Coromandel Life Magazine 2018 Winter

59 / 64

The annual Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) Community Guided
Snorkel Day took place on Sunday 25 February. This Coromandel
area dive took place at Gemstone Bay’s Snorkel Trail, part of the Te
Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve near Hahei.
Gemstone Bay’s Snorkle Trail features signage and floating buoys with
hand grips that offer the weary a place to rest. EMR Coordinator Amber
Boyd, 9 volunteers, and over 70 snorkelers of all ages and nationalities
took part. “Even Tania, a grandmother and first time snorkeler,” says
Amber. “Our Marine Reserve is home to so many types of fish – the kids
saw baby eagle rays, BIG snapper, BIG crayfish and Pipe.”
The annual Snorkel Day is just part of the mission of the EMR. The
ongoing purpose is to enlist NZ coastal schools to be advocates for
creating even more marine reserves. DOC and the Te Whanganui a Hei
Marine Reserve committee help fund and coordinate the programme
and about a dozen peninsula schools are involved. For info about the
Coromandel EMR school programmes see . See feature
about the reserve in the 2018 Summer issue of Coromandel Life.
Annual
snorkel
day
59
Phone 07 866 5818 for bookings
2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga
A PREMIERE RESTAURANT AT A
GREAT WATERFRONT LOCATION...
offering uninterrupted views of the crystal waters
of the Marina whilst enjoying a relaxing meal at
one of the Coromandel’s finest waterfront restaurants.
Enviably located, SALT RESTAURANT
is an ideal venue for a long lunch,
afternoon cocktail, or moonlit dinner.
SALT RESTAURANT
is also the ideal location for your
dream wedding day or special function.
Call for your booking today
A crowd pleasing clown makes balloon creations, while three Te Rerenga
School students show off their cooking chops in the ATOM Cook Off tent.
- Photos by Felicity Jean Photography
Fun... feasts... and funding
“It just gets bigger and better” – mentioned one of the 2500 attendees
this year. Another said, “What a way to enjoy a day out – listening to
music, eating amazing food and drinking some quality wine next to a
beautiful beach. It’s like one big happy family.”
The well thought out line up of music proved very popular, and had
people up dancing earlier in the day with no room to spare, as the photo
above shows.
“The great ‘A Taste of Matarangi Cook Off’ was a new event this year.
The competition featured a cook off between three local home cooks”,
explained Event Coordinator Bronwyn Ririnui. ”Also three teams from the
Te Rerenga School competed by creating their own dish.”
Fish catchers, fish cooks and fish lovers enjoyed a Fish Demonstration
where they learned the ins and outs of seafood prep.
Search and Rescue benefit big! $16,000 was donated – $10,000 to
the Auckland/Coromandel Rescue Helicopter and $6,000 to Kuaotunu
Search & Rescue services.
And the Taste keeps coming! Next year’s festival will be 6 April 2019.
See and visit the festival’s FB page to
view photos. To be a sponsor or volunteer for the 2019 festival, email
or contact Bronwyn on 021 158 4774.
A Taste of
Matarangi
Felicity Jean Photography
in WHITIANGA & MATARANGI