linger, experience and Oceans Festival where thousands enjoy live explore. music, gourmet BBQ and fresh seafood.

A big thank you to all our A big thank to you shoppers. We appreciate all our shoppers. We your support and look appreciated your valued forward to bringing you support and look forward more beautiful Decor, to bringing you more Gifts & Little Darlings beautiful Décor, gifts and Clothing, Accessories Little Darlings clothing, and Toys throughout accessories and toys. the coming year. Wishing Happy & Wishing youyou all all happy Safe Holidays from and safe holidays from the ladies Chique. the ladies at at Chique.

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WAIHI

SCAN ME

WHITIANGA

“It’s almost the New Zealand I knew when growing up.” “That is the response I received when I asked the gentlemen in the office of Whitianga Marine, how do you find Whitianga. With it, he beamed a very relaxed smile, and then began to talk about his enthusiasm for boats and boating; “I love my fishing and my boating.” He was not wrong – the Coromandel Peninsula is a haven for boating and fishing and Whitianga Marine nestled just off the highway (South highway) on your approach to Whitianga is a testimony to that. Shane and Lavana have owned Whitianga Marine since 2018. They are enthusiastic and enjoy their life in Whitianga and arrived here when their children were little. Shane has been in the boat business for 30 years. Originally, he arrived in Whitianga to work as a Marine Technician at Whitianga Marine but after a few years, Shane and Lavana were given opportunity to purchase Whitianga Marine. They have continued to grow Whitianga Marine while staying true to what matters to them - great boats, quality workmanship, friendly service and looking after their customers. Their two major boat brands here are Stabicraft and Extreme. “I started working on

Stabicraft boats with my parents 30 years ago,” says Shane. “They had a boat business in Mount Manganui so I grew up with boats and Yamaha Outboards. We are also a Yamaha agent here, which aligns perfectly with Stabicraft and Extreme and we also stock a range of engine parts, accessories and electronics. “It made sense to purchase the business as this is what I am passionate about. We were recently offered the opportunity to take on Extreme boats in our dealership, so we jumped at it. We are proud to have two premium boat brands to offer our customers. Both are exceptionally well-built New Zealand boats, but each has its own style, design, features and personality.” Whitianga Marine specializes in Boat and outboard sales, servicing and repairs. Lavana

is the business administration whiz. “I help out where I can,” she laughs quietly. When I asked her what the biggest issue was when people brought their boat for a service, she replied. “The biggest issue with servicing boats is people NOT servicing them annually. Owners can be very relaxed about a boat; they service their car but leave their boat.” “We also offer a Mobile service in the winter months, so we travel the Coromandel doing repairs and servicing, says Lavana. “It takes the pressure off people having to bring their boats in. What we can’t do is offer a breakdown service when they are on their boat out at sea. That is a ‘Coast Guard matter, but we work to help prevent that happening.” Shane, Lavana and their team understand that buying a boat is a luxury purchase. For many people, it’s something they have longed for, dreamed about and saved for – so getting it right really matters. Observing Shane and Rhys checking and cleaning the boats in the show yard, customers can expect great service from a team who not only know boats, but genuinely love them – and understand what being out on the water means to their customers.

YOUR LOCAL ONE STOP BOATING PARTNER

P: 07 867 1182 | M: 027 867 1182 | 233 South Highway, Whitianga whitiangamarine.co.nz | whitiangamarine@xtra.co.nz 36

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

Summer at the Movies

Mercury Twin Cinemas is celebrating its fifth summer in Whitianga, and owners Matt and Anne-Maree McDougall can’t wait to welcome locals, bach owners and holidaymakers through the doors once again. While that first big summer holiday season back in 2022 felt a little daunting, these days the MTC team take the summer rush in their stride. In fact, they love being part of the Whitianga holiday experience, whether it’s a family movie on a not-sobeachy day, an evening out after dinner, or simply a couple of blissfully air-conditioned hours away from the summer heat. And there’s plenty to look forward to this summer. An exciting line-up is scheduled for December and January, with Dune Part Three, Avengers Doomsday, I Play Rocky, Angry Birds and Jumanji Open World

07 867 1001

among the movies to watch out for. Then, just as we start wondering where summer went, MTC has something special up its sleeve. The Italian Film Festival Best of the Fest arrives from 21– 1 January 2027, bringing a taste of Italy to Whitianga and the perfect excuse for another night at the movies. Film festivals have become a real highlight on the MTC calendar. The cinema has enjoyed fantastic support for both the Aotearoa French Film Festival and the British and Irish Film Festival, with the French Film Festival attracting an average of 100 people a day during its three-week winter season. With Italian, French and British and Irish film festivals now part of the calendar, Matt and Anne-Maree hope the festivals will also give visitors another reason to spend a little

longer in Whitianga. Come for the films, stay for the easy parking, great restaurants and cafés, beautiful surroundings and, according to the MTC team, some of the best choc tops in the country! SAVE THE DATES FOR 2027 Italian Film Festival – Summer Season 21– 1 January Aotearoa French Film Festival: 5–27 June, spanning King’s Birthday and Matariki weekends Italian Film Festival: 19–29 August British and Irish Film Festival: Early November, dates to be confirmed MTC – MERCURY TWIN CINEMAS Affordable snacks, movies for all ages, air-conditioned comfort and a friendly Whitianga welcome.

www.mercurytwincinemas.com

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

WHITIANGA MARINA A CATALYST FOR TOURISM AND GROWTH Named Marina of the year and boatyard of the year 2026 By Dorothy Preece

tantalising view of yacht masts beckons visitors as they drive into Whitianga past the supermarkets, drawing them to walk through and admire the sparkling craft berthed in the Whitianga Marina. The fact that the Marina is there at all is a story worth a mention. The whole development

project was brought in by a local committee of enthusiastic boaties who wanted to escape the strong tidal streams of their river moorings. Brought in on time and under budget, the total cost of $ 5.5 million was all raised by public subscription. An impressive achievement by anyone’s standards. The Marina opened in May 1995 with 180 berths. In a very short time the news was out

– this is the best little Marina in New Zealand! As demand grew, berth numbers were soon increased by juggling spaces, and two years ago another 31 berths were added to accommodate vessels up to 22 metres, without extending the Marina boundaries. It was another feat of local ingenuity, achieved by taking out the original 26 metre-wide rock wall and replacing it with concrete panels, thus gaining the extra space.

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Mitch has over 45 years experience with an Advanced Trade Cert Wooden Boat Building qualification to back it up We specialise in woodwork repairs & maintenance, including teak decks & platforms, insurance and rot repairs, plus we !t new transducers, anchor winches, bow thrusters and more. We stock International & Altex antifoul & marine paints, Propspeed, anodes, resin, !breglass, TruDesign plumbing !ttings and so much more!

Phone or email for info: info@whitiangaboatrepairs.co.nz info@whitiangaboatchandlery.co.nz Mitch 027 4852046 | Phyll 027 4852036 38

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA The Marina now shelters 231 boats. Whitianga Marina owes its success to its calm, sheltered position and ease of access from the open sea– no tedious miles of buoys and sandbanks to navigate here. Another attraction is its immediate proximity to shops and amenities – it couldn’t get any closer to town if it tried. Perhaps more importantly, this Marina is on the doorstep of some of the best cruising grounds in New Zealand. The many sheltered bays that enclose Mercury Bay, including the iconic Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, are a boating paradise, with the Mercury Islands half a day away by yacht, two hours by launch. Great Barrier Island is only a day away. Nick and Val Clark live on Great Barrier and frequently commute by yacht to provision in Whitianga. “We would never think of taking the boat into Auckland,” Nick says. “We love Whitianga. The Marina is very convenient for us. Everything is in walking distance and it’s so easy to get work done on the boat,” he says, adding, “Petrol is currently $4.40 a litre on the Barrier.” The benefits of Whitianga Marina have been wide ranging for the whole area. On the back of the 1995 Marina opening, new industries and opportunities opened up in Mercury Bay. Business picked up in the sleepy town. Bulk provisioning was needed, and more food and beverage venues. The Whitianga Hotel, main street shops and cafes all began to benefit,

Nick and Val Clark

along with hardware and marine suppliers. Friends and families arriving to spend time out on a boat in the Bay often needed overnight accommodation in town, so the motels flourished. Boat builders and repair services had long been available, but the Marina haul-out and hardstand facilities provided far more possibilities to get extensive work done on the boats in Whitianga. Now marine engineers and gas fitters, sailmakers, refrigeration, riggers and electronics experts were all able to work onsite at the Marina. Real estate offices began to ride

the wave as holiday homes were established. With the boat moored close by, what could be better than owning a holiday home? The past 30 years have seen Mercury Bay become a mecca for boat-owners. In 2003 the first residential sections came available on the Whitianga Waterways, offering owners the choice of mooring the boat on their own berth, and still the vibrant growth continues. Mercury Bay, with its stunning scenery and stretches of white sand has come of age, with Whitianga as the centre of opportunity for business and tourism into the future.

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WHITIANGA

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE

Welcome to Pinky’s By Kevin and Jean (owners of Pinky’s)

e came from a small city in northeast China, chasing a dream of a better life. Twenty years ago, we landed in New Zealand with little more than hope and a strong work ethic. Auckland became our home, and we worked hard- first as employees, then as business owners. We built a life, made wonderful friends, and watched the city grow and change around us. But over time, we found ourselves longing for something quieter - a place where the pace is slower, the air is fresher, and neighbours still wave hello. Two years ago, an opportunity came along that changed everything. We made the decision to leave Auckland and, to our great joy, we bought Pinkys - a beloved local shop right here in Whitianga. It was a leap of faith, but we took it, and we haven’t looked back. From the moment we arrived, we fell in love with this stunning corner of the Coromandel. The crystal-clear water, the golden beaches, the friendly faces - it felt like coming home to a

Pinky’s Jean (owner) with staff Shayla and Julie place we never knew we were missing. Here, life is simpler, safer, and more genuine. We wake up grateful every single day. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce Pinkys to you - our new home, our new community. We’ve brought our passion for serving people to this beautiful town. Whether you need everyday groceries or the perfect beach toy, or any items for parties, birthdays and special events, we’ve got you covered. We stock quality summer essentials- floats,

buckets, spades, and everything to make your adventures unforgettable. But more than that, we want to share the warmth and comfort of this place with travellers from all over the world. We know how special Whitianga is, and we’d love to help you enjoy every moment of your stay. Pop in, say hello, and let us help you make the most of your summer. We’re not just a shop - we’re part of this community, and we’re so proud to be here. Come and see us at Pinkys.

PINKY’S BARGAINS BEACH TOYS & GOGGLES CHILLY BINS & CONTAINERS CAMPING BBQ – PARTY ITEMS ART CRAFTS & GAMES GARDEN TOOLS HARDWARE STATIONERY HEALTH & BEAUTY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 1/B Lee St, Whitianga. Phone 866 0100 The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

What if your rubbish wasn’t rubbish at all? You’ve just cleaned out the garage. There’s a pile of stuff. Old furniture, a broken toaster, a few boxes of “maybe useful one day” bits. You’re thinking:“Off to the tip?” But what if there was a better way? Welcome to Wāhi Tukurua, Mercury Bay’s Resource Recovery Centre. Where your unwanted items can become someone else’s treasure, and your clean-up can help the planet, your wallet, and your community. Based in Whitianga, and operated by local charity – Mercury Bay Resource Recovery Centre Trust, Wāhi Tukurua services communities from Hotwater Beach to Matarangi and every other nook and cranny of the Mercury Bay Ward.

We’ re p a r t of a g row i n g m ove m e n t a c ro s s t h e Co ro m a n d e l – a n e t wo r k of Re s o u rce Re cove r y Ce n t re s wo r k i n g to g e t h e r to re d u ce wa ste a n d b u i ld a b e tte r f u t u re . At Wāhi Tukurua, we’re all about giving good stuff a second life – and helping you clear space, save money, and feel great doing it.

So… W h a t C a n Yo u Br i n g ?

Furniture – from retro chairs to that shelf you never quite loved E-waste & appliances – toasters, TVs, tech (working or not) Tools & hardware – hand tools, power tools, leftover DIY bits Garden gear – spades, pots, hoses, and more Building material – timber, tiles, fittings, and fixtures

If it’s reusable, repairable, or just too good to throw away — bring it in! We’ll sort it, save it, and help it find a new home. Some e-waste items may have a drop-off fee to help us cover transport and processing — but it’s still cheaper (and way better) than the tip!

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We know Mercury Bay is big. That’s why we’ve a mobile pickup service to help with rubbish removal and clear-outs around Mercury Bay and surrounding areas. Clearing the family home? Emptying the bach? We’ll come collect your reusable items. There’s a small charge to cover our team and transport; but it saves you time, hassle, and landfill fees. Call us to book a pickup.

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Yo u ca n j o i n t h e te a m o n t h e Re u s e Revo l u t i o n - we’ re a lways lo o k i n g fo r vo l u n te e rs to h e l p s o r t , p ro ce s s, d i s p l ay, t i d y a n d s h a re t h e sto r y of re u s e . G ot a few h o u rs o r a s p e c i a l s k i l l? J o i n u s !

Mercury Bay Resource Recovery Centre hi u urua 239 South Highway, Whitianga (Next to the TCDC Refuse Transfer Station) w w w.w a h i t u k u r u a .c o. n z 022 184 4256 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram 42

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

A MAGICAL PLACE WHITIANGA BIKE PARK The Whitianga Bike Park offers incredible views of the beautiful Mercury Bay and surrounding islands and that is all available while you enjoy cycling around the Park on the trails that take you up into the higher levels of the park. By Jon Maud Whitianga Bike Park is located at the end of Moewai Road not far from the Whitianga airport and just a five minute drive from the centre of town (or a 20 minute cycle ride). It’s a huge area offering a venue for cyclists of all levels of abilities and experience – BMX, mountain bike, and relaxing gentle cycle trails. Also, there are bicycles and helmets ready for those who didn’t bring them on holiday or don’t happen to own a bike. An inspiring team of volunteers work to make this park so convenient and enjoyable

for the community and a host of visitors. Volunteers are committed to bring all the plans together and see that this wonderful park is maintained and always ready, especially for the summer influx of visitors. There are also hiking trails and great places for picnics and a BBQ to cook for family and

friends. With further investment of funds and local input, this Bike Park has the opportunity to become the jewel in anyone’s holiday and regular leisure activities. Contact: Jon 027 366 4606, whitiangabikepark@gmail.com

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30 Monk Street, Whitianga The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

It all began with an idea THE STUDENTS LOVED IT - ‘LEARNING BY DOING’ By Dorothy Preece

n idea that began for a students’ activity at a Whitianga language school has now morphed into a powerful environmental force for good. Kim and Robyn Lawry took over the Coromandel Outdoor Language Centre in 2010. Kim was the outdoor activities coordinator, with students young and old from all round the world, ‘learning by doing’ in and around the Bay. “The students often told us they chose Mercury Bay ‘because of the nature’, Kim Lawry says. “We took them to the beaches and into the bush and they were particularly interested in the Kauri Tree and its story here. We also got them involved in environmental activities, dune care, trapping and such.” Kim set up a small plant nursery in his own

Kaleb, Svenja and Kim garden, growing flax and cabbage trees and the students loved it. Soon they were coming

during and after school hours to help. They started harvesting seed from nearby farms, and some funding was obtained from The Fonterra Grass Roots Fund to help develop the project. “It was all done in our own garden, with varying success. Everything we learned, we learned by doing twice,” Kim Lawry says. The plants they propagated were given away to local dune care, and other environmental groups, and to farmers’ restoration projects. They began working with, and supplying Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC) who were actually happy to pay for plants, and as demand grew, so did the size of the nursery. The lease on the language school ran out in 2019 and could not be renewed. “In hindsight, it was a lucky escape, because Covid struck soon afterwards,” Kim says. One staff member, Alicia

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WHITIANGA

Lose, who was also a past student, had a real interest in the environment, and she stayed on to become a very valuable member of the future team. With no school to run, the plant nursery became Kim’s single passion. Many other private back yards around town were soon being utilised to house the plants. “We were supplying many community groups, but we couldn’t continue to give plants away. To survive, we had to put the nursery on a firmer footing. We needed to pay Alicia, and we needed a dedicated space so we could continue to grow. A few of us got together and we decided to form a Trust.” The Mercury Bay Environmental Trust (MBET) was born in 2020. Today the Trustees are Kim Lawry, and local businessmen Geoff Balme, Glen Hunter and Peter Abrahamson. MBET soon became involved with the Backdrop Trust, set up by the McNiel family to protect and restore 72 hectares of coastal native forest on the south

side of Whitianga Estuary, the ‘backdrop’ to the town. After some initial discussions, MBET signed an M.O.U with Backdrop Trust Chairman Tony McNiel, to “help drive the vision” with the removal wilding pines, predator trapping and restoration plantings all being undertaken. Whitianga Waterways provided 1400 sq. metres of land to give the nursery a more permanent home . Kim and Alicia worked together to design and erect two 6 x 12 metre shade houses, constructed of PVC water pipe and timber. “Those structures might seem flimsy, but they survived Cyclone Gabrielle,” Kim says. The nursery now occupies 2,500 sq. metres. Two more shade houses and a tunnel house have been added, and there is always something new being planned. Alicia moved on to a position at DOC and the Trust now employs two workers, Svenja Thornber and Kaleb Blake. Kim expects to be growing over 50,000 plants this year, all from

seed gathered locally. “We aim to supply the very best plants at a reasonable price,” he says. The dune plants, Spinifex and Knobby Club Rush are in high demand. “We are now growing some of them in paper Ellepots, which go straight into the ground to eliminate plastic. Manuka and Kanuka, flax and wetland species are also in demand. Other than restoration and revegetation projects, the nursery does not sell to the public. “There have been many obstacles and much to learn,” Kim says. “Regulations around biosecurity are getting much tighter. Our database needs to record every plant from seed to sale. Coastcare, TCDC Parks and Reserves and Waikato Regional Council are our biggest customers but there are also lots of local restoration projects, on private land that use MBET plants. We estimate we have supplied 180,000 plants since we started at the language school.”

