Our button bar

The pictures above are everyday images from Newmont Waihi Gold's two mines at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Ferns
No, we don't grow ferns, but over the years we have planted in excess of 350,000 native trees and shrubs. Lots of them have been on riparian margins along the Ohinemuri River. That's good for the river, good for downstream users, and great for all the ferns which have sprung up under the shade of the new trees. And yes, this is the river that both mines discharge into. We regularly monitor the water we discharge. We are well aware that we discharge water into a world-class trout fishing river, and we want to keep it that way by protecting in stream aquatic life and the habitat.
Click here for more

What's in the truck?
John and Casey are just two of the 350 staff who work directly for Newmont Waihi Gold. They are standing next to a truck delivering cyanide. There's a lot of misunderstanding about cyanide.
Click here for more

Tailings impoundment
This is a tailings storage area. We have two, this one closed in 2006. The slopes are planted in grass and native trees and shrubs. The pond will eventually become a wetland.
Click here for more

Paradise ducks on tailings pond
This is the 'toxic waste dump' you keep hearing about. During duck shooting season it becomes 'Club Med for Ducks' The water in this tailings impoundment is clean enough to discharge directly into the river.
Click here for more

Favona portal
That's the portal of the underground Favona mine in the distance. This picture was taken from the access road. Most people don't even know the mine exists. We think underground mining is the way of the future.
Click here for more

Environmental monitoring
We monitor everything we do. Mark and Adrienne are monitoring water quality in a bore next to the tailings impoundment. The stock? We have a farm on site and stock graze the embankment slopes.
Click here for more

Underground mining
An aerial view of the Favona underground mine. An area about the size of five football fields is all that is needed for an underground operation.
Click here for more

Dotterels
Martha Mine is the only recorded inland breeding site of the threatened New Zealand Dotterel. Our 'bird man' Gary was lucky enough to get this picture of six birds on the embankment next to the tailings impoundment. That's the waste loadout area in the background on the other side of the pond.
Click here for more
Another View

The gold mining industry is in the news a lot at present. There's lots of claims and counter claims about the economic, environmental and social effects of the industry, lots of emotive language and not too many facts. This website presents another view. It's the view