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Our Industry Stand showcased the diverse range of local industries across Thames-Coromandel, offering a flexible space for professionals to share insights and answer questions — without needing to commit an entire day. It was a true celebration of our region’s vibrant economic landscape, designed to show real pathways into local industries and careers.

A highlight of the day came early, when the very first student we spoke to mentioned she wanted to become a lawyer. As if by perfect timing, a local lawyer from one of our firms was volunteering at the stall that morning. What followed was a long and meaningful conversation, with the student walking away energised and armed with advice about subject choices, work experience, and local opportunities. The lawyer, too, was clearly inspired by the chance to give back and connect so personally with a young person passionate about their field. These kinds of interactions are what make local engagement so powerful, showing students that the careers they dream about aren’t distant or unreachable, but right here in their community.

The stand also featured a visual data map that encouraged students to reflect on their own interests and think about which industries or career paths might be a good fit. Judging by the number of thoughtful conversations we had throughout the day, it was clear that students were genuinely considering how their passions could align with real-world opportunities.

At our Entrepreneurship Stand, the focus was on sparking creativity and helping students think like business owners. An “ideas generator” prompted them to identify everyday problems and brainstorm solutions, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurial mindset.

One of the most memorable moments here came from a young student, just 8 years old, who proudly shared that she wanted to become a Police Officer. When asked if she knew anyone in that role, she said no but added that she’d spoken to the Police officers at the event earlier that day. She then took part in our “Postcard to Your Future Self” activity, which asked students to write a positive message to themselves 10 years from now. Without hesitation, she wrote:

“Keep going. We need good leaders.”

We were blown away by her determination, and sense of purpose at such a young age. She got the biggest high-five of the day! Moments like these are a beautiful reminder of the potential in our young people and the power of simply listening, encouraging, and giving them the space to dream big. 

Thanks to Soda, we had a free business fundamentals course to giveaway to one lucky winner whom could give us the best brief of their business idea. A huge congratulations to Anja from Thames High School, who won our Business Fundamentals course giveaway. This will be a fantastic opportunity to deepen her entrepreneurial skills to get her “Blindly Reading” idea off the ground

The careers roadshow is a yearly event, if you are interested in taking part next time, keep an eye out for updates on this. Alternatively, if you have feedback to share on this year’s event we would love to hear from you. Please send any feedback to lisa.church@tcdc.govt.nz

Much of the survey findings reflect what we know and hear already, but these insights provide depth, scale, and evidence to help capture the nuances. Pleasingly, insights also reflect what makes the district special, yet not unique in some of its challenges.

Health plays a big role in our wellbeing. The findings show that we have good knowledge on how to manage our health, but actually maintaining good health is difficult for many due to cost, timeliness, and accessibility of health care services. Much of this links to wider systemic issues but localised solutions combined with advocacy to national levels could make a real difference.

Positively, most survey respondents feel safe at home and in their community, though some raised safety concerns relating to crime, drugs, or family abuse. Others noted concerns of their community not being a welcoming space for children and young people.

Many respondents feel that they are part of a community and that they have a strong community of family and friends around them. However, findings also surfaced social division and inequality within the district, leading to negative impacts on social trust, sense of belonging and sense of community. In part this division reflects the national context; the key theme here is perhaps best described as one of difference.

Wellbeing between towns also differs, with respondents from Whitianga and Whangamatā tending to score highest on measures of wellbeing, communty connection, and feelings of safety than respondents from Thames and Coromandel Town.

Over 55+ year old (n=455) respondents have the highest overall wellbeing of all groups measured – they’re a pretty happy bunch with high comfort on housing quality, safety, financial literacy, health and lifestyle.

For adults aged 25-54 years (n=390) having one’s cultural identity recognised and protected, as well as access to culture are priority needs, playing strongly into indicators of overall wellbeing. Many did not agree that their cultural identity is recognised and respected by the political system, and most are not getting enough sleep.

Māori respondents (n=149) reported strong pride in cultural identity and strong connection to whenua and had the second highest overall wellbeing for measurement groups, but their access to appropriate job opportunities and financial support options were relatively low.

