News
We have our finger on the arts pulse of the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki rohe.
Learn all about the local creative community through our news and interviews.
Spring Time – artbeat Time!
Spring is almost here, and that means the start of the 3rd coromandel artbeat spring festival! Yes, it’s hard to believe, but we’re in round 3 already! Woop-woop!
Mapping Colour: An Exhibition and Residency Adventure
In her solo exhibition of retrospective and contemporary work and aptly subtitled ‘A Textural Exhibition of an Exploration of Plant Dyes’, the artist wants to show the vast range of colour that can be obtained from plant dyes and earth pigments…
Sofia Tekela-Smith & The Arts Of Oceania Exhibition in NY
Sofia Tekela-Smith is a New Zealand-Rotuman artist specialising in jewellery and body adornments. Many may recall her stunning garland in the Art is Identity exhibition in Kūaotunu and Kapanga this past January. Sofia just returned from New York where her work is on show at the Oceania Gallery in the MET.
August 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
July 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
Mana Mātātahi: Divine On Every Level
It was a great joy to experience Mana Mātātahi at their Matariki concert at St. George’s Church in Thames. The energy, complexity of harmonies, and interaction between the vocalists in this youth-driven chorus were outstanding.
The Kiribati Mamas: Louisa & Kaetaeta
Over the coming months, we’ve decided to share the enthusiastically received exhibition, Art Is Identity. Our first choice is a long-held historical and collaborative pair: the delightful, talented, and humble Louisa Humphry and Kaetaeta Watson.
Creative Coromandel Farewells Founding Member and Trustee
After eight years of dedicated service, Bernie Ross has retired from her role as an original Trustee of He Mana Toi Moehau Trust/ Creative Coromandel. A respected figure in the Whangamatā arts community, Bernie is widely known for her beautiful harakeke weaving and her passionate advocacy for Toi Māori/ Māori art.
June 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
artbeat impact report
2024 was a huge success! Over the 3 months the festival had 91 events. There were over 30,000 event attendees with 9,000 from outside the region.
Total ticket sales were above $200k, and total outside visitor spend while here went past the $3 million mark.
Find out all the facts in this colourful and fun, easy to digest 40-page report!
The Nukes Are Coming To Thames!
Enter the slightly askew and magical world of ukulele trio ‘The Nukes’, who have been wowing audiences around Aotearoa for over 15 years. Now, with young Parker prodigy JayP, they embark on a new musical journey as they undertake the next chapter in their colourful and eventful career.
Whangamatā Easter Art Trail Breaks Records Despite Wild Weather
Rain couldn’t dampen the spirit of art lovers who turned out in force for this year’s Whangamatā Easter Art Trail – the biggest and most successful yet.
Connection, Collaboration, Creativity & Community
Ngā mihi nui to the Thames creative community for a fabulous Wednesday night on the 9th of April at our Creative Conversations! This completed the first round of going into all the five wards, to connect and kōrero with creatives all across the rohe.
May 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
SaltWood: A Musical Duo Born Out of a Challenge – An Interview with Len Salt and Anna Dunwoodie
By Jessica Paton In this Q&A session, Jessica Paton has a chat with our mayor and his musical partner about their musical background, what drives them, and why they enjoy live perfoming the best of all. Q: Who Are You? Could you introduce yourself and give...
April 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
Toi Whakairo | Wānanga | Mahi Toi
Ngākau Carving Symposium is back for its third year and kicks off next month in Thames between the 12th and 26th of April. With a fantastic lineup of artists, activities, and wānanga (workshops), this is a mahi toi event you do not want to miss! Ngākau this year has...
March 2025 Pānui/ Newsletter
News from around the rohe on what’s been happening in the creative industries!
Mercury Bay Art Escape
The annual artists’ open studios, held the first two weekends of March each year, feature a rich and eclectic mix of art mediums. This is a unique opportunity to visit and chat with member artists in their studios, see their work in progress, learn what inspires them and what new art they are creating, and buy directly from their studios.
Random Addition #3
“And then, for 10 days – with input from anyone who visits – we create a single piece of ever-shifting music, pieced together from the sounds and ideas made in the space.”