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www.dominator.co.nz 45

WHITIANGA

A GIFT IN YOUR WILL CAN SUPPORT THE COROMANDEL FOREVER

he Coromandel Future Funds at Momentum Waikato are a great way for the Peninsula’s residents and visitors to support its communities and special places forever - through a gift in your Will or by donating now to these locally driven endowments. Six Coromandel ‘place based’ funds were established in 2025 by Momentum Waikato Community Foundation, in partnership with Thames-Coromandel District Council and a network of local community people. Five cover areas equivalent to the local body wards – Coromandel & Colville, Mercury Bay, Tairua & Pāuanui, Thames and Whangamatā, with the sixth covers the entire Peninsula. Stephen Town was Cyclone Recovery Lead at TCDC when he saw the need for the Peninsula to have its own funding sources. So he then helped create the Coromandel Future Funds and is now a Momentum trustee, providing a voice for the Peninsula. “With enough backing from locals, the Coromandel Future Funds will be able to

quickly grow to a size where they can start grantmaking,” says Stephen. “As ‘place based’ funds they will be able to address potentially any local need. The generosity and vision of people who choose to leave a legacy or donate now can make so much more possible.” As with all endowments managed by community foundations like Momentum, the Coromandel Future Funds are being built up through donations, bequests and their investment income. The scale and therefore diversified risk profile of Momentum’s professionally managed investment portfolio, which is made up of dozens of such funds, provides better returns and greater distributions than a single trust or

small community could achieve alone. When each Coromandel Future Fund reaches a sufficient size, most of its annual income will start to go out as annual grants to charitable community entities in the relevant areas. Funding decisions are made by a committee of locals and Momentum reps, or according to donors’ wishes. The rest is re-invested to keep the Fund growing. Please consider a gift in your Will to a Coromandel Future Fund - your generosity will go further, forever. For more information contact Stephen Town via stephen.town60@gmail.com, or visit the website: www.momentumwaikato.nz/ coromandelpeninsulafuturefund.

The Coromandel Future Funds Leave a gift in your Will to your community Learn more call 07 834 0404 or visit momentumwaikato.nz/ coromandelpeninsulafuturefund

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHITIANGA

In aid of the peace we long for… By Pauline Stewart

oward Baker is a gracious, quietly spoken man. He is well read and knows his history. Howard is retired and lives with his wife Dayle in Whitianga. Last year, Howard and Dayle, with their two sons, Heath and Shaun, made

an important journey to Crete. The informer asked him about that journey. “It was my father really, Hubert George Baker (George). He was a Sargeant in the Maori Battalion and he served in Crete, North Africa and Italy in World War Two. I was 14 years old at the time and my dad was talking about the people of Crete. He had

Welcome to the Mercury Bay Club Inc.

such fond memories of the people there from World War Two. In fact, the only time I ever heard my father speak about the war, it was about Crete. “That particular day I gave him a smart answer and said, ‘I will go there one day, > Continued on page 48

the CAVE

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• Great for gifts • A tourist’s paradise • Musical instruments • Jewellery • Full range of Manuka and Lanolin products with testers • Colourful and beautiful housewares, ornaments and lamps • Beach wear • Crystals

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WHITIANGA

> Continued from page 47 Dad .’ It was like a joke, but he didn’t say anything. However, I never forgot what I said and it took me 60 years to keep my word. Crete was where that for the first time, the Maori Battalion was engaged in combat as a complete battalion. That was very special to Dad. “I have some health issues – cancer, and I realised that if I was going to keep my word to my Dad, it had to be now. My wife Dayle and I planned the trip and as our son, Heath, lives in Germany, we could go to Crete and also see our son. “Dad had two brothers who fought in the war - Howard Charles served as a medic and Victor was a provost officer. They were not in the Maori Battalion. The Maori leaders of the day did not want two or three from one family in the Battalion as they were the ‘shock’ troops and the consequences of that meant loss of life was greater. The museum we went to at the entrance has a section dedicated to the 2-8 or 28th Battalion. The Museum was a private one built in a bunker that the Germans had built. Above that was a church. A German pilot had been killed there and the villagers decided to bury him under the church. This became the museum. When I asked why this museum had been so specially set up, the guide said, “The Maori Battalion stayed in my village which was well away from here, but this was where they came and fought.” Our guide was very knowledgeable. He took us around the Battle of Crete area. There was something else very special we did in Crete. There was an article in last year’s local paper about a soldier, TC. Cannon. He was the only Mercury Bay soldier killed in the Battle of Crete. I made it my business to

find his memorial. Shaun our youngest joined Heath and came over with us. They organised for a tour guide and it was the best thing we could have done. The locals were well aware of the 28th Battalion. My Dad never called it the Maori Battalion. Nor did the other battalion soldiers. They always referred to it as the 2-8 or the 28; they didn’t want to be seen as different from the other New Zealand forces. The number of the battalion said it all. We walked the whole cemetery till I found TC Cannon. When I found him, I was over the moon. I was stoked. I just hoped that he would have a relative who knows something. This man TC Cannon came from Whenuakite, a few kilometres from Whitianga. We read many poignant things in those long lines of headstones of the dead. The Commonwealth Cemetery was for British soldiers on the left and Australian, Canadian and New Zealand soldiers on the right. Hill 107 is the cemetery for German soldiers. We cannot forget – there were three headstones in a row – three brothers aged 21,19 and 17 – all killed in the Battle of Crete. They might have been the enemy, but how terrible for that family of those three German boys. “We also spent a lot of time thinking how it would have been for Dad. This brought back so many memories of my father “My father was broken by the war. He still had a strength about him but there were times at night you could hear him calling out. He still has shrapnel in his head. You could see it when he got

Howard Baker

Howard and his father

steamed up about something. His memories must have been terrible. He would be screaming. Mum would come into the kids’ room and get in bed with us. One incident when we were at Rata, he had gone missing. People came to look for him. He was sitting in a ditch yelling orders to imaginary soldiers to keep their heads down. “My father is now buried in a place called Ohingaiti , south of Taihape. He settled there because my maternal grandfather owned a lot of Maori land and he allocated that to his children. Because the Maori soldiers were not eligible for any land grants, he made sure his son and son in law’s families were taken care of. The land was left for the grandchildren. A miraculous re-union. “My Dad was coming home from the war on a hospital ship. He was very fair in appearance taking after the English side of the family. A guy in a Medic’s uniform who was quite dark, tripped over my Dad’s outstretched legs. My father said, “Get off me you black bugger! What’s your name?” “Howard Charles Baker,” he said. It was my Dad’s brother! My Dad had tripped up his own brother. It was a wonderful reunion. They had met again on the ship bringing them home to New Zealand. The last George had heard was that his brother Howard had been captured and it was not known if he had survived. The war had changed their appearance. Howard reads a lot about world affairs and history. “We can’t seem to help ourselves. As humans, we keep resorting to wars.” But Howard smiles as sick as he is because he is a man with hope in his heart for the future.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Auckland-Coromandel ferry returns CROSS THE GULF. FIND MORE OF THE COROMANDEL.

The Auckland to Coromandel ferry returns from Friday 23 October, bringing back an easy and memorable way to travel between Auckland and the Coromandel. Services will initially operate Friday to Monday before moving to a daily timetable from 27 November through until Easter 2027. Whether you are planning a day trip, a summer break or a journey into Auckland, the expanded timetable gives you more choice about when you travel and return. Daily sailings depart Auckland’s Viaduct at 9.15am. There is also a direct Friday afternoon

service departing Auckland at 4.45pm and arriving at Hannaford’s Wharf at 6.45pm, with a return sailing to Auckland at 7pm. Your ferry fare includes a shuttle between Hannaford’s Wharf and Coromandel Town. Once there, you can continue your journey with scooters, rental cars and local tours available through Mad Campers. Make the crossing part of your summer. Check the timetable and book your journey: Explore the Auckland to Coromandel ferry www.exploregroup.co.nz/auckland/ coromandel-peninsula/

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

What if this wasn't just your holiday? Find More Time. More Space. More Connection. There’s a moment on a Coromandel holiday when you start to picture it. That stunning morning walk could be your daily morning walk. The beach could be where you take the kids after school. And that idea you’ve been thinking about could have room to grow. For Thomas and Jess, and Tony and Lisa, making a life here has brought together work, family and more of what matters. These are their stories. Perhaps yours could start here, too.

MORE TIME FOR LIFE. MORE ROOM FOR CHILDREN THOMAS & JESS | COROMANDEL CHOCOLATE | WHANGAMATĀ

Their journey Thomas arrived from south-west France with surfing on his mind. Then he met Jess, found a welcoming community and began imagining a future in Whangamatā. A business idea grew alongside that connection: bring French chocolatemaking skills to New Zealand and work with cacao from the Pacific. Together, they headed to France, where Thomas trained as a chocolatier, before returning to build Coromandel Chocolate and raise their family.

Life here Building a business takes commitment and long days. For Thomas and Jess, having the things they love close by makes a difference. The surf, mountain bike trails and time with their young family are part of everyday life. A break in a busy day can become a ride or a surf. Picking up the kids can lead straight to a swim. It’s a way of living that makes room for ambition and the moments around it.

Looking ahead Thomas wants to grow a lasting business, create local jobs and pass on his craft. Their story shows what can happen when you choose the place you want to live, then build your working life around it. Find more inspiration. Watch Thomas and Jess’s story online.

Find More In the Coromandel. The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Find More In the Coromandel.

MORE CONNECTION. MORE PRESENCE. MORE PURPOSE TONY & LISA | HARATAUNGA (KENNEDY BAY)

Their journey For Tony and Lisa, coming home to the Coromandel is deeply personal. For Lisa, it means returning to the beach, the marae and the places woven through her childhood. After years of demanding working lives, they wanted more time together and a deeper connection to whānau, whenua and community. They also brought experience and skills they could put to work here.

Life here Beach walks and watching the sun rise over the water give their days a gentler rhythm. That pathway of morning light reflects something deeper: a sense of coming home, belonging and finding peace. There’s comfort in familiar landscapes and in a community where people share what they have and look after one another. There’s space to be present and appreciate the life around them.

Looking ahead It also means contributing. Lisa’s work in community resilience helps whānau prepare for emergencies. Together, they want to share their experience, support local aspirations and help create opportunities for more whānau to return. For them, finding more means being part of something that will continue into the next generation.

Find more connection: Watch Tony and Lisa’s story online.

www.findmore.nz

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Coromandel Tracks and Trails Guide launched B

laze your own trail this summer and discover the hidden gems of the Coromandel by following our brand new, info-packed digital Coromandel Tracks and Trails Guide. View the digital guide straight from your phone: enjoy interactive maps, discover walking or riding routes, and use simple navigation tools to explore the Coromandel your way. The guide allows you to ‘follow your sole’ by choosing your path by mode of travel: hiking boot, sneaker, jandal, stiletto (yes), cycle, dog paw or horse hoof, in addition to searching via geographical area. There’s something for everybody – short, easy walks around towns exploring art and culture, paths to gorgeous swimming spots,

more challenging hikes with spectacular views, cycle trails or routes where you can walk your dog or ride a horse. Our district has a wealth of outdoor adventures and spectacular scenery. This guide is packed full of ideas to inspire people to get active and explore our beautiful backyard. Importantly, it also showcases what the district has to offer visitors – whether from within Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas. Our district relies heavily on the visitor economy, and we believe this guide plays a vital role in enhancing that visitor experience, persuading out-of-towners to stay an extra night or two and contribute to the district’s hospitality and tourism industry. The walks and rides featured are a

mix of Thames-Coromandel District Council and Department of Conservation-managed trails, with a few privately-managed trails. Our Council is grateful for the assistance of the Department of Conservation in providing information and links to its trails. It also acknowledes the importance of iwi connection to, and ownership of, whenua | land, and contains a key section on taio| the environment and kaitiakitanga | guardianship. Re-boot your summer. Dip into Coromandel Tracks and Trails Guide, explore our fantastic backyard and share it to entice your out-of-town friends and whānau to stay and play these holidays. We encourage you to follow your sole. www.tcdc.govt.nz/Coromandeltrails

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

COOKS BEACH

MERCURY BAY SOUTH WHERE HISTORY MEETS THE SEA FERRY LANDING, FLAXMILL BAY, SHAKESPEARE CLIFF, LONELY BAY, COOKS BEACH By Paul Hopkins

here are few places in New Zealand where history, natural beauty and community life come together quite so naturally as Mercury Bay South. This extraordinary corner of the Coromandel is much more than a holiday destination. It is a place of spectacular beaches, ancient landscapes, fascinating history, great food, outdoor adventure and a warm local community. For visitors, there is an enormous amount to discover.

A LANDSCAPE MADE FOR EXPLORING The scenery changes constantly: sheltered golden beaches, rocky headlands, native bush, rolling countryside, tidal estuaries and the open waters of Mercury Bay. There are beaches for swimming and relaxing, walking tracks through native bush, spectacular viewpoints, boating and fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding- and plenty of quiet places simply to sit and enjoy the changing light across the water. It is a landscape that rewards

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

exploration. And wherever you go, there is history beneath the surface.

MAORI HERITAGE AND THE ARRIVAL OF COOK Long before European exploration, Māori lived in and used this coastline, with its sheltered waters, fertile land and abundant seafood providing opportunities for settlement, cultivation, fishing and > Continued on page 54

COOKS BEACH > Continued from page 53 gathering kai. It was into this established Māori landscape that Captain James Cook arrived in 1769 aboard HMS Endeavour. Cook’s encounters with local Māori were, in many respects, remarkably amiable. His expedition stayed in Mercury Bay for twelve days, taking on water and provisions, trading, exploring and undertaking scientific observations. The transit of the planet Mercury across the sun was observed during the visit, giving the bay its European name. More than 250 years later, visitors can still stand on the same coastline and look across the same waters that Cook and his crew saw.

FERRY LANDING – WHERE THE EUROPEAN STORY BEGAN Before Whitianga developed across the harbour, the first European settlement in the area was established here in the 1830s. The great forests of the Coromandel were the attraction. Kauri timber was highly valued for shipbuilding, spars and masts, and the timber industry brought sawmilling,

shipbuilding and trading activity to Mercury Bay. The remarkable stone wharf at Ferry Landing is a tangible survivor of that era. Dating from around 1837, it is reputed to be the first stone wharf in Australasia. Nearby, the historic cemetery provides another connection with the early settlers. Today, it is difficult to imagine the scale of that activity while surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the harbour and bush.