Those living with mental, cognitive, or physical disability or other mobility challenges (n=159) had the lowest wellbeing score of all measured groups. We know we’ve got to do better as a community to support these groups, not just to improve physical environments, housing, and healthcare access but to consider participation in community activities, social connections, and suitable job opportunities.

One of the features that makes the district so special is a strong pride of place and care for the environment and this was reinforced in survey findings. The connection to nature was strong across all respondent groups, generally accompanying calls for more environmental action and better stewardship of local land.

Extreme weather events have impacted the majority of respondents with concern for future events.  While we have great strength in rebuilding and connecting in the face of emergencies only around 60% of respondents have taken actions to protect themselves and their family from extreme weather and climate events.

There are many more insights from this survey covering all manner of topics from rangatahi to housing and job opportunities. We encourage you to read the full report here. 

What makes this survey unique is that it was co-designed and co-constructed by the community. Many locals contributed their time and knowledge to help shape the questions, ensuring they reflected real experiences and priorities. So, when the survey findings were shared in a public webinar on 3 September it was only fitting that we invited these contributors back together to connect in person and acknowledge their contribution.

At the launch, contributors gathered to watch the public webinar, reflect on key insights, and discuss how these findings could be applied within their organisations and across the community. Already, many have started planning how to use the results to guide decision-making, improve services, and strengthen wellbeing outcomes.

Some findings sparked conversation, including the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing housing and employment, the high percentage of respondents feeling lonely at least once a week, and the number of people unaware of how to access financial services. The results also highlighted areas of strength, such as strong community connections in Northern Coromandel.

We noted the importance of the dataset as a tool for action. Suggestions included using the results to support funding applications, inform strategic planning, and run localised follow-up surveys. Importantly, the survey provides a statistically reliable snapshot of community wellbeing that can be revisited and built on over time.

We want to acknowledge and thank everyone involved in the co-design process, promotion, and workshop discussions. Your contributions ensure this survey is not just another report on the shelf, but a living tool to guide collective action and improve the wellbeing of our communities.

If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here.

If your organisation would benefit from social impact measurement guidance or has queries about this project, please get in touch with Helen, our Community Partnerships Coordinator, or reach out directly to Harvey at the Waikato Wellbeing Initiative: harvey.brookes@waikatoregion.govt.nz.

This survey is one of many sources of information we use in the work we do to serve our community. Council makes many investment decisions that influence community wellbeing and where it does not have a direct influence can be strong advocates and supporters. These findings can help our decision-makers make well-informed decisions, balancing individual needs and wants with public interest.

We’ll be drawing on the Hauraki Opportunity insights to support important planning work, advocacy, and cases for external funding. We’re also supporting local social service organisations and community groups to access, understand, and apply the findings to have impact in their work.

Ultimately however, we all have a role to play in understanding and improving our collective wellbeing - a shared responsibility to:

• Create welcoming and accessible spaces and activities for all.
• Ensure that through our individual and collective actions we all have access to affordable food and water, housing, and healthcare as basic human needs.
• Be recognised by our political system.
• Support opportunities for purpose, meaning, and financial security.
• Protect the environment, whenua, and our communities in a changing climate and for generations to come.

How might you and your community draw on these localised insights and improve subjective wellbeing across the Thames-Coromandel?

Having good information on what matters to those who live, work, and play in the Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, and Matamata-Piako districts helps our communities make good decisions, advocate for action, and invest wisely.

The Hauraki Opportunity was funded by Trust Waikato and The Waikato Wellbeing Project, with Councils and Te Tara o Te Whai as partners to support the project. The main output for the project was a comprehensive survey to measure wellbeing.

Many diverse community members gave their time to help design and construct the survey. A massive thank you to all those who were involved!

In the survey creation process the project team asked questions like:

• What is important to you and helps you define a quality life? e.g. good physical health.
• What contributes to these aspects of a quality life? e.g. a good nights sleep, connection to the outdoors.

This resulted in a survey that asked respondents about 78 different factors that impact us, from physical and mental health to social connection, access to services, and community cohesion. Respondents were asked to rate their wellbeing from a scale of 1 – 7 for each of the factors and this was analysed to show predictors and priority needs of wellbeing and how people were doing overall. Almost 900 people completed the survey which ran from October 2024 to March 2025.