The Coromandel, New Zealand | Hauraki Coromandel GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL

GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki is grounded in the values of kaitiakitanga; caring for and protecting the land, sea, and community for future generations. We invite visitors, locals and businesses to support Hauraki Coromandel. Be part of the GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki story.

How it Works

Choose a site and donate or gift $10 to plant a tree, with $1 supporting the vision of a predator-free Hauraki Coromandel and helping protect biodiversity.

Individual Donation

Individual donation
Business Donation

Business donation
Kaitiaki Impact

GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki Impact
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Meet Ureia – the kaitiaki of good for your soul

Ureia is our guardian, a taniwha who symbolises the spirit of giving back. We believe tourism should enrich the lives of locals and visitors, while protecting and restoring the land, culture, and biodiversity that make this place special. That belief is what inspired GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL – Kaitiaki. Find out more

The Kaitiaki Tohu

The Coromandel Peninsula, known as Te Tara o Te Whai, draws its name from the stingray and is rich in Māori tradition. Central to local folklore is the story of Ureia, a shape-shifting kaitiaki of Pare Hauraki who took the form of a whale when guiding the Tainui waka to Aotearoa.

Te Tara o te Whai - The barb of the stingray

In Aotearoa - New Zealand the North Island is also known as Te Ika a Maui - The Fish of Māui. When viewing a map you can observe the shape of the North Island as a stingray. The Coromandel Peninsula is distinctive in its appearance as the barb of the stingray. Locally, this is called Te Tara o te Whai.
(Tara - barb. Whai - stingray)

Ureia, the guardian

Ureia is a legend of the Pacific. A shapeshifting kaitiaki who took the form of a whale when guiding the Tainui waka to Aotearoa. The whale’s tail forms the shape of the stingray - thus representing Ureia.
(Tainui waka - an ocean going canoe of the great migration)

Hauraki

At the heart of the stingray lies the Aronui diamond. Composed of three triangles that acknowledge the original tribes who settled here, tribes that descend from voyagers aboard the Tainui waka, and those who were gifted land in this place called Hauraki.
(Aronui - pursuit of knowledge; art and craftsmanship of working and caring for the land we love. Hauraki - interpreted to mean northerly wind)

Te Ara o Ureia - The pathway of Ureia

Within the whale tail are the swirling rivers and whirlpools forged in the pathway of Ureia. From the northern point of the Coromandel Peninsula to the inland rivers of the beautiful Karangahake Gorge.

The Great Voyage

The Rauawa pattern across its wings symbolises the great voyage from Hawaiki.
(Rauawa - side planks on the waka)

5 local aspirations

Running down the spine of the stingray are Unaunahi - 5 notches that hold the strength, health and abundance of those who connect with this place: Regenerate the environment; Honour past and future; Nourish creativity, arts and culture; Reflect community priorities; Uphold manawhenua aspirations.
(mana whenua - Māori who connect back to this place)

Expand Your Support

Caring for Hauraki Coromandel is a shared responsibility, and there are many ways you can contribute to GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki. Whether you’re visiting, living here, or part of a local business, your involvement makes a difference.

Travel Responsibly

When you visit Hauraki Coromandel, we invite you to leave more than just a footprint. Discover your way of making a meaningful difference—not just for yourself, but for the environment and our communities.

Volunteer

Join a volunteer group to support predator control by monitoring, trapping, and weeding to help create safer habitats for wildlife.

Participate in Community Events

Celebrate kaitiakitanga by attending local events that promote environmental stewardship and spread the GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki story to inspire others

Let's Walk This Journey Together

Being part of the wild beauty of this place is our privilege, and it is also in our nature to engage. Join us as we share the essence of our place, guiding you to discover and connect with the rich culture, natural beauty, and sustainable practices that define our community.