FLAXMILL BAY Further around the coast, Flaxmill Bay carries its own reminder of the past. It was named after the flax that was milled there in the 1800s, with its strong fibres used to make rope and other products. Today it is a peaceful, sheltered beach and the gateway to Shakespeare Reserve and the spectacular Shakespeare Cliff. There is also a charming connection with Cook. Shakespeare Cliff was named because its profile was said to resemble the face of the great English playwright William Shakespeare. Flaxmill Bay is also home to the longestablished Eggsentric Café, a favourite local spot for breakfast or lunch and part of the relaxed character of the area. Lonely Bay is one of the true gems of

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Mercury Bay South. Sheltered beneath the cliffs and surrounded by native bush and magnificent pōhutukawa, it feels remarkably secluded. The combination of ancient volcanic geology, native bush, pōhutukawa, clear water and history makes Lonely Bay a memorable place to visit.

COOKS BEACH – MORE THAN A HOLIDAY DESTINATION From Lonely Bay the coastline opens into Cooks Beach, with its long, gently shelving beach and generally sheltered swimming conditions. It has become a favourite family beach, but Cooks Beach is much more than sand and sea. It is a genuine community with a surprisingly comprehensive range of shops, businesses, recreation and accommodation.

A LOCAL SHOPPING AND HOSPITALITY CENTRE Kaizen at Go Vino has been a popular restaurant for many years, while Gobbler’s provides a much-loved takeaway service. There is also a bar and restaurant in The Vessel, a grocery shop and a hardware and

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COOKS BEACH building-materials outlet. Together, these businesses provide an important local shopping and service centre for residents, holiday homeowners and visitors. The local holiday camp adds significantly to the area’s appeal, offering caravan and camping sites, cabins and other accommodation, along with hot pools and spa pools. It is a community where families can come for a holiday and find almost everything they need close at hand. The Pūrangi – A Living Waterway At the northern end of Cooks Beach, Cooks Creek is a popular family swimming spot where freshwater meets the saltwater environment. It is particularly appealing to younger children and families. At the other end lies the Pūrangi Estuary, a place of history, natural beauty and recreation. Today, the Pūrangi remains a working waterway and has a four-bay boat launching and retrieving facility. The estuary is also one of Cooks Beach’s great family gathering places with parking, barbecue facilities, toilets and easy access

were growing long before Cook arrived and long before today’s Cooks Beach existed. The Stella Evered Reserve covers more than a hundred acres and was generously donated by a local farmer, helping to ensure that this special landscape remains protected for future generations. Come and Experience it. Along the way there are cafés, restaurants, shops, accommodation, sports facilities and places for families to Orca sighted at stone wharf gather. But above all, there is the landscape: the sea, the beaches, the ancient pōhutukawa, the volcanic cliffs, the estuary and the native to the water. bush. The Hive Café, set in attractive grounds Mercury Bay South is somewhere to beside the estuary, provides another experience, remember- and, for many favourite place to stop, eat and enjoy the fortunate enough to live here, somewhere surroundings. to call home. Across the Pūrangi, on the Stella Evered Reserve side, stand magnificent Paul Hopkins is Chair of the Cooks Beach pōhutukawa trees believed to be more than Residents and Ratepayers. 700 years old. These living monuments

HB EAC A

bringing people together for good food and good company

the sun

your summer local

07 866 0773 thevessel.co.nz 35b Captain Cook Road, Cooks Beach The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

PAUANUI

48 Hours in Pauanui By Jewel Hughes

estled on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, Pauanui offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, laidback charm, and outdoor adventure. Turning off State Highway 25A at Hikuai and taking the short 10 minute drive into Pauanui a sense of relaxation sets in almost immediately. Shoulders loosen, spirits lift, and anticipation builds for the experiences that await in this coastal paradise. For this visit, a family of five has decided to experience the very best of Pauanui. The challenge? Every family member gets to choose one activity that everyone must take part in over the course of a weekend. First, there’s the important matter of accommodation. Will it be a luxury fivestar resort, a comfortable motel, a modern apartment, a classic Kiwi bach, or a cosy cabin? Whatever the choice, the perfect base awaits. Dining is equally varied. From fine dining experiences and Thai fusion cuisine to classic New Zealand favourites, takeaways, and bakery treats, there’s something to satisfy every appetite. One of the adults chooses a round of golf. The question is: which of Pauanui’s two ninehole courses will get the nod? The other adult is keen to get moving, but can’t decide between the rewarding climb to the summit of Mt Pauanui or a leisurely 6km stroll along the community-built Pauanui River Trail. The eldest child has their sights set on the water. Should the family head out to the spectacular Aldermen Islands for a day on the ocean, or take a thrilling coastal cruise to Cathedral Cove? Tough decisions. The middle child wants some friendly competition and suggests sport. Tennis, mini putt or frisbee golf? Whatever the choice, game on. And the youngest? Their perfect day is

simple: a swim in the ocean, exploring the rock pools, and finishing with a little rock-hopping adventure along the shoreline. Of course, these activities are just the beginning. Fishing, boating, jet skiing, beach games, family barbecues, coastal walks, and simply spending quality time together are all part of the Pauanui experience. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a little of both, Pauanui offers it all, bringing the maxim “Coromandel is good for

Your soul” to life. Just 48 hours here is enough to understand why so many people call it their slice of paradise- and why visitors can’t wait to return. Jewel Hughes Manager, Pauanui Information Centre 23 Centreway, PauanuiBeach Ph: (07) 864 7101 email: family-friends-fun@pauanui.co.nz www.experiencepauanui.co.nz

PAUANUI INFORMATION CENTRE

For all your information needs and this store has a whole lot of souvenir clothing and gifts. Jewel Hughes is the Manager and has a great team of volunteers. She knows everything about Pauanui and can guide you around the Peninsula. Ph: 07-864 7101 Opening hours 9.00am – 5.00pm seven days in summer except for Christmas day E: family-friends-fun@pauanui.co.nz Infocentre Pauanui

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

HAHEI

HAHEI Photo supplied via Press Release TCDC

A VILLAGE THAT LIVES IN YOUR HEART By Liz Harsant

or so many New Zealanders, Hahei isn’t simply a place on the map- it’s a treasured childhood memory. Whether it was camping beneath the towering pine trees, staying in a tiny family bach, or spending endless summer days running barefoot through the campground, Hahei has a way of becoming part of people’s lives.

I was reminded of this recently while admiring a stranger’s dog in Taupō. We started chatting, and when I mentioned I lived in Hahei, his face lit up. As a 13-yearold on holiday, he and a mate had headed out in a small dinghy with handlines when something enormous took the bait. The fish towed the little boat around the bay, the line cutting into their hands, before they finally managed to gaff a mako shark and lash it to the side of the dinghy.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Returning to the beach, they were greeted like heroes by a crowd of holidaymakers. More than 60 years later, it was still one of his favourite memories. Stories like this happen all the time. Mention Hahei and people immediately recall childhood holidays, family traditions and unforgettable summers. It is a place that stays in people’s hearts long after > Continued on page 59

HAHEI

Join us in a beautiful setting of macadamias and native trees and sample free tastings of our macadamia produce. Self-guided and organised tours available.

OPENING HOURS 2 January 2027 to 28 February 2027 Daily 10am – 4pm Closed Christmas Day Closed Boxing Day Closed New Years Day 8 June 2027 to 31 August 2027 Open by appointment while we harvest For the rest of the year, Check our website or phone us

* Bulk Hedging, Trees, Grasses & Shrubs. * Natives, Veges & Flowers. * Pots, Garden Hardware & Giftware. * Bulk & Bagged Garden Mix & Compost. * Lawn Mix, Topsoil, Natural & Black Mulch. * No5 & No6 Bark. * Lime Chip & Riverstones. * Gap 20 & Crusher Dust. * Hansen Fittings. * Pavers.

72 Link Road, Hot Water Beach | 021 717 564

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HAHEI > Continued from page 57 they’ve packed up the car. The magic of Hahei isn’t just its stunning beach or Cathedral Cove—it’s the people who make this village so special. Like many Coromandel communities, Hahei thrives because of dedicated volunteers. Our reserve and planting groups, volunteer Fire Brigade, resident ambulance staff, Community Hall committee, Florence Harsant Library volunteers, Tennis and Sports Club, Ratepayers’ Association and many others quietly work together to keep our village vibrant and welcoming. Our colourful skate ramp, painted by local artist Ginny Deavoll is a favourite with young people, while the Memorial Garden provides a peaceful place of remembrance. At the heart of the village is a welcoming hub of cafés, takeaway outlets, ice cream shops, a well-stocked grocery store, gift shop, art space, dive shop, petrol station and friendly local businesses. Visitors can browse local art, enjoy locally crafted beer and gin at The Pour House, or savour a memorable meal at The Church Bistro, renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and outstanding cuisine. No Hahei story would be

complete without mentioning our magical beachfront campground. For generations it has been the setting for classic Kiwi holidays. Step over the dunes and you’re on one of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches. Today, you can still enjoy that traditional camping experience, share a wood-fired pizza or burger, relax in a seaside sauna, and finish the day with an invigorating dip in the ocean. Then there is Cathedral Cove-the jewel in our crown. Whether you walk, paddle there by kayak, join a guided boat tour or catch a water taxi, every journey reveals the spectacular coastline of Te Whanganui-a-Hei and reminds you why this is one of New Zealand’s most treasured destinations. Hahei is more than a holiday destination. It’s where children make lifelong friends, neighbours become family, and visitors return year after year. It is a village built on community, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and rich in memories. Perhaps that’s Hahei’s greatest gift. Long after the suntan has faded, people remember not just the place, but the feeling of being here-freedom, laughter, friendship and simple summer days. That’s the magic of Hahei, and why it will always feel like paradise.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

The Sunflower Fields @ TAHI TOA FARM

By Winona Holl and Andrew Noakes

SUNFLOWERS — FUN FACTS

he January 2026 debut of Coromandel’s premier Sunflower Fields in Whenuakite was a huge success for the community. In the short time we were open, we met so many locals and visitors from across the world. We brought a lot of happiness; no one left without a smile. That, to us, was a grand success. The sense of community pride was evident. Visitors said: “I didn’t know we had our own sunflower farm.” “Thank you for creating such a lovely field of happiness!” Thank you for sharing this beautiful heaven with the rest of the world; “What a special place! Kids loved exploring and reading books under the blooms.” “ This is the most magical place I have been to. Even the teenager who “wasn’t impressed” they were at a flower farm, came up from the fields with huge smiles.” We are new to farming, and are learning a lot along the way - including the trust it takes to work with nature as a primary partner. Our 20-acre off-grid farm is private and serene with long mountain views and stunning sunsets. While last year was the first, this year the offering will be bigger and better! We are planning a Sunflower Wonderland through 400,000 sunflower blooms, picnic areas, and a “three sisters garden” that will be pick-your-own corn, beans and squashes in addition to the blooms.. Our snack shack will have delicious homemade picnic food, and our

• The tallest recorded sunflower was a ginormous 9.17m (30 ft 1 inch). • Sunflowers are usually given on a third wedding anniversary. • Each sunflower can produce between 1000-2000 seeds, the seeds are packed with calcium. • A “Flower” Is Not a Single Flower: A sunflower’s head is actually a cluster of many smaller flowers. The outer “petals” are called ray florets, while the central disk is made up of hundreds of tiny disk florets that can each develop into a seed. • Native to the Americas: Sunflowers were first cultivated by Native Americans over 4,000 years ago for food, oil, and medicine. Spanish explorers later introduced them to Europe. The sunflower is now the national flower for both Russia and Ukraine. • Phytoremediation: Sunflowers have the remarkable ability to absorb toxins from the soil, a process called phytoremediation. They have been planted in areas affected by nuclear disasters to help clean up the environment. • Heliotropic: Sunflowers turn to face the sun throughout the day; and when the day is cloudy — they turn to face each other.

Winona and Andrew

sunny shop will be full of all things sunflower, for a special gift for yourself or a loved one. So come for a quick stroll or make a day of it! Why not stay in our off-grid rustic-comfort cabins, throw up a tent, or park up your van in beautiful surrounds Planned special events include: meditations, art classes, movement sessions, music, family campfire nights and more! There will be professional photographers to take stunning portrait photos in the fields Do you have a special occasion coming up? Be in contact and we would happily arrange that for you. We aim to be open from Christmas Eve to Waitangi Day - if nature remains on our side. We’re praying for a long hot summer full of sunflowers for us all and look forward to seeing you in the blooms.

our heart s ontent of loo s pi stroll ean ering loo fille pathwa s rela aerial lounge, ri er wa ing pi ni sna sha , , pi ni areas (bloom and weather dependent) en oy spe ial e ents, pri ate spa es, portraits stay rusti o fort a ins, a ping, par o ers Open Most Days Christmas Eve to Waitangi 10am to 6pm

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~ if the flags are out front, we are open ~ Conta t or private boo ings tahitoa

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

A healing duo – Kimiko and Hanako K

imiko and Hanako invite you to experience the art of massage in a sanctuary of calm and renewal. Here, they believe that true well-being encompasses more than just the absence of pain; it’s about restoring balance and nurturing the soul. Their specialized massage therapies are designed to guide you towards profound relaxation and inner peace. Whether you are grappling with persistent aches, feeling the weight of stress, or simply seeking to rejuvenate your spirit, Kimiko and Hanako offer a haven where your needs are met with gentle care and expert hands. Both Kimiko with Hanako also taking up this art, dedicate themselves to blending Western, Japanese, and Asian techniques with a deeply intuitive approach in their massaging. Each session is more than just a treatment; it is a

journey towards complete relaxation. They do this separately but as a duo, it is a unique and flowing technique where both instinctively and intuitively, mother and daughter work together. Their unique style incorporates acupressure to soothe discomfort, leaving you feeling both calm and invigorated. Kimiko has been doing this for many years and has a strong following including celebrities and has become the go-to health professional for both clients and fellow health practitioners. Hanako is following in her Mother’s technique and understanding. Unwind with Kimiko’s healing touch, “Embrace” the inner peace you deserve. See kimiko below & Hanako on page 65 Health is the highest gain, contentment is the greatest wealth.

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07 866 2679 • 14 Victoria Street, Whitianga www.coastalsanctuary.com The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

Your Pacific Resort THE LOST SPRING

ew ealand’s acific Island Resort ust voted ost Beautiful ay Spa in the World

A chill vibe & the coolest place to be this summer The Lost Spring brings the acific Islands to the heart of the Coromandel with an awardwinning day spa, poolside cocktails and dining beneath a cascading waterfall. Reserve a spot in our world famous treetop day spa, and a table at our lagoonside restaurant. We are the perfect summer combination.

From Day Spa Bliss to Forest Bathing

eel like you are in iji this summer. Cocktails, poolside platters, no kids and no sand. We are just a chill vibe on a summer’s day. The coolest place to be.

1 1A Cook rive, Whitianga h: 0 0 www.thelostspring.co.nz 62

Scan our R code for more details

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

Reasons to Visit this Summer Try one of our favourite packages Geothermal Pools

Like a pacific lagoon in the summer, without the kids, sand or stress. Rela with poolside food and drink service, plunge in our pools with a hour swim or with one of our favourite packages.

2 Hour Pool Combo with Platter & Cocktail

2 Hour Pool Entry

TLS SignaturePackage

Sip, Dip, & Dine

Treetop Day Spa

Awarded ost Beautiful Spa in the World in 0 , and ure iji Clinic of the ear in 0 0 , our spa is the ultimate indulgence in the trees. If you are looking for a great girlfriend getaway, or special celebration our tailored packages create unforgettable moments. eaturing all international therapists and ure iji, True Tahiti, smosis and ermatech products.

Foot Pamper, Pedicure or Mani in our dedicated suite

Luxurious Facials

Retreat into massage in one of our treetop bures

Day Spa packages to combine all our treatments

Lagoonside Restaurant and Tiki Bar

Sunlit breakfasts amongst birdsong, lazy afternoon cocktails by the waterfall or starlit a la carte dining. Every moment feels like a holiday.

Afternoon Cocktails and Platters

Breakfast & Coffee Morning

ot sure what to give

Dining in our Lagoonside Restaurant

Dip & Dine Breakfast or Main

Gift Vouchers and Gifts

The Lost Spring gift vouchers make the perfect gift for Christmas, Valentine’s ay, or simply just because . ure iji, True Tahiti smosis products available for purchase.

