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This Week’s Issue

Let’s protect where we play – Roman Carley

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September 9, 2025

Coromandel Cold – NZ’s first reusable 3kg ice bag.

Roman Carley on the beach that he loves, with his ice bag invention.

PREPARED FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH ROMAN AND NOTES FROM THE MATARANGI COMMUNITY POSTS

Roman Carley is a Coastal Ranger – Coastal Kaitiaki and his work is about preserving our dunes and caring for the beaches. He has created and produced something that will help everyone who loves to be in the outdoors, ‘protect where they play’. Roman is about to turn twenty, and almost two years ago, he saw an opportunity through the Mayor’s Task Force for Jobs, to try his hand at something he thought he could do well.

I applied and I was hired by the Mayor’s Task Force for Jobs and it eventually led to my becoming a Coastal Ranger. I basically look after the dunes and beaches around the Coromandel – lots of weeding and planting.” says Roman. “I love it.; it is definitely cool to see the dunes growing back. I have aways been an outdoors person, growing up with a bach in Whitianga.

About Roman’s invention:

Fishing is my number one hobby. I like to get out fishing whenever I can. Often, when fishing, I would end up with my food and fish soggy because of the melting ice. It was frustrating. Another thing that I see far too often while out on the coast is single-use plastic ice bags. They’re used once for a catch or a few beers in the chilly, then end up in landfill, or worse – tangled in mussel farms, washed up on the tide, or half buried in our dunes. All that waste, just for something as simple as a bag of ice.

After every storm or big wave event, so many are washed up on the beach.

So, I decided to do something about it. I’ve created Coromandel Cold – NZ’s first reusable 3kg ice bag that works just like the party or salt ice bags we all grab, but instead of being tossed out, they can be reused up to 1000 times.

We have been developing this idea for about six months. By ‘we’ I mean my mum, Mareet, and me. There has been a lot of product testing as they have to be safe for everyone’s use. We are confident that the ice in the bags will last that long as we have done our tasting.

We have tested the ice up to a 1000 uses and it refreezes just fine. I think they could do more, but we have just tested the 1,000 uses.”

Roman is looking forward to less plastic blowing around our beaches, and more money staying in our pockets.

“To put it simply; one Coromandel Cold bag = around 46kg of plastic saved from being thrown away. They’re super easy to use – just use, rinse, re-bag, hang to dry, and refreeze. Perfect for a day on the water, a BBQ at the bach, or keeping the beers cold on that family beach mission.

“Every choice we make, has an impact. It may seem like a simple swap, but it’s a powerful one. Let’s all protect where we play.”

Roman is committed to doing his part well; “looking after the places we all love – our beaches, our dunes, and our moana.”

He is almost ready to launch his website, but in the meantime, he has set up a Choice Store where you can purchase them here: https://www.chooice.co.nz/coromandel-cold or if you want to grab one from Harbour Drive, Matarangi, just flick Roman a PM (personal message). Email – coromandelcold@xtra.co.nz or text 021 270 4562.