Home in the Coromandel
There’s something about the Coromandel that stays with you.
Maybe it’s the way the bush runs all the way down to the sea, or how a sunset turns the sky gold. Maybe it’s the people – because every voice here adds colour to the bigger story of our place.
But what makes this place truly special isn’t just the scenery. It’s the responsibility we all share to look after it.
As a Coastal Kaitiaki, I see first-hand how much the ocean gives us – and how much it struggles under the weight of waste. Every summer, tonnes of single-use plastic end up on our beaches and in our moana. New Zealand alone sends around 252,000 tonnes of plastic to landfill each year. Although plastic only makes up about 8% of our waste by weight, it bulks out to occupy around 20% of landfill space. And because plastic doesn’t break down, much of it ends up spilling into the environment.
That’s why I started Coromandel Cold.
We’ve created New Zealand’s first 3 kg bag of reusable ice, designed to look and feel like a traditional bag of party or salt ice – but with a huge difference. Coromandel Cold ice bags can be reused up to 1,000 times. Across its lifetime, just one bag saves around 46 kg of single-use plastic from heading to landfill.
Instead of ripping and tossing another plastic bag after a weekend, you’ve got something sturdy, reliable, and built to last. Multiply that across hundreds of fishers, campers, and families over the summer, and suddenly we’re cutting out thousands of single-use bags from our waste stream.
It’s easy to think small actions don’t matter – but they do. Studies show that less than 10% of plastic produced globally is recycled, and if business as usual continues, plastic waste is projected to nearly triple by 2060. So every choice we make – from picking up rubbish on a walk, to saying no to extra packaging, to swapping to reusable products – really does send a message: I care about this place.
And when enough of us make those choices, we see real change. Cleaner beaches. Safer oceans. A better summer for everyone.
I’m 19, and I’m learning as I go – but one thing I’ve already learned is that passion matters more than perfection. You don’t have to be an expert or get everything right. You just have to start.
So, this summer, when you’re loading the chilly bin, heading out fishing, or packing for a beach day, think about the small swaps that add up to something big.
Together, we can keep the Coromandel the kind of place we’re proud to call home.
You can find Coromandel Cold at Whitianga Fine Wines & Spirits, The Bottle-O Whitianga Liquor Store, Liquorland Whitianga, Kūaotunu Store, The Pour House in Hahei and Coromandel Fish Dive & Hunt in Coro Town.
- Even though plastic is only about 8% of our rubbish by weight, it takes up nearly a fifth of our landfill space because it’s so bulky. Plastic recovered from coastlines is difficult to recycle as it is often brittle and partly broken down.
- Every year, New Zealanders throw away about 252,000 tonnes of plastic – most of it never gets recycled.
- Tiny plastic fragments, called microplastics, are showing up on beaches across New Zealand. Most are so small you can’t even see them.
- In Auckland, scientists have found microplastics on the coast at levels up to 50 times higher than older studies thought.
- Plastic is the most common litter on Kiwi beaches – and it’s been found inside fish, shellfish, and seabirds.
- It’s not just wildlife that suffers: plastic pollution can spoil the look of our favourite beaches and put a dent in tourism and community pride.
Words by Roman Carley – Coastal Kaitiaki & Founder, Coromandel Cold
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