Soak.Dine.Indulge.Repeat Scan our R code for more details

thelostspringwhitianga thelostspring

121A Cook Drive, Whitianga Phone: +64 (07) 866 0456 Email: magic@thelostspring.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

MORE THAN JUST PEDICURES: MEET WHITIANGA’S SYLVIA LOK EUROPEAN TRAINED

hen many people hear “pedicure specialist”, they often think pretty toes and a relaxing foot soak. But Whitianga’s Sylvia Lok is quick to point out there’s often much more going on beneath the surface. From cracked heels, ingrown toenails, corns and painful feet to skin rejuvenation and naturallooking permanent makeup, Sylvia offers a wide range of specialist treatments from her private home-based clinic in Whitianga. While some locals know Sylvia for her pedicures, many are surprised to discover she also works with a world recognised skin needling brand Dermapen 4, offers Guinot facials, waxing, tinting and permanent makeup. “I often hear people say, ‘I didn’t realise you did all that!’” laughs Sylvia. The treatment Sylvia is especially passionate about is skin needling, a collagenstimulating treatment designed to help improve acne scarring, pigmentation, uneven texture, fine lines and tired-looking skin.

25 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Specialist Pedicures for him and her

cracked heels, ingrown nails, corns & calluses

Permanent Make up

natural looking eyes, brows and lips

Dermapen skin needling acne & sun damage, fine lines

Waxing and Tinting eyes, face, bikini, legs

Facials with Guinot acne and anti-aging

www.sylvialok.co.nz Scan to book now

Sylvia has worked with Dermapen and collagen induction treatments since 2018. “It’s not about changing how someone looks,” says Sylvia. “It’s about skin health and helping people feel better in themselves.” As a trained specialist in permanent makeup, Sylvia also helps clients simplify their daily routine with natural-looking brows, subtle eyeliner and the trending new Lip Blush treatment. Her new Lip Blush treatment creates soft colour and natural definition, enhancing lips without looking overdone. “It’s about helping people feel good when they look in the mirror,” says Sylvia. With 25 years of experience, a warm down-to-earth approach and a treatment list that includes specialist footcare, skin rejuvenation, permanent makeup and beauty services, Sylvia offers more than many people realise. And yes, she still does pretty toes too! For bookings, visit sylvialok.co.nz ph: 0211990222 email: info@sylvialok.co.nz

Genie in a Jar: A WISH COME TRUE FOR DRY SKIN!

ounded in Whitianga by Ronnie James, co-owner of Whiti Farm Park, Genie in a Jar was born 16 years ago from a real need for a remedy that truly repairs, calms, and protects skin without harsh chemicals. Ronnie spent years working across floristry, farming, aviation, and hospitality - industries notorious for leaving hands dry, cracked, and sore. After trying countless store-bought products that failed to bring relief, she decided to create her own solution. What started as a way to financially support the farm park through quiet winter months has grown into a trusted, essential skincare brand with a loyal following across New Zealand and beyond. Genie in a Jar features a carefully balanced blend of pure, natural ingredients, completely free from synthetic additives and filler ingredients. It delivers targeted,

gentle relief suitable for all ages - from kids to adults - and works wonders on sensitive conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and acne. It is a simple, versatile, unisex product that you can use from head to toe. It smells great (not girly or flowery), feels even better, and brings noticeable results after just one application. Plus, it doubles as an effective insect repellent and even washes the smell of fish bait right off your fingers! Today, Ronnie travels nationwide to attend markets, shows, and events. As co-manager of the vibrant Whiti Citi Market, you will find Ronnie with her own stall at the markets. She invites everyone to drop by on a Saturday morning for a free, one-minute hand treatment that keeps skin feeling soft all day long. Discover the simple power of natural care - your skin will thank you for it! The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WELLBEING & BEAUTY

TEN DAYS OF WELLBEING IN WHITIANGA F

Free

Yo u r

28- Dec

10 D

WELLBEING MARKET Mind Body Spirit Market HERBAL Remedies

ON-SITE Practitioners

WHITIANGA TOWN HALL

CRYSTALS & Cards

PERSONAL READINGS

6 Jan

WHITIANGA

Whitianga Wellbeing Market 28 December - 6 January, Whitianga Full programme, workshop and booking details will be available through the market’s website and Facebook page.

and Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Ravi of Rishikalp Yoga & Ayurveda Institute NZ. As one of the market’s speakers and stallholders, he will offer free introductory Ayurvedic consultations alongside talks and workshops. Ayurveda is a traditional system of wellbeing that takes an individual approach and may incorporate food, daily routine, lifestyle, yoga, meditation and

traditional wellness practices. The market will also feature Reiki Masters and teachers, local wellbeing practitioners and readers, including Heather McKelvie and Karen Ainsworth-Kopa. Returning crystal stallholder Leonard Bloksberg will share his knowledge and enthusiasm, with talks planned during the ten days, while several authors are also expected to have some of their latest books available. Part of the appeal of the Whitianga Wellbeing Market is its relaxed, exploratory atmosphere. There is no need to arrive knowing exactly what you are looking for. Holiday-makers can drop in for a talk, chat with a practitioner, explore a new practice or simply browse and enjoy the experience. For locals and summer visitors alike, it is an opportunity to discover some of the people, ideas and practices within the region’s diverse wellbeing community.

or visitors spending summer on the Coromandel, the Whitianga Wellbeing Market offers a chance to slow down and explore a diverse range of wellbeing practices, natural health approaches and spiritual interests. Running from 28 December to 6 January, this annual favourite brings together practitioners, teachers, therapists, readers, natural health providers, authors and exhibitors from Whitianga, the wider Coromandel and beyond. Visitors can wander through the stalls, meet practitioners, browse crystals, books and natural products, or simply take some time to discover something new. A changing programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops will run throughout, offering opportunities to learn about and experience different approaches to wellbeing. Weather permitting, some practitioners may also take selected workshops onto Whitianga’s beaches, bringing the day’s activities into the beautiful coastal surroundings. Among the returning guests is naturopath

T R AVA

MASSAGE & Healing

EMAIL US AT: WELLBEINGMARKETNZ@GMAIL.COM

ESSENTIAL THERAPY

AOTEAROA Near the Westpac bank

Tanja Lajunen 022 039 1216 Dip. Aromatherapy

• Massage • Acupressure • Holistic pulsing • Pregnancy massage • Hot stones

• Deep tissue • Nutritional advice • Inhalation, compresses • Aromatherapy facials • Nutritional advice

Open Monday to Saturday

Summer Special Couple Massage Deluxe 60 minutes $198 (for two)

Mobile massage available for family and group bookings:

Please text 021 931 353 or 022 186 1884 60 Catherine Cres Whitianga

hanabalinesemassage.co.nz

Skincare made in store plus all your natural health requirements.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

AROUND FOR A ROUND

GOLF ON THE COROMANDEL IT’S NOT THE FAR NORTH OR THE FAR SOUTH, IT’S DIFFERENT. An intriguing mix of small club courses maintained by passionate volunteers to well-staffed professional pro shop service. Full of views and bush the courses offer variety and will challenge any golfer. And every town on the way has its own story. So, let’s get cracking.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

AROUND FOR A ROUND THAMES Thames Golf Club is easy to find. It’s right by the Kopu Hikuai (SH25A) turnoff. What a course this is. Started in 1910 at the Thames Racecourse, this classic club course moved to its present site in 1938. One green keeper, he’s a 2nd year apprentice with several passionate volunteers. I meet a few golfers including 90-year-old, Tom Handley who has shot his age 101 times. We had a closest to the pin on number 8, and I needed luck to be victorious - lucky we only played 9 as he was warming up those old bones. It’s mid-winter but the course is in superb condition. It’s Ladies Day and we are careful not to disturb those that braved the cold. Upstairs, the boards reveal champs for over 100 years including a big gap for World War Two. It’s a club steeped in history with a fun, tight layout and some real challenges. What a great way to start our A Round Around The Coromandel. Lots of membership options including age group and Country memberships if not a local. Green fees $40 affiliate, $50 non-affiliate, less if you’re a reciprocal club. That must be one of the cheapest golf fees in the country for an 18-hole round. Next stop Coromandel. Thanks Thames it was wonderful. www.thamesgolf.co.nz Ph: (07) 868 9062 E: office@thamesgolf.co.nz

COROMANDEL Is a nine-hole course tucked behind Coromandel Town and its historic CBD. It’s meat pack day and I’m playing with President, Paul Lawrence, Secretary Marilyn MacKenzie and local gun golfer Darryl O’Keeffe from Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris. The course is proudly maintained by volunteers, and is always open to

is Operations Manager, and her partner Ray Fanning is the green keeper from Country Tipperary. These two have got this once troubled course humming along beautifully and the members are clearly very happy to be there. The 10th hole, par 4, stroke hole one has a new green and it’s a beauty. Diana, the wife, is with me today, she’s new to golf and happily takes a 7 and with my 5 we halve it. The views from this hole are impressive but it’s about to get even better. The Par 5, 13th is 454 metres long and runs beside the beach. Spectacular visuals and a true Thames Golf Course challenge to par which neither of us do. I asked Ray which hole is his signature hole. He suggested the 18th, 142, par 3 right in front of the restaurant. Loving a crowd, I managed to drop it on the dance floor which visitors, including on club days. No bookings earned a round of applause. The club has required. Built on gold mine tailings with more than 500 members, with an affordable holes named after mines it’s a pity my golf membership, and a great-value green fee was anything but gold. Darryl hits a great of $90, making one of Coromandel’s finest long ball and takes out first prize for the day golfing experiences accessible to visitors and takes me out on our closest to the pin year-round. on the 176-metre par 3. If you’re travelling If you’re looking for one of Coromandel’s the west coast of Coromandel Peninsula or finest golfing experiences, this is it. travelling over on the ferry from Auckland, www.thedunes.co.nz make sure you check out this little gem. ph: (07) 866 5394 Annual Sub $520 and $30 for 9 or 18 if you E: operationsmanager@ go round twice. And if the bar is open check thedunesmatarangi.com out their prices, $19 for two beers, a glass of wine and a soft drink. We stayed for a couple of those. MERCURY BAYwww.sporty.co.nz/coromandelgolfclub WHITIANGA Ph: 027 866 8539 E: coromandelgolfclub@gmail.com If you’re tired of Coromandel’s Hills this is the course for you. By far the most popular MATARANGI - THE DUNES course we played fuelled by Whitianga’s growing population. Rusty Brooke, the If Coromandel is a cute club course, this clever Club Manager, found a gap for us. It is the other extreme. It’s a pleasure to was a beautiful day. Diana and I played a few play. A beautiful layout built on sand; The and enjoyed the greens. We had arranged to Dunes is playable year-round and attracts meet Bruce Livingstone for a local closest golfers from far and wide. Nicky Fanning

COME AND ENJOY A GAME OF GOLF Great golf, friendly faces and a welcoming club atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting out, there’s a place for you on our course. Come along, have a round and enjoy the difference a local golf club can make. Visitors most welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

07 865 8479 | www.whangamatagolf.net.nz The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

12 Golf Road, Whitianga Phone 07 866 5479 67

AROUND FOR A ROUND

to the pin on the 6th but before that I came across probably the strangest golf hole I have ever seen. The Par 5, 5th is unique. Guarded by bush on the left you must drive 120 metres to the first left hand corner, then it’s 150 metres to the next left-hand corner, then to the green. The bush tee of the 6th, par 3 is also a little different and local man Bruce took us both out without raising a sweat. Great flat track surrounded by bush and birds with a well setup shop and bar. It’s value for money. Annual Sub $950, NonAffiliate $55, Affiliate $45. www.mercurybaygolf.co.nz Ph: (07) 866 5479 E: admin@mercurybaygolf.co.nz

PURANGI Is a tough nine-hole course on the road to Cooks Beach. Take the Hahei-Hot Water Beach turn off on 25A. Surprisingly this is one the busiest golf courses in the summer. Holiday makers in Hahei, Cooks, Hot Water and the course’s simple fee structure of an all-day pass for just $25 keeps the place humming. What a history this place has. The clubrooms are a retired shearing shed and the land for the course was purchased off Landcorp in 1999 with the

The 9th/18th is a tough par three over a big valley. Frank was never in it, but Tim beat me by a whisker. Next time you’re heading for a soak at Hot Water Beach, call into Purangi. You’ll love the vibe. All day pass $25. 5 days for $100. For membership see their website. It’s novel and innovative www.purangigolf.nz ph: 027 483 2370

Dunes Matarangi

PAUANUI It can be a little confusing with two town nine-hole courses, The Lakes and The Pines and just out of town is the 18-hole Lakes Resort. Today is ‘Lefties Day’ and we’re playing on The Pines beside the airport. I discover that ‘Lefties’ is all about who won last week and they then must use an opposite driver ie a right hander has to use a left-hand driver - strange but an interesting quirk. Our four today includes club president John Meinhold, Doug Bassett, Ian Smith and me. The Pines is mostly a par three course and because it’s on sand like The Dunes, it drains well so it’s playable all year. They’ve just spent over $350,000 on irrigation for the course with a lot more

help of philanthropist Michael Horton. Every 3 months, the club would send Micheal a cheque for the interest payments on the loan and every 3 months Micheal would post it back. The area and therefore the club is blessed with several people like the two blokes I’m up against today, Club President Frank Geoghegan and local golf legend Tim Bartlett. I get a strong sense that these blokes and others on the committee are not afraid to try different things -an inspiration for every club course.

THE DUNES GOLF SHOP HOURS ®

FROM 20TH DECEMBER

OPEN 7 DAYS | 7AM – DUSK CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

Purangi Golf Course

TEE BOOKINGS BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.THEDUNES.CO.NZ BOWLS BOOKINGS VIA THE GOLF SHOP

ALL WELCOME

Unveil Coromandel’s Jewel ~ Experience The Dunes! For enquiries call 07 866 5394 ext 1 or email golf@thedunesmatarangi.com Golf Course

Bowling Green

Bar & Restaurant

SEE OUR WEBSITE & SOCIALS FOR DETAILS ON EVENTS & HOURS

Pauanui Golf Course 68

thedunes.co.nz

thedunesmatarangi

07 866 5394

745 Matarangi Drive

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

AROUND FOR A ROUND

unpaid work done by the members. This course isn’t too long or arduous which means the older and less robust golfer can play and score well. Greens are true and fairways well groomed. It’s hugely popular in the summer with families of all ages playing together. John and I clean up on the day and sit back while the beers are bought for us. A great afternoon and with my wife still learning the game, we’ll be back in summer. Senior Membership $750, 18 holes, affiliated $40, non-affiliated $50. www.pauanuiclub.co.nz/golf Ph: 027 321 0779 E: johnmeinhold@gmail.com

TAIRUA Located just off the main road north, Tairua Golf & Country Club is a classic country course with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This 18-hole, par-71 course is known for its stunning views, whether you’re looking out over the harbour, the bushcovered hills, or the charming township itself. One of the course highlights is the picturesque Wilson’s Pond, a par-3 hole that demands precision to avoid the water hazard. The 17th has to be one of the

longest Par 5’s on The Coromandel and it’s a tough hole. With over 55 years of history, Tairua blends tradition with natural beauty, offering a memorable round in a relaxed setting. Their volunteer base work hard all year especially in the winter months. Next time you’re driving through Tairua call in for 18, you’ll love it. Full membership $810. 18 Holes affiliated $50.00, non-affiliated $60.00 www.tairuagolf.co.nz Ph: 07 864 8416 E: info@tairuagolf.co.nz

WHANGAMATA Is the last course on our tour. It’s my home track and I must have played it hundreds of times so I may be a little biased. The club has two very different golfing experiences. The Titoki Course is an 18-hole, par-70 layout that winds through native bush and alongside the tranquil Wentworth River. It’s a thinking golfer’s course, where every tee shot presents multiple options and strategic placement is key. With water on 12 of the holes, it can be challenging for beginners. After extensive upgrades following the 2022 cyclone, Titoki is now in top condition, and I believe it to be one of the finest country courses in New Zealand.

Whangamata Golf Course

Just minutes from the town centre the Williamson 9-hole Course, a par-3 layout perfect for beginners, families, or anyone looking for a relaxed round. Despite its shorter length, Williamson offers a fun and surprisingly challenging experience, making it a favourite among locals and visitors alike especially young families with kids learning the game. Whangamata Golf Club is 27 holes of great golf. Full playing member $1250, affiliated $80 Peak season, non-affiliated $95. Williamson $25 www.whangamatagolf.net.nz Ph: 07 865 8815 E: proshop@whangagolf.co.nz

CONCLUSION Great to see golf surviving and thriving on The Coromandel. It’s a world full of volunteers devoting hour after hour for the game and the course they love. As a friend of mine once remarked, “Golf has saved more lives that any drug”. Long may it continue to do so.

