Great to see our centres back buzzing

It was a noticeably busy weekend on the Coromandel and it’s so good to see all the main centres of Waihi, Whangamata, Whitianga and Paeroa buzzing again.

Bach owners returned in droves and it felt like the atmosphere of a long weekend. There were queues again in Tairua’s main street and the surf brought plenty out in the water of our beautiful coastline from Waihi Beach to Pauanui to Hot Water Beach.

Some people have told me they were getting quite used to the quiet roads and lament that silence. Police are reminding us all to slow down and remember that our roads aren’t a speedway.

As we come out of the surreal experience that this pandemic has been, the “life” is back on the street and coast and we can take comfort in the return of our holiday home owners who are such an important part of our economic recovery and social fabric.

There are still so many unknowns as those of us who could not work or go to school are able to return, and the words lockdown and Covid-19 will be reported for a long time yet.

The experience has been so different for everyone but we were all in this together. What will you take from this period of change?

Shareyourthoughtsatalison.smith@nzme.co.nzfor publication.