The South Head Vagabond

Kia ora Tatou!

I trust you’re looking forward to a happy and productive year in 2026.

As I write, the country’s been rocked by the awful news about the loss of life in the Bay of Plenty in landslips. I know many of you who live this part of the country, and I know how deeply it’s affected those of you I have spoken to.

We’re also confronted daily with what feels like a constant bombardment of stories about pain and conflict in our world. It’s really hard to watch. I’ve made a personal commitment to myself and you, to make this site and my Substack page robharley2.substack.com relentlessly positive and uplifting. I find in the midst of the grief that feels overwhelming to me about what’s happening on this planet, I need a steady diet of stories about outrageous optimism!

Check out the E-book ‘Lightbringers’ on my books page. It is a tonic for the soul – and very cheap, with some profits going to a great charity.

I’m just finishing writing a remarkable book about a former British Special Forces paratrooper, who’s migrated to New Zealand and has totally devoted his life to helping reform troubled youth in Christchurch. It’s a ripper of a tale! Follow some of the story in advance on my Substack page.

I am also getting seriously prepared for a webinar series I will be launching mid-year to train writers and communicators – a project that’s exciting to construct.

Meantime friends, ma te wa and Arohanui!

– Rob