Tairua Golf Course

9 HOLE COURSE GREEN FEE PLAYERS WELCOME.

COME AND PLAY GOLF AT PAUANUI CLUB TODAY

PURANGI GOLF CLUB

Looking for a round of golf? Get in touch with the Pauanui Club to book your tee time.

$25.00 A DAY No eftpos - cash or Internet banking

CLUBS AND TRUNDLERS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE

6 Hepburn Road, Whenuakite www.purangigolf.co.nz | 0274832370 No bookings - just arrive

 Lakes Course – 9 holes  Pines Course – 9 holes Book your round today:

Phone 07 864 8695, ext. 3

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

PAUANUI CLUB SINCE 1972

TAIRUA

Heaven & Earth

Tairua has New Zealand’s Most Amazing Gallery of Crystals, Minerals, Fossils, Gems & Jewellery!

Thousands of Crystals, Tumbled Gemstones, Decorator Pieces, Necklaces, Earrings, Rings, Pendants, Beads, Bracelets, Carvings, Healing Stones, Spheres, Meditation Pieces, Fossils, Kid’s Treasure Chest, Massage Tools, Pendulums, Books, Gifts, Art, Rock Tumblers, Bookends, Altar Stones & much more!

VISIT OUR NEW ONLINE STORE AT www.nzcrystals.com

1000s of Minerals & Gemstones • Gemstone Jewellery From Around the World

Organite

100’s of Fossils

Many New Zealand Stones

227 Main Road • Tairua email: crystals@together.net phone: 07 864 8875 Open 7 Days from 9:30 a.m.

NEW ONLINE STORE www.nzcrystals.com 70

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

TAIRUA

TAIRUA IS THE PERFECT STOP By Pam Ferla “stay and Play” is the catch phrase for friendly Tairua and there’s a reason it is a favourite for visitors. There’s an abundance of scenic walks with glorious views of the off-shore islands, the Pinnacles and beyond. If you stroll around the Pepe Estuary Loop you may spot the elusive fern bird or the graceful heron. After striding 200 steps up to the Gazebo Lookout you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the village, bush-clad hills and Pacific Ocean. (If you are there on New Year’s Eve you have the best spot in town to experience the fabulous annual fireworks display.) The area is also known for its lovely beaches and favourite fishing spots. Kayaking and paddle boarding are popular and you may spot jet skis or windsurfers zooming across the harbour. Local clubs welcome visitors to enjoy their facilities, with golf, bowls and golf croquet among the sports. There’s a variety of eateries offering a wide range of cuisine as well as a good choice of takeaways from street vendors. Fish and chips from Tairua’s Surf and Sand Takeaways is a popular part of the holiday experience.

Tairua has a well-stocked supermarket as well as an organic shop that is famous for its organic ice creams. If you need barbecue gas or a handyman tool the friendly team at Hammer Hardware can he help you. Tairua boasts one of the best crystal and gems shops in the country – Heaven and Earth - where you can admire the wonders of crystal beauty and select a memento of your time in the village. A short drive out of Tairua you can enjoy the tracks at Hikuai Broken Hills and ponder on the

TAKEAWAY TAIRUA • Fresh Fish n Chips • Hearty Burgers • Mussel Fritters • Oysters n Scallops • Seafood Chowder • Rawfish Salad • Real Fruit Icecream • Thickest Shakes

relics of gold mining. You might have a bit of wait due to the building of the new Pepe Bridge. Tairua has so many places to enjoy, so don’t stress - find a park and do the main street or take a short drive to the base of Mount Paku and you can enjoy the perfect stop at the Ole Mill Cafe that overlooks the Tairua waterfront (See page 30). To top off your Tairua experience, go to the top of Mount Paku. Folklore says that if you climb to the peak of this extinct volcano you will return to Tairua and Tairua welcomes your return.

We are not just an Information Centre! We are a community hub for our local community. • Dry Cleaning • NZ Courier pick up and post • Council Rubbish bin tags • Trades and Businesses contacts • Transport bookings • Ticket Sales for events • Tour Operator bookings

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Ph 07 864 8617 Main Road, Tairua Open 11 till late The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

07 864 7575 admin@tairua.co.nz

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Tairua Cooks Beach Whitianga Coromandel Town 72

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

ART

Paula - art and my journey I

want to impart through a brief look at my life as to how I react to art and how I feel it. Art has somehow embraced my life its influence, the power that it has with both emotions and expectations has wrapped itself around me for the long journey. When art speaks to me, it has expectations of me in the way I react. I have many memories as a young girl of sitting on my bed, dreaming as we do, viewing through the window beyond the high hedge. I would write down so many thoughts which became subjects for my many drawings. These drawings ‘clung to me’ to become paintings, and the paintings evolved into numerous stories. Now many years later, they are intimate reference points for my ‘stories’, for memories. Travelling through life, art is everywhere to be momentarily captured - the beauty, the unspoilt nature of something, but also the sadness. There can be beauty in sadness – raw material for my own journey. All the experiences are absorbed, and it is like a wealth of information

and emotions one experiences which can be revealed when confronted with an empty canvas. That treasure is there to create something powerful. But it doesn’t last long. Sometimes it seems that inspiration is just for a few seconds, yet from so many experiences - a burst of thoughts for the canvas - often fleeting, but a beginning. It is the people I have met over many years,

2027 Summer Exhibition Whitianga Art Group A collection of new work by local artists

who have built in me an inspirational bond of sharing ideas and a love of art. This has been and always will be a strong reminder of how rich, personal, yet fragile, this bond we share together is. It is the source of many canvasses. What I know as I continue to travel, searching, experiencing, is that I am never totally satisfied with what I see and feel on this exciting road of discovery. There is much more available to be revealed at that moment than I can comprehend - more wisdom and insight to be gained. It gives me confidence in the future – looking forward to what is ahead. Art is just that, believing in yourself, instinctive, trusting with each mark made on that blank canvas before you - never being fully content but knowing that you have created something unique that belongs entirely to you. Your art is requesting only to be ‘read’ and understood as the viewer sees it. When that happens – it is a sublime achievement!. Paula McNeill is a mixed media artist and has recently built The White House at Coroglen an exquisite gallery for the people’s art. The White House and its surrounds are an umbilical extension of the exhibition gallery. Paula is the curator and host. Call in and visit.

Vibrant and well presented gallery located in Coromandel town. 191 KAPANGA ROAD GALLERY 6 COROMANDEL OPEN SUMMER: Dec to Easter 10.00am – 4.00pm Thurs - Tues. Closed Wednesday

OPEN WINTER: Easter to Dec 10.00am – 2.00pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Raffle prize “Pohutukawa ” by Franz Van Hoppe

Opening Evening Sunday 3 January 6pm Monday 4 January 2027 – Sunday 31 January 2027 10am-4pm daily - 23 School Road Whitianga

GUEST ARTIST – Paula McNeill Exhibition Sponsored by

Bayleys Real Estate Whitianga © Bayleys Realty Group. Licensed (REAA 2008)

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

52 Springbok Ave, Whitianga

Door knock, or contact Peter on 0212063603 for opening times or appointment Peter Augustin–Painting & Printmaking Peter Felix Muller–Jewellery & Photography Member: Mercury Bay Art Escape & X-Press Artists 73

ART

The White House

Sensational gallery – beautiful, elegant and inviting. An eclectic mix of FINE ART and COLLECTABLES.

Your host PAULA McNEILL welcomes you

Created by Paula

2312A Tairua Whitianga Road, Coroglen Hours: 10.30am-3.30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday Phone: 0276507247 Email: paula.mcneill@xtra.co.nz www.whitehousecollectables.com 74

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

ART

Artist Emma Evangeline gustafson

Local artist brings coromandel forest into auckland cbd

or the last four summers, I’ve been taking part in local markets as an artist on the Coromandel Peninsula, setting up my stall to sell prints and originals. I like to paint while I’m at the markets, so people can see my process and what I do. At one of my markets last summer, a gentleman approached me about painting a large commission. His daughter had been watching me paint and called him over to see my work. As it turned out, he was managing the interior redesign of the Vero Centre in Auckland CBD. He was looking for an artwork for their public foyer, something that could bring a sense

of nature into their corporate space. It was an amazing opportunity, the largest canvas I have been commissioned to paint so far, 2.4m x 1.4m. It was so big I was worried I wouldn’t have anywhere at home to paint it, but managed to find one wall that worked. It took 5 weeks to paint. I find that starting is often the hardest part with compositions that are so detail heavy. Blank canvases can be very intimidating, but once you break the artwork down into bite sized tasks and start blocking in, you find yourself in a flow state and before you know it the landscape emerges. This scene is inspired by the ancient Kauri Grove and Egan’s Reserve

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

along Coromandel’s 309 Road, a place that always moves me into a state of awe. My hope is that this painting can act as a portal into the Coromandel bush, bringing through some of its beautiful energy. In a digital world so oversaturated with AI generated synthetic media, traditional arts are becoming more and more revered. People are craving authentic creations that have a story, that have been made by human hands. That’s why I think it’s important for artists to put themselves out there and engage their audience with their process. As I’ve learned from painting at markets, you never know what opportunities will come your way.

MERCURY BAY ART ESCAPE

MERCURY BAY ART ESCAPE COROMANDEL PENINSULA

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

Two Ticks to Prosperity By Leigh Hopper

ere we are on the eve of another election. As always this is a time to reflect on matters that lead to a decision - which boxes to tick – one for the local constituent and one for a party. Some say this is a significant election with much at stake. I, like many others, am nervous of the outcome. On the global scene we wonder whether the Ukraine war will ever end. More recent conflict involving America, Iran, Israel and other middle east neighbouring countries is having an acute impact on global economies with uncertainty around fuel supplies and massive price increases at the pump. The unrest and suffering are inconceivable. There is little if anything NZ can do to ease tensions in these hot. Thank heavens we live far from these regions. Here in NZ we also suffer from egomania, or is it stupidity? Closure of our petrochemical activities and gas exploration, the shutdown of the nation around Covid, burgeoning bureaucracy, the cost of housing, a woke education system and the never-ending grievance industry around treaty matters. The

MERCURY BAY ART ESCAPE COROMANDEL PENINSULA

sum of which has led to a massive increase in our national debt, a nation who wants to work from home, increased unemployment, high net migration levels, rising interest rates and a struggling NZ dollar. The implications of these are impacting all households, even the farmers who once again may salvage our economy. Inbound tourism is bouncing back, largely

because of the value of our currency. Thank heavens for the farmers and tourists. With a positive outlook, imagine a NZ future with less bureaucracy, less wokeism and a more inviting enterprise environment;- one where individuals can utilise their knowledge, skills, work ethic, and capital to employ others and deliver excellence in goods and services. This is achievable with the right vision, a corresponding set of policies, and voters who tick the right two boxes. Therein lies some solace. Thank heavens for the ability to dream. The Coromandel has undoubtedly suffered from the road outages of recent years which surely carries a lingering effect. The roading network has had tens of millions of dollars of resilience investment. This will hopefully prevent future major outages. An El Nino weather pattern is forecast for this summer which usually brings hot dry weather and westerly winds. Lets hope the masses are keen to indulge in all the region has to offer over the coming months. Thank heavens for summer. Regardless of what the future delivers, I am eternally thankful for one thing …. thank heavens we live in paradise.

START THE CONVERSATION WITH US for your build journey 027 222 2286 info@ohlsonandwhitelaw.co.nz www.ohlsonandwhitelaw.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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Book a free in-home measure and quote! The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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B I D YO I ION IN

Book Your

JOB IN TODAY

PATERSON CONSTRUCTION

Paterson Construction built our house & we couldn't be happier. Dave was easy to deal with & consistently solution-focused throughout the project with the build completed to a high standard. Would highly recommend to anyone. - Dana Clow

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

MORE THAN A PAINT JOB

t Shoreline Painters Whitianga, there is a dedicated team consisting of three skilled, qualified painters and three apprentices, all committed to delivering exceptional results. “Over 50 years of combined experience comes to every project, ensuring that your home or business receives the highest standard of care, “says Daena who is a force of sunshine, positive energy and outcomes. “We’re passionate about hiring locally and investing in our community by mentoring apprentices and fostering their development alongside our experienced painters.” Specializing in all aspects of residential painting, Shoreline Painters offers new home painting, repaints, interior and exterior finishes, roof painting, and cedar care. They pride ourselves on

their meticulous attention to detail, durability, and craftsmanship, ensuring that every job is completed to the highest standards. Where it all began: The story of Shoreline Painters Whitianga started several years ago with three friends sitting together in an office one afternoon - Craig, a qualified painter and builder; Caleb, a qualified builder; and Daena, a jack of all trades and a top organiser. They realized they shared a unique set of skills and a mutual passion for quality work. So Shoreline Painters Whitianga was born - a company founded on friendship, a strong sense of community, and a commitment to excellence. “We will guarantee professional, high-quality painting services that are tailored to your needs,” smiles Daena. Daena

See page 85 for more.

Imagine LIVING A LIFE OF LEISURE

AWARD WINING FIBREGLASS SWIMMING POOLS

Personalised Service • Local Support • Innovative Designs Leanne 021 468 533 | barnespoolcompany@gmail.com

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A NEW SWIMMING POOL AND GREAT AFTER-CARE

eisure Pools has new owners, and has added some new dimensions to this previously well regarded business. Leanne and Mathew Barnes now own Leisure Pools and they are excited about bringing together their strengths, combined skills and years of shared experience into this new direction they are taking together. They haven’t leapt off a cliff into unknown waters and left behind what they have been doing. Rather, Leanne and Mathew are bringing their current professions into their new venture. “We wanted to have a family business. Leisure Pools incorporates both of our skill sets and our professional experience. We have set up the Barnes Pool Company trading as Leisure Pools Hauraki- Coromandel. “Mathew has been looking after swimming pools for a very long time - keeping them clean, hygienic, running well and managing the maintenance,” says Leanne. “He is an experienced project manager across the trades and his finishing touch with successful projects from start to finish is meticulousness and tidiness.” Leanne’s long experience as an operations manager has given her in-depth knowledge of the processes of many building projects across the Coromandel and the Plains. “My work has taught me a lot, especially seeing things through from start to completion with the clients informed and aware step by step. Mathew and I are both good at

this kind of project management,” says Leanne. “I come principally from a design and sales background but over the years I have worked with the construction process - drainage, excavation, soil conditions - all the aspects that must be also considered when deciding on a pool; its location, design, fencing requirements, lighting, hospitality around the pool. All these things can be worked out when planning the build of your home even if the pool is going to come a few years later. Leanne talks about the importance of understanding the clients – the people who live on the Coromandel and on the Hauraki Plains. “We live here. Relationships of trust are built during a project that involves your home and these continue after. Having a network of trusted suppliers, tradies and contractors and knowing them is very important to outcomes and streamlining processes. This will apply to the building of a swimming pool from start to finish. What will be a key additional part of our offering is a full pool service package - the care and service that sustains the pool’s clean, hygienic state. There are so many aspects and terms to be aware of which the general client cannot be expected to know. It is our job to know this and we believe Barnes Pool Company trading as Leisure Pools HaurakiCoromandel, can be the number one Pool Company ensuring the complete package for your swimming pool.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

GJ GARDNER YOUR LOCAL BUILDER A

local team has entered a new chapter, with Russell and Tania Orr taking ownership of G.J. Gardner Homes Thames/Coromandel on 1 August 2026. The change builds on the franchise’s more than 20-year history in the region. During that time, the team has helped more than 600 families build homes throughout Hauraki, Thames, the Coromandel and Waihi Beach. Although the ownership is new, Russell and Tania are well established in the business and region. Russell joined the franchise in 2014 as its sole construction supervisor. Over the following years, he gained experience across the business and progressed to leading the construction team. His time working on homes throughout the region has given him a strong understanding of local building conditions and the practical challenges that can come with Coromandel sites. Tania joined the business in 2020, when she and Russell became partners alongside the outgoing owners. The couple have spent the past six years working together, developing relationships with customers, contractors and suppliers while preparing to lead the franchise into the future. “Taking ownership feels like a natural next step for us,” Russell and Tania said. “We are proud of the strong foundation that has been built here and are committed to carrying that forward.” Their focus will remain on providing a wellmanaged building experience while maintaining a safe, positive and inclusive workplace for the office team and contractors. From straightforward new homes to complex projects in more challenging locations,

Russell and Tania say accountability and open communication will remain central to the way the team works. “Our vision is to have every customer recommend us to their family and friends. That is a promise we are fully committed to keeping.” The franchise will also continue to support the region by working with local contractors and suppliers wherever possible. Many members of its experienced team have been with the business for years, providing continuity for customers throughout the ownership transition. For Russell and Tania, being locally owned

means being closely connected to the people and places around them. “We live here, we work here and we hire here,” they said. “We are excited about this new chapter and the opportunity to make a positive difference for our clients and community.” With familiar people at the helm, an experienced team behind them and a long history in the region, G.J. Gardner Homes Thames/Coromandel is looking ahead while remaining firmly grounded in its local roots. Tania and Russell Orr

YOUR LOCAL BUILDER

GJ’s have been building in the Coromandel since 1999 Talk to your local GJ’s Thames / Coromandel team to start your new home journey today. Whangamata 07 865 7554 Whitianga 07 866 4259 gjgardner.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

Summer is the easy part WHY URBAN HOMES PUT ITS ROOTS DOWN IN WHITIANGA By Tanya Jones-Blok Everyone loves the Coromandel in January. The boat ramps are busy, the queues run out the café doors, and Whitianga swells to several times its usual size. Then March arrives and you find out who actually lives here. That's not a grumble. It's the shape of the year here, and it's the reason Dan and I made the call we did. We didn't want to be the builder who turns up for the good months. We wanted to be part of the place.

Local is a working relationship, not a slogan When a home goes up in Mercury Bay, it's never one company doing it. It's the electrician, the plumber, the joiner, the timber yard, the apprentice learning on the tools. That row of utes outside the café every morning isn't just a familiar scene. It's local people earning a living and money staying in our community.

Building here is genuinely different

Local hands, national backing

You can't nip down the road for what you've run out of. Materials arrive on someone else's timetable. Salt air, humidity, wind exposure, steep access. They all shape a build.

Dan and I own and operate Urban Homes Thames Coromandel. We're the people you'll deal with here in Whitianga, backed by the systems and quality standards Urban Homes has built since 2004.

None of that is a problem if you've done it before. And we have.

A place, and a place in it One of my favourite jobs this year is a bach on the water the same family has owned since the 1980s. Single level, single glazed, and so cold they only really used it over summer. We've gutted the lower floor and added a level on top, with a room that finally catches the view they've been looking at for more than 30 years. Three generations will use it now, in winter as well as summer. That's the work. Not houses. Places people keep.

Summer is a good time to start the conversation. The rest of the year is when we do the work.

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Experience matters.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LIFESTYLE

Moving Moving House? Moving House?House? Packing PackingPacking || Removals Removals | Removals || Storage Storage | Storage The Move It team

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READY TO BE ON THE MOVE By Pauline Stewart

eet a very fit and welloiled machine - a team of movers and cleaners. First is the NZ Move It team - the Coromandel Peninsula’s Packing, Removal and Storage Company who can move your belongings across the world, to the South Island or to next door. Second, is the NZ Clean It team – the local specialist Clean it Company that provides the complete cleaning service for the home you are leaving or the home you are moving into – carpet cleaning, flood restoration, pest control, hard floors, upholstery and specialty cleans, both residential and commercial. The owner and leader of these two highly professional teams, NZ Move It and NZ Clean It, is David Pointon. and David purchased the Move It business in April 2025. It had been local and serving a local, national and international community since 2010. With his wife, Zoe and their two children, Harry and Camilla, the Pointon family moved to Whitianga in March 2022 from Sydney. Zoe’s parents had retired to Whitianga and David and Zoe moved to a lifestyle property on Mill Creek Road just about as far in context as you can get from their previous home of Bondi Beach, Sydney. “We knew we had made the right choice, even before buying the business,” says David. “Whitianga is such a great town for our children and for us. We really enjoy the local beaches and rivers and we’re getting into the infectious love of fishing - you can’t live here and not enjoy it right?” David is passionate about the quality of service and care that NZ Move It and NZ Clean It go to, for their customers. “We are building on an already established, great local reputation,” says David. “Our team

has expanded in this past year to 11 local drivers, crew and packing team based in Whitianga plus the local NZ Clean It team. “ We provide a full range of furniture relocation solutions for customers moving homes. That’s On On site site inspection inspection On site inspection everything from packing, relocation and storage. Customers try our packing service and say they won’t move again without using us. We have had some who will go out for a game of golf and lunch or attend to Your Your trusted trusted Your trusted local local team team local since since team 2010 2010 since 2010 business around town and return to their entire home carefully packed up for them. 07 07 866 866 5589 5589 07 866 5589 “Our Clean It company is a info@nzmoveit.co.nz info@nzmoveit.co.nz nzmoveit .co.nz .co.nz .co.nzinfo@nzmoveit.co.nz www. www.nzmoveit www. nzmoveit natural extension of what we already have been doing to help people make this very important step of moving as least stressful as possible. We have been entrusted to move and protect their furniture and care for all their belongings, so we are in the best situation to totally clean and restore their home and its surrounds.” David was previously a Director Specialist cleans + pest control at Dutch investment bank ABN you can rely on AMRO and has been involved in business ventures in Australia. He feels at home with what he and Zoe Serving Residential and Commercial are doing. “I’ve enjoyed getting involved in local community groups such as coaching at Mercury Bay Football Club, coaching at Mercury Bay Swimming Club and I am a Board member of Mercury Bay Area School. Zoe is a co-founder and Co-CEO of Australian real estate CARPET FLOOD PEST tech business - OpenAgent.com.au CLEANING RESTORATION CONTROL and she continues to manage the business remotely.” Local expertise serving the When asked about the future, David doesn’t hesitate. “We are very Coromandel Peninsula aware that moving homes is a very stressful and emotional journey. Our Local crew based in Whitianga future is to take as much stress out and away from our customers as we can. We have an excellent team 027 280 6374 • info@nzcleanit.co.nz and people will always need to be on www.nzcleanit.co.nz the move.” nzmoveit.co.nz | nzcleanit.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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Register your interest today! Phillip Holland 027 500 1210 Bill Donaldson 027 498 2362 Email sales@hollandheights.co.nz www.hollandheights.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

THAMES

photo credits Garry brandon

A BIG WELCOME AND THE GATEWAY By Garry Brandon

hames is one of New Zealand’s most charming and friendly towns and offers a huge variety of shops and eateries for visitors and locals. Whether you’re after handcrafted goods, fashionable clothing, antiques or second-hand bargains,

or just want to stop for a bite to eat, Thames has something for everyone. Often referred to as the gateway to the Coromandel, Thames is sandwiched between the Firth of Thames and the Coromandel Ranges. When you cross the Firth of Thames bridge just turn left and in 5km you will be in the township of Thames

On you way in Aeroview Garden Centre is on your right along with open seven days - a world of plants, garden and landscaping supplies with expert help and there’s delicious food prepared by Seyha and Angela at the Tastebud Café in the same premises. On your left , you will see the

When Goodbye Isn’t the End: One Family’s Story of Comfort and Care For Sarah Mitchell, the loss of her golden retriever, Biscuit, felt like losing a member of the family - because that’s exactly what she was. After twelve years of morning walks, muddy paw prints, and quiet companionship through some of life’s hardest moments, Sarah found herself facing an unbearable silence when Biscuit passed away peacefully in her arms last spring. “I didn’t know where to turn,” Sarah recalls. “I’d never had to make these kinds of decisions before, and I was in no state to think clearly.” That’s when a friend recommended Forever Pets Pet Crematorium. From the ,S a difference. “The person on the phone didn’t rush me.

Ph: 07 868 6003 Entrance via Kirkwood Street

She let me cry, let me talk about Biscuit, and only when I was ready did she gently walk me through the options,” Sarah says. When the time came and Biscuit ,S completed the simple booking process online, grateful not to have to navigate complicated paperwork during such a painful moment. “The Forever Pets team allowed me to B their pet chapel,” Sarah says. “Then, with the help of Adrian, I unwrapped Biscuit from her favourite blanket, and she was put in her own cremation chamber” ensuring Sarah would receive only Biscuits ashes back, a detail she says mattered enormously and the very reason why she chose Forever Pets

Open: Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm Or after hours by appt

B ’ farewell. Biscuit’s ashes now sit in an urn with an engraved name plate on the “It’s such a small thing, but holding that urn makes me feel like she is still here,” she says. “They treated Biscuit’s memory with the same love and respect I had for her,” S T ’ you can put a price on.” For grieving pet owners across the region, stories like Sarah’s are a reminder that compassionate, the darkest moments - and that saying goodbye to a beloved companion doesn’t have to be faced alone.

Postal Address: PO Box 57, Thames, 3540

Please advise your vet that you wish to use Forever pets 94

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

THAMES

internationally famous statue of Sir Keith Park and his airplane. They stand tall at the entrance to the Thames Airfield. Go in and read the display panels and take a fine photo. Thames’ colourful heritage buildings date from the goldrush of 1867, and make for a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere which can often be lacking in bigger centres. You won’t find any traffic lights or parking meters here, which contributes to the relaxed pace of life enjoyed by the locals and visitors. Apart from the usual retailers found in most towns of this size, Noel Leemings, Farmers, The Warehouse etc, Thames boasts an impressive mix of independent specialty shops, including organic foods, pet supplies and businesses offering one off works by local artists. Many of the shops offer New Zealand designed products such as handmade jewellery, woodcrafts, metal sculptures and ceramics. Read Bros Hardware is a family owned hardware store and has been in business in Thames since 1867, and if by chance they don’t have a particular size nut or bolt in their huge inventory, they will order it in for you. and have it available as soon

as possible. It is operated now by the fifth generation of the Read family and they have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they gladly share with customers. Going fishing? Camp and Tackle have everything you need, and you can enjoy a

coffee there before you head off. For the bookworms Carsons, Land of Books and Paper Power have you covered with a huge range of topics covered between them. Harvs Butcher Shop is great for locally sourced meats , something that is disappearing from a lot of towns. At the northern end of town, Grahamstown, you will find Garden Music, which sells all sorts of musical instruments and accessories, including handmade guitars of all shapes and sizes, crafted by Thames locals and artisans from the wider Coromandel district. Here you’ll also find Zen, full of unusual clothing , books, vintage vinyl records and old tools and household items you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The Thames Trading Post has a vast, ever changing selection of modern and antique tools and collectibles. Next stop is Underdogs, owned by Mike Zero, who stopped in Thames a few years ago for a look around and never left! Vintage leather jackets and all sorts of unusual items can be found here. Looking for a one off art piece? Check

Aeroview For all your gardening needs and desires! • Large range of plants • Potting mixes, compost, fertilizers and more • Huge range of ceramic pots, hanging baskets • Knowledgeable,

qualified staff • Bulk landscape supplies • Large 400m2 outdoor covered area • A wide selection of native plants

THE LARGEST RANGE OF FRUIT TREES, LARGE AND SMALL... PENINSULA-WIDE 328 Ngati Maru Highway • Thames • 07-868 7960 The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

CAFE ON SITE! • A great gift shop • Gift vouchers • Free gift wrapping

Plenty of parking • Open 7 days 8.30am-5pm 95

THAMES

out the Vessel Art Co-Op. Ten artists offer ceramics, paintings, sculptures big and small and a range of intriguing gift items. No trip to Thames is complete without a visit to the Seagull Centre on Burke Street. Known locally as Seagulls, it is a charitable trust operating as a community re-cycling and resource recovery facility. Items donated by the public are sold at very affordable prices. Furniture, clothing, building materials and just about everything else can be found here. Food, glorious food! All that walking around shopping can give a person an appetite , and Thames has that covered with over thirty eateries ranging from cafes and bakeries to Thai and Indian restaurants. Cafe Melbourne in the Depot building is a favourite for breakfast or lunch, always busy, with friendly staff, and sitting on the deck outside Coco’s is a great place to sip coffee and watch the world go (slowly) by. Looking for some freshly caught fish for tea? Pay a visit to The Wharf Cafe for some Snapper, Gurnard or whatever takes your fancy. You can take it home to cook, or let them cook it for you. Have a coffee or a beer in their cafe or outside on the wharf. See p. 22 Food and Dining. 205 Pollen Street Bait and Tackle and

Café – you get your fishing supplies and have an excellent coffee, pastry or menu lunch. You find lots of men dining here as well as women. It’s a shop and café they like. Copies f The Informer newspaper and this magazine will be there too. Markets Thames has a fantastic street market every Saturday morning, rain or shine. See page … Free range eggs, locally grown organic fruit and veg , book stalls, woodcrafts and all kinds of artworks, clothing, bric a brac, buskers .... something for everyone. See page

The Information Centre is right there on the central town square -part of the Civic Centre. Call in and get all the tips you need for a great Thames visit and for your journey around the Coromandel Peninsula. Thames is a great little town. Everyone is friendly and always very helpful. Drop in and enjoy a wander next time you’re down this way. Concert photography: Twitter : @GarryBrandonNZ Guitar building: Instagram: brandonandsonguitars

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHANGAMATA

THE SURF TOWN THAT ROCKS By Shaun Fay Every morning in Whangamata, I walk my dog George along the beach. On Tuesday we turn left instead of right and head downtown so I can pick up a copy of our local paper, The Informer. That’s when I see them as I have seen them for 14 years. The Repco Beach Hop Volunteers meeting at a local café at 7.30. Winter or summer they are there day after day. The organisation required to run arguably the biggest four-day festival in New Zealand is astonishing. During Repco Beach Hop, Whangamata goes from an average 4,500 people to over 100,000. They all must eat, sleep, drink, dance. Cars, parking, bands, sponsors, merchandise, prizes, traffic management, volunteers. The list is endless. But the effort is worth it. Not only has the festival won numerous awards both nationally and internationally, but it has also and more importantly built a reputation over many years of being the best Rock n Roll Car Festival in the Southern Hemisphere if not the world. High praise indeed with much of it built and maintained by volunteers. We asked one of the long-term volunteers, Peter Kidd why he loves it so much…. “Many reasons, I’m a car boy, I love my music and I love

giving back to this town- this area. Yes, it’s a huge amount of work for all of us but we all work well together. Some of the best times in my life have been around Repco Beach Hop”. The festival over the years has grown and developed with new man on the steering wheel Denis Beaver looking to add to the legacy and worldwide reputation it has. “Noddy and his team have done an incredible job over the years; it really is a case study of how festivals should

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

be run. Now it’s my and the committees’ chance to not change things at all, but to keep evolving it further into 2026 technology and even greater local engagement”. Thames Coromandel District Council determines that the festival brings in over 10 million dollars to the town and the area and supports it in many ways. It’s also a huge revenue boost for hospitality with clubs like the RSA having their biggest weeks of the year.

WHANGAMATA

Simon Bratton from Challenge Service Station is an essential part of the festival. …”Crazy time and it’s all hands-on deck .. These cars love their petrol, we need a tanker every day just to meet the demand”. It’s a busy intense time for everyone as the noise level from all those V8’s excites all, including a few local dogs. Not only are the traffic and people at times overwhelming many also let out their bach or home and while they enjoy the extra dollars, without this accommodation the festival simply wouldn’t survive. Add on hundreds of people who volunteer their time across the many areas from manning Repco Beach Hop Central to traffic

management to selling programmes and it’s a total community event. Car registrations for Repco Beach Hop 2027 start on the 1st of October at 7 a.m. This will fill up within hours of going live. Why? Because the organisers are forced to restrict numbers simply because more people want to come than can be accommodated. The festival itself will run from Wednesday, March the 17th to Sunday, March the 20th. With Easter happening the week after this year, March 2027 will be busy. Chair of the local business association, The Whangamata Business Association, Patrick Kerr can’t wait.

“The last few years have been tough on the town and our business community, the 27th Annual Beach Hop with Easter dovetailed on the end will be a welcome boost to the coffers. The Classic Cover Nostalgia Fair alone on the Sunday with its 100 plus stalls is a vital fund raiser for our Business Association”. If you’d like to attend Beach Hop 2027 my advice would be to get organised early- be ready for registration and sort your accommodation as soon as you can whether that’s in Whangamata or surrounding areas. Because it will be as it has been for thousands of people one of the best weeks of your life.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

ACCOMMODATION

WATERFRONT A TOP DESTINATION CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS

aterfront Apartments is celebrating 30 years of continuous operation this year – 2026. These stylish apartments facing the waters of Mercury Bay, right on Buffalo Beach Road, are as popular as ever for international and New Zealand holiday makers. The view is spectacular and as the name says, the water is right out front. Chris and Gina manage the Waterfront’s eight apartments for their different owners. We love it,” says Gina. “This is a quality lifestyle. There are beautiful scenes everywhere. We don’t need to go anywhere else for a holiday. This is our work, but it often feels as if we’re on vacation.” Chris and Gina have a great support team in Anika who is Manager and Marie, Relief Manager “I have been a traveller,” says Anika. “After living in Australia for a couple of years I came to New Zealand in 2011 – and never left. I’ve been in Whitianga for the last 13 years and now have an eight-year-old son who has grown up here. “Spending a lot of time working in

different places has given me many new skills. I love the different nationalities and enjoy chatting with our many German and Spanish-speaking guests in their native language.”

“A lot of our visitors go to The Thermal Pools at The Lost Spring and Hot Water Beach,” says Gina. “Along with Cathedral Cove these places are the top attractions that bring people here as a destination all year round, and of course the views from Waterfront are spectacular and it is only a few metres to walk before you are part of the view.” It is easy to see that this is much more than room servicing and reservations for Chris, Gina and Anika. “We share our skills in hospitality. I am definitely the fix-it maintenance person,” says Chris. “We all love the people aspect and we like dealing face to face with our guests. This business can have its ‘ups and downs’ but the ups far outweigh the downs.” Thirty years as a top hospitality place on the waterfront ls an excellent milestone. The Waterfront Apartments team is ready to welcome a host of summer visitors. Contact them direct for the best deals. Waterfront Apartments, 2 Buffalo Beach Road, Whitianga. Ph + 64 7 869 5994 To find out more see page 101.

for Business

You’re among the top 1% of hotels worldwide

Bayview Valley Lodge

13 x WINNER OF THE TRAVELLERS’ CHOICE BEST OF THE BEST | TOP 1% 2025/2026 Two Oceanview Suites with stunning Paci c views, including Gourmet Breakfast, Free Wi Fi, and a beautiful Hot Spa Pool for Ocean and viewing the stars. Also available are Private Chef Experience, in-suite Massage and Private Driver Guided tours of the Peninsula. 19A Tarapatiki Dr, Whitianga | Tel: 027 453 2821 | E: bayviewvalleylodge@gmail.com

Each year, we recognise travellers’ favourite spots around the world, based on reviews and ratings collected throughout the past year. Their reviews proved you’re one of the best – congrats on your well-deserved win.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

ACCOMMODATION

Space to Stay, Relax and Reconnect From golden beaches and coastal villages to relaxed days by the water, the Coromandel is made for easy escapes. Whether it’s a family getaway, a weekend with friends or a couples’ retreat, discover MyStays holiday homes across Whangamatā, Pauanui, Tairua, Matarangi, Whitianga and beyond — with the space, comfort and local care to make every stay feel Taken Care Of.

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Award-winning holiday home management, backed by local support and 24/7 guest care. We manage pricing, bookings, cleaning, presentation and guest support — taking care of the details from start to finish.

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Hamilton and beyond.

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info@mystays.co.nz 07 376– 7163 The Coromandel| Informer Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

ACCOMMODATION WATERFRONT APARTMENTS WHITIANGA

2 Buffalo Beach Rd

07 869 5994

Whitianga

info@waterfront.net.nz www.waterfront.net.nz Property Features • Just across the road from beautiful Buffalo Beach • All apartments with sea views • 5 mins walk to restaurants, shops, scenic cruises, and The Lost Spring • Free Hi Speed WIFI & SKY TV • Trip Advisor Travelers Choice top 10% of accommodation worldwide

TUSCANY ON THAMES 200 Jellicoe Crescent, Thames

07 868 5099 book@tuscanyonthames.co.nz www.tuscanyonthames.co.nz

A SLICE OF PARADISE ON EVERY LEVEL

nnabells B&B invites you to experience this slice of Paradise. 2 beautiful rooms with ensuites, a fully cooked breakfast, robes, a spa suite, a king bed, barista coffee, delightful Nutrimetics products in the bathrooms to elevate your enjoyment. We call it our Paradise because it’s a paradise to your eyes: ferns and Nikau Palms on 1.5 ha of sub tropical forest. A paradise for your senses: serenity, peacefulness, safety, a sensory delight of loveliness. A paradise for your excitement: rocky coastlines for boat cruises, deserted beaches to wander along,

caves to explore and the Cathedral Cove. A paradise for your tastebuds: so many great foodie places to visit. From Luke’s kitchen in Kuaotunu to Marina Bay eatery in Whitianga to The Pourhouse in Hahei, it is all here. A paradise for your family and friends - experiences galore from the Driving Creek Railway in Coromandel town to the snorkeling around the Alderman Islands. Owner Beverley Sheppard awaits your booking. Book direct at Annabells B&B website www.annabells.co.nz Ph +64 2109028855 Facebook - Annabells B&B

Property Features • 4 Star corporate motel • Spa baths • Across the road from the Hauraki rail trail • Plenty of bike storage • Air conditioning / heat pump • NZ Gold Card reduced rates • Outdoor swimming pool • Electric car charging

PAUANUI PINES MOTOR LODGE 174 Vista Paku, Pauanui

022 490 9886 info@pauanuipines.co.nz www.pauanuipines.co.nz Property Features • Within easy walking distance of the beach, shops, recreational club and two nine-hole golf courses. • Childrens Playground • Swimming pool & spa pool • Tennis court & gas BBQs • Free WiFi. • Small Conference room for hire. • Pet Friendly. The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Your Slice of a Tropical Retreat Two beautiful rooms with ensuites, a cooked breakfast, robes, a spa suite, a king bed, barista coffee. We call it our paradise; ferns and nikau palms on 1.5 ha of subtropical forest. Owner: Beverley Sheppard. Book direct online www.annabells.co.nz

Ph 021 0902 8855 www.annabells.co.nz | beverley@annabells.co.nz 101

ACCOMMODATION

TIPS ON HOW TO USE AI DURING YOUR HOLIDAY By Emir De Jerome (EJ) who has a regular column called Digital Decoder in The Informer newspaper. • You can use two fingers to pinch, zoom, or pan the image. • Tap if you want to restore something you removed 4. Tap Clean Up (if you’re using High Quality processing). 5. Tap, then tap Done to close the photo.

By Emir De Jerome (EJ) Your Personal Travel Agent Did you know you can use ChatGPT or Gemini to come up with a plan for your trip so you make the most of your stay and save yourself time on researching? The trick is to be specific, with as many details as you can add in your prompt. For example, you could try something like: “Create a 7-day Coromandel Peninsula itinerary for a couple visiting from Auckland in summer and travelling by car. Focus on art, sight-seeing, activities, cafes and dining, with relaxed pacing and at least 3 afternoons at a different beach.” Feel free to embellish the prompt with any other requirements.

GET RID OF UNWANTED OBJECTS IN YOUR HOLIDAY PICS Did you know that on newer iPhones, you can get

BY AGENT EJ If you’re interested in more AI-related news and content, I write a weekly column analysing some of the most pressing technology developments of our time called ‘Digital Decoder’, at The Coromandel Informer, an independently-run local community newspaper. Visit www.theinformer. co.nz/tech or scan the QR code.

rid of unwanted objects in your photos? Comes in handy for when another tourist becomes a distraction in the shot. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone. 1. Open a photo, then tap . 2. Tap Tools, then tap Clean Up. 3. Tap, brush, or circle what you want to remove. • Some items may be highlighted automatically so you can quickly tap to remove them.

• Unique family friendly activity • Explore the delights of the southern night sky from our dark sky site • View the Moon, stars, planets and distant galaxies through our research grade telescope in its rotating dome • Handle meteorites from space older than the Earth and rare dinosaur bones • Only 15 minutes north of Whitianga • Tours operate most clear nights • Bookings essential

9 School of Mines Lane, Kuaotunu, Whitianga Email: info@stargazersbb.com

Ph: (07) 866-5343 Web: stargazersbb.com ti Drive 3A Rewe Mobil) (opposite er.co.nz 0645 info@bask 07 866 late to Phone: 8.00am Hours

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Shine Canine: A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR YOUR HOLIDAY COMPANION By Verna Carr Every summer, the streets of Whitianga fills with visitors - and quite a few of them have four legs, a wagging tail, and no idea where the nearest dog-friendly beach is. If you’re one of the many holidaymakers bringing your dog along for the trip (or leaving them behind for a day while you explore), there’s a place just out of town that locals have trusted for years: Shine Canine. Turn onto Moewai Rd and you’ll find it - a couple of acres of fully fenced, wide-open space where dogs are free to run,explore, play, and simply be dogs. Behind it all is Tarah Spyve, who has spent more than 20 years learning what dogs actually need. She got her first puppy at 16 and named her Shine — and the name stuck as a philosophy long before it became a business. These days Tarah trains and judges at agility competitions around the country, and her own dogs regularly bring home ribbons. Watching her work a course — calling out cues without

missing a beat, dogs weaving and turning on her word — it’s obvious this is a passion for her. That same skill goes into every dog that comes through the gate, whether they’re locals or just passing through for the summer. Tarah and her fully trained, certified staff keep a close eye on the pack, so the dogs get to play freely while staying safe. If you’re staying a night or two, Shine Canine’s overnight deluxe suites are clean, comfortable, and roomy — real beds and couches, with space for dog families to stay together rather than being split up. There’s also a small shop on site stocked with quality food, treats, toys, and their own handmade leads and collars, handy for topping up supplies mid-holiday. So whether you’re after a beach day without the dog in tow, or need a safe, happy stay for your travel companion, Shine Canine is worth the short drive out of town. As the locals will tell you - once your dog visits, they won’t want to leave. Get in touch to arrange to view, and let the dog enjoy the holiday too.

ACCOMMODATION

Buffalo Beach Luxury B n B 68 Buffalo Beach Rd Whitianga +64 21 867 072

Shine Canine owner Tarah Spyve.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

103

MARKETS

MARKETS ON THE COROMANDEL By Verna Carr

After months of quiet Saturday mornings and many winter days, market season is in full swing by the time you get your Summer magazine for the Coromandel. While the rest of us were slacking off, the market vendors were not. Over winter they’ve been buying stock, making stock, preserving, crafting, knitting, sewing, forging, woodworking, painting, and putting natural things in jars. Nobody knows exactly what’s in some of those jars, but it smells divine and makes your skin feel good. Summer 2026/2027 season brings back some of your old favourites, plus there are new faces, new products, so come and check them out

COROGLEN The Coroglen Farmers Markets run every Sunday, 9.00am–1.00pm, from Sunday 25 October 2026 to Sunday 25 April 2027. Fine quality fresh produce, baking and live entertainment in an outdoor café setting. Also a lot of locally produced packaged food and very good art by local artists. Coroglen is about 17–18 km (roughly a 20-minute drive) south of Whitianga. Held at the Gum Diggers Hall on the main highway.

Some stalls offer free samples, but a friendly reminder: free samples are a taste, not a breakfast strategy. Speaking of breakfast, nothing beats the sizzle of a sausage, the smell of a bacon buttie, or the taste of a mussel fritter. The joy of a local market is that every vendor actually cares about what they’re selling you - it’s original, handmade, and often one of a kind, which makes it an excellent gift for your family, or, let’s be honest, for yourself. If you’re looking for a bespoke piece of art - painted on canvas, carved in wood, crafted jewellery, made in a forge, or knotted by hand - come and have a look. We’re sure there’ll be something you’d love, whether it’s around your neck, in your ears, or on the wall at home.

COOKS BEACH Cooks Beach Gala - Usually held on 4 January each year at the Cooks Beach Reserve. Fun for the whole family, everything from stalls and games to raffles and food. The gala raises funds for Whenuakite School and many staff parents and children from the school help organise and run the programme. It is a strong community event and loads of fun ( see page 53 ).

biggest market festival on the Coromandel Peninsula see page…300 plus stalls, live music, magic, kids rides – going the whole day. Entry $2 per person in The Coromandel Area School grounds., 55 Tiki Road.

COROMANDEL TOWN The Coromandel Town Street Markets have begun again for the warmer months located opposite the Four Square at the Hike and Bike lawn. There are so many food options nearby that it feels like a mini festival every Saturday morning, 8.30am – 12.30pm. Keltic Fair Always on 2 January – it is the

HAHEI Hahei Market Day is an annual fun free family event that is a fundraiser for the popular Hahei

Whiti Citi Markets, Whitianga Your must-visit weekend destination Discover the heart of Whitianga every Saturday morning at Whiti Citi Markets • Fresh local produce • Artisan crafts & gifts • Delicious food & coffee • Live music & family fun Soldiers Memorial Park, Albert St, Whitianga Town Centre Saturdays 9am-1.00pm

Come for the shopping, stay for the atmosphere! 104

Whitianga markets

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Matarangi Coromandel Town Cooks Beach

Whitianga

Hahei

Coroglen Tairua Pauanui

Thames

Whangamata

Ngatea Waihi

Thames miniature gauge railway

Community Library. Date & Time: Tuesday, January 5, 2027, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Venue: Kotare Reserve, Pa Road, Hahei Free entry. Over 120 stalls featuring local arts, crafts, clothing, and fresh local produce, diverse food vendors, barista coffee, cold drinks, and ice cream. Live local guitar performances and kids’ amusement. Free parking is available at the Hahei Carpark (a short 5-minute walk to the reserve), with shuttle buses to the Cathedral Cove Walk also accessible.

MATARANGI Matarangi Christmas Market at The Dunes Late November (typically 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM; The Dunes Matarangi 714 Matarangi Drive Browse local craftspeople, holiday gifts, wood products, and soft toys, paired with drinks and bar snacks at the venue. Matarangi Village Green Summer Markets Late December through January (notably kicking off around December 28–29 alongside the wider Matarangi Summer Festival. Village Green, Matarangi - Open-air community markets featuring local artisanal stalls, live stalls, and family.

NGATEA Markets are held on the second Sunday of every month. 9.00am – 1.00pm , Find them in Orchard Road West in and around Ngatea Hall. Sunday 8 November, Sunday 13

December, Sunday 10 January, 14 February, 14 March, Sunday, 11 April.

PAUANUI Pauanui Market is held the last Sunday of every month from 9.00am to 12.30pm. Venue is Recreational Hall, 31 Sheppard Ave., Pauanui. There is a market café, coffee cart, macadamia products, freshly baked homemade fare, fruit and veges, chutneys, jams , sauces and crafts.

TAIRUA Instead of the markets being in the Tairua Community Hall, they are now held at the Bowling Club until the new Pepe Bridge is completed. Held the first Saturday of the month from October throughout the Summer months. 9.00am – 1.00pm. A special market is held during the Easter weekend at the Tairua Fire Station.

THAMES Street Markets every Saturday in the year in Grahamstown, the more historical part of Thames. From 8.00am -12.00pm, they fill both sides of the street and they are held rain, hail or shine. Fruit and veges, plants, flowers, arts and crafts, collectibles and fine prepared foods ready to eat, books and bric a brac. Thames Miniature Gauge Railway is not a market but it feels like a festival. Every Sunday in Victoria Park Grahamstown 11.00am – 2.00pm just beyond Goldfields Shopping Mall.

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

WHANGAMATA Two festival days for Christmas/ New Year. Whangamata has an annual Festival Twilight Market Sunday 27 Dec 2.00pm – 8.00pm.Plus Summer Annual Day Market December 28 Dec.9.00am – 3.00pm. The venue is Wiliamson Park – lots of live music, craft stalls and food trucks, clothing, beach wear and beach gear., plants and tools.

WHITIANGA Whiti Citi Market has been held on Saturdays for many years. Summer market season began on 3 October and will be almost every Saturday weather permitting. Food - sausage sizzle, bacon butties, mussel fritter, mini pancakes and fairy floss.. Exotic grocery lineup - salt rubs, preserves, honey, and hot sauces. Lots of crafts and jewellery and artists in market residence paint while you watch. October: 3rd, 10th, 24th; November: 7, 21; December: 5, 12, 19, 26, Jan 2027: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Feb 2027: 6, 13, 20, 27. Mar 2027: 6, 13, 20, 27. Apr 2027: 10, 17, 24. Jun 2027: 5.

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A Promise of Lifelong Love: SECURING YOUR PET’S FUTURE WITH SPCA

iriam* adopted Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton from SPCA when they were just kittens. “I took one look at these sweet faces cuddled up together and knew they were meant to come home with me.” Elizabeth, Richard, and their siblings had been dumped with their mum when they were just a few days old. Sadly, their mum didn’t survive the ordeal, so her babies were bottle-fed by experienced foster parents until they were old enough to be adopted. “I knew when I got them that they’d had a pretty rough start to life, so I was determined to make sure they were loved and spoilt for the rest of their lives.” Our pets are our quiet protectors, our constant shadows, and our most loyal family members. They greet us with absolute devotion, sensing our moods and filling our homes with warmth. It’s only natural that we worry about what might happen to them if they outlive us, or if a time comes when we can no longer care for them ourselves. It’s certainly something that is on Miriam’s mind. “It’s something you think about when you own pets”, she says. “Who’s going to care for

Elizabeth and Richard are Miriam’s beloved companions them and love them as much as you do when you can’t anymore? It’s a real worry.” While asking family or friends is always the ideal first step, life can be unpredictable. That is why SPCA created the Pet Legacy Plan, a

compassionate safety net for pet owners. If there is no one else to care for your pets, SPCA will ensure they are placed with loving foster families until a new permanent home is found. This exclusive service is SPCA’s heartfelt way of saying ‘thank you’ to devoted animal lovers. That’s why confirming a gift to SPCA in your Will is the essential first step before you can enrol your companion. This beautiful gesture leaves a lasting legacy for animals across New Zealand, while also providing a safe haven for your own furry friends. For Miriam, a lifetime animal lover, it’s the perfect solution. “By leaving a gift to SPCA in my Will I know I’m helping future generations of New Zealand’s animals, while ensuring Elizabeth and Richard will continue to receive the care and love I’ve given them from people who love animals as much as I do.” If you would like to learn more, visit www. spca.nz/petlegacy-coromandel, or contact the SPCA Pet Legacy team at petlegacy@spca.nz or 021 598 313 to request your free information pack and take the first step towards lifelong protection for your companions. *name has been changed

Ensure Their Tomorrow, Today They fill your life with love and companionship – make sure they are safe when they need it most. If there comes a time when you can no longer care for your pets, SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan can provide a safe pathway for their future. The programme offers peace of mind to pet owners, knowing their pets will be cared for and supported into loving new homes. A gift in your Will can protect your pets and help future generations of animals. Learn more about SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan and Gifts in Wills on www.spca.nz/petlegacy-coromandel or call our team on 021 598 313

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

OUR REMARKABLE SOUTHERN KAURI LANDS Hidden in the heart of the Coromandel lie some of the last strongholds of southern kauri, mighty trees that have stood for over 1,500 years. Rare ferns, orchids and frogs make these forests home.

Kauri distriubti tioon in the Waikato region

Kak a

This summer, take a moment to connect with one of Aotearoa’s most iconic taonga. Wander beneath towering trunks, breathe in their ancient presence and learn how you can help keep them standing.

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Why kauri matter

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Over 94,000 hectares of kauri forest remain in Waikato and Coromandel. Kauri plays a unique role in shaping the forest. The slow-to-decompose leaves, bark and cone scales they drop build up around the trees and change soil chemistry, influencing which other plants can grow nearby. Kauri provide critical habitat for rare and endangered species to thrive, like the Archey’s frog, Rawling’s strapfern, and fan fern.

Follow the rules to protect our taonga. kauriprotection.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Whether you’re hiking, holidaying or just curious, your actions make a difference.

Scrub

Check

Spray

Stay

107

Taken by Peter Jury

View the full article at waikatoregion.govt.nz/services/biosecurity/kauri-protection

How you can help

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

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Three Three businesses businesses all at all at 43 Moewai Rd, Whitianga 43 Moewai Rd, Whitianga

ANYTHING FIBREGLASS FIXED RIGHT

Mobile gantry for easy boat removal

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whitianga wof & service hybrid servicing brake & suspension repairs VEHICLE REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE & DIAGNOSTICS VEHICLE REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE & DIAGNOSTICS

Dan Mizen Dan Mizen FREE WOF or 020 417 27855 07 866 9531 or 07 020866 4179531 27855 with full service whitiautoworx@outlook.com whitiautoworx@outlook.com until end October

COROMANDEL IRON WORKS Mechanical engineer and fitter Fit and fabricate whatever is needed All general engineering Tony Jump (aka Jumpy) 027 251 1410 ironworks2112@gmail.com

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Phone: 07 866 2245

Your Local Plumbing & Bathroom Experts  Bathrooms  Plumbing  Heating  Drainage  Local delivery  Friendly service

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The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

0 2 74 7 1 2 2 47 matarangiplumbing@gmail.com

Based in Whitianga 109

TRADES & SERVICES

PC EEle lect ctririca call Lt Ltd d

Registered Electrician / Inspector www.pcelectrical.co.nz • New House Wiring • Boat & Caravan EWOF • Lighting Design • Security Systems • Maintenance • House Retrofitting • Solar Energy • Underfloor & Under Tile Heating

• Servicing and Repairs • Subaru Specialist • Batteries • Towbar Installer • W.O.F • Electronic Diagnostics

Ph 07 866 5509 admin@pcelectrical.co.nz “The Total Package”

Your Local Electricians - we do it all!

Planners Plus LIMITED

* Domestic * Commercial * Rural *

5 Monk Street, Whitianga Office Ph: 07 8671087 Email: info@plannersplus.co.nz

Ph: 07 866 2452 | 027 4972 680 | 24/7 Service • New Houses, Buildings and Renovations • Heat Pump Installations & Underfloor Heating • Security Alarms & Cameras • Maintenance & Service • Installer of Evnex EV Chargers plus we offer other brands • FREE Quotes - call today

David: 027 4994833 Tracey: 027 4907988 See us for all your land development, planning, subdivision and resource consent requirements.

www.plannersplus.co.nz

www.coromandel.laserelectrical.co.nz | p.hally@laserelectrical.co.nz

A TOTALSPAN SHED

DESIGNED FOR YOU Whether you need a place to store your boat, a workshop for your hobbies or you’re making room for future plans, the right building can make life easier and add real value to your property. At Totalspan Coromandel, every custom-designed building is designed around you. We take the time to understand how you want to use your space, the unique features of your land and the budget you’re working with. From simple kitset buildings to fully managed builds, our local team can support you with as much or as little of the process as you need, making the journey straightforward from concept to completion. As a locally owned and operated business, we’re proud to use New Zealand steel and bring local Coromandel knowledge to every project, that perform in local conditions and stand the test of time.

The process was easy from beginning to handover, and the attention to detail was second to none.

Scan the QR code get in touch with Totalspan Coromandel 110

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

Wearable button + home base unit

Control panel, 2 motion sensors, remote for arming Wear it around your neck or wrist. Simple to and disarming, panic button and external WHITIANGA SECURITY WHITIANGA SECURITY use — nothing to dial, no small buttons to siren/strobe — whole-home protection, not just one Help at at the the Push of aa Button Help Button fumblTwo e wiways tways h. totoget room. Two get help help fast, fast, at at home, home, day dayand andnight night

Installed: $500.00 + GST

Installed: $875.00 + GST

(one-off)

Livingindependently independentlyshould should never never mean Living mean facing facingan anemergency emergencyalone. alone.

With a Whitianga Security Panic or Intruder alarm help is always close by. Choose the option that With a Whitianga Security Panic or Intruder alarm help is always close by. Choose the option that suits you best below. WHITIANGA SECURITY suits you best below.

Help1 at the Push of a Button OPTION OPTION 2 OPTION 1

OPTION 2

Wearable Panic Button Complete Home Kit Two Button ways to get help fast, at home, day and nightSecurity Wearable Panic Complete Home Security Kit

Monitoring for either option: $25.00 + GST per month

Living independently should never mean facing an emergency alone. With a Whitianga Security Panic or Intruder alarm help is always close by. Choose the option that suits you best below. OPTION 1

No extra charge when help attends — ever. OPTION 2

Wearable button + home base unit

+ homeorbase unit Simple to Wear itWearable around button your neck wrist. useit— nothing to dial, Wear around your neckno orsmall wrist.buttons Simpletoto with. use — nothing tofumble dial, no small buttons to fumble with. + GST Installed: $500.00

Control panel, 2 motion sensors, remote for arming Complete Home Security Kit andpanel, disarming, panicsensors, button and external Control 2 motion remote for arming siren/strobe — whole-home protection, not just one and disarming, panic button and external room. protection, not just one siren/strobe — whole-home room. + GST Installed: $875.00

(one-off)

Wearable Panic Button

+ GST $875.00 + GST “WhenInstalled: you press$500.00 your pani c button or your intruder alInstalled: arm activates, a Whitianga Security option: GST per representative wiMonitoring l attend theforsieither te to check on $25.00 you and+make suremonth you're okay — giving you Monitoring for either option: $25.00 + GST per month and your family true peace of mind.” Wearable button + home base unit

No extra charge whenControl help attends ever. sensors, remote for arming panel,— 2 motion and disarming, panic button and external Wear it around your neck or wrist. Simple to No extra charge when help attends — ever. siren/strobe — whole-home protection, not just one use — nothing to dial, no small buttons to room. fumble with.

“When you press your panic button or your intruder alarm activates, a Whitianga Security Installed:will $500.00 GST Installed: $875.00 + GST representative attend+the site to check on you and make sure you're okay — giving you “When you press(one-off) your panic button or your intruder alarm activates, a Whitianga Security and your family true peace of mind.” (one-off) representative will attend the site to check on you and make sure you're okay — giving you and your family true peace of mind.”

24/7 Monitoring and response services Monitoring for either option: $25.00 + GST per month

Get Started No extra charge when helpToday attends — ever. Call Whitianga Security to arrange your installation

Get Started Today

Barry Flynn 0274 968 Call Whitianga Security • to arrange your 186 installation “When you press yourWhitianga panic button your intruder alarm activates, Securityor | Proudly keeping our community safe a Whitianga Security representative will attendBarry the siteFlynn to check • on 0274 you and968 make186 sure you're okay — giving you andSecurity your family true peace mind.” safe Whitianga | Proudly keeping ourofcommunity

Call Whitianga Security to arrange your installation

Barry Flynn • 0274 968 186

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PROGRESSIVE HOUSEMOVERS LTD

Your housemoverand andfoundation foundationSPECIALIST SPECIALIST Your LOCAL local housemover

Your local and foundation SPECIALIST Your Relocatable local housemover housemover and foundation SPECIALIST house packages for sale at Relocatable house packages for sale Relocatable house packages for sale at at 55 & 40 Kohunui St, Ngatea & 40 Kohunui St, Ngatea 5 & 40 Kohunui St, Ngatea For all your needs on the Hauraki Plains and beyond

For all your on Hauraki Plains and your needs needs on the the Hauraki Plains and beyond beyond • For LBPall qualified • Houses bought & sold • House moving •• LBP qualified • Houses bought & sold • House moving qualified • Houses bought & sold • Housemoving moving •LBP On-site moves • Jacking & rolling • Structural •• On-site moves • Jacking & rolling • Structural moving On-site moves • Jacking &• Pile rolling • Structural • Re-piling • Re-levelling driving • Push moving piles •• Re-piling Re-piling •• Re-levelling Re-levelling •• Pile Pile driving driving •• Push Push piles piles

phm.co.nz •• sales@phm.co.nz phm.co.nz phm.co.nz • sales@phm.co.nz sales@phm.co.nz Andy 021 125 1668 • Ian 027 442 6001 Andy 021 125 1668 Andy 021 125 1668 •• Ian Ian 027 027 442 442 6001 6001

Get Started Today

Whitianga Security | Proudly keeping our community safe

Call Whitianga Security to arrange your installation

Barry Flynn • 0274 968 186

Whitianga Security | Proudly keeping our community safe

your local towing experts • Vehicle Recovery • Insurance Towing • Roadside Rescue

• Jumpstarts • Batteries • Lockouts • North Island-Wide Transport

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

111

REAL P U D N U O ESTATE R LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERTS YOU CAN TRUST

Whether buying, selling or watching the market, the right agent matters.

Cavin McGrath

Ange Ball Business Owner Office Manager Salesperson

Licensed Sales Consultant/ Business Owner

021 131 8525 o ﬁce@ a andco.nz

021 0238 9767 rob@ballandco.nz

Danielle Sherriff Kapp 021 256 9495

d To Dedicate ing Deliver Results Whitianga Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Sales Consultant REAA 2008.

027 783 1967

Katrina Carlyon

021 724 200

ence Experi n You Ca Trust Whitianga Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

Licensed Salesperson

021 0801 9154

Cuppa Have a vin with Ca Whitianga Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

kieran@ballandco.nz

cavin.mcgrath@harcourts.co.nz

Kirby Faulkner

Kirstin Brown

e Advic Real ts Resul Real

Your , Property My . Priority

027 436 9990

Whitianga Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

027 301 1775

Whitianga Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

danielle.sherriffkapp@harcourts.co.nz

katrina.carlyon@harcourts.co.nz

kirby.faulkner@harcourts.co.nz

kirstin.brown@harcourts.co.nz

Natasha Sarich-Dunn

Noelene Bellingham

Paulette Tainsh

Jo Wardle-Heath

021 152 9356

Buying g & Sellin e Mad Simple

027 280 8477

Your Local Expert

Whitianga

natasha.sarich-dunn@harcourts.co.nz

noelene.bellingham@harcourts.co.nz

Keli Jones

Philippa Evans

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Sales Consultant REAA 2008.

027 694 6446 Dedicated l Insightfu ate n & Passio About tate Real Es

Tairua

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

keli.jones@harcourts.co.nz

112

Kieran Corliss

Rob Ball

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

021 266 9295

Results nt you wa e Servic erve you des Tairua

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

philippa.evans@harcourts.co.nz

027 241 2001

ea, Sun,S Sand & SOLD Cooks Beach Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

027 470 7883 dvice, Honest A Proven ce, Experien sults Real Re

Tairua

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

paulette.tainsh@harcourts.co.nz

jo.wardle-heath@harcourts.co.nz

Riki Tawa

Donna Earley

ocal Trusted L Property Expert

count Don’t Dis gest Your Big Asset

027 784 4017

Tairua

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

riki.tawa@harcourts.co.nz

027 933 0313

Tairua Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

donna.earley@harcourts.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

LOCAL EXPERTS Sonia Bruce 0274 333 111 “Helping you make your next move.”

Glenn Wells 0800 735 788

Providing proactive & premtive marketing

r ive ove Proact ive React

Maria Blundel 0220815817 Raewyn Trail 02102019111 Glenn Wells 0275 984 267

Coromandel

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

Sonia.Bruce@bayleys.co.nz

glenn.wells@harcourts.co.nz

Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008.

07 866 8260

ALTOGETHER BETTER THAMES COAST

HERE FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE In a highly successful partnership for over 16 years, Bev and Sheree share a wealth of experience and knowledge. Being part of the Bayleys team means they are backed by the best possible resources in the industry.

Covering all aspects of Real Estate sales and marketing to managing property portfolios with excellent results!

Whether you're ready to sell, buy or contemplating your next move - get in touch today.

Call Tracey Bergersen

Working for you to deliver outstanding results in the Coromandel Peninsula

Bev Calder | 027 279 4401 | bev.calder@bayleys.co.nz Sheree Henderson | 027 662 9558 | sheree.henderson@bayleys.co.nz M H REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula 2026/2027

One Agency Thames Coast on 07 777 4005 or 027 405 3678 Email traceybergersen@oneagency.net.nz www.oneagency.nz or traceybergersen.co.nz REAA 2008 113

NOT SELLING? WE SHOULD STILL TALK. Wondering what your property is worth? Curious about what’s selling in your neigbourhood Thinking about buying? Planning your next move even if it’s a few years away?

Real Estate isn’t only about selling houses. Its about knowing your property, understanding your market and having the right people to call when you need them

WHATEVER THE PROPERTY QUESTION,

START WITH RICHARDSONS

richardsons.co.nz 114

10 OFFICES KNOWLEDGE ONE CONNECTED TEAM across the region that only locals have working for2026/2027 you The Coromandel Informer – Coromandel – Your Holiday Peninsula

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BUILT WELL. BUILT TO LAST. W

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Family-owned building company with over 25 years’ experience, delivering quality homes across the Coromandel.

Cale enning | 027 537 5953 | ale ay ide on tr tion on W

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Family-owned building company with over 25 years’ experience, delivering quality homes across the Coromandel.

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| 027 537 5953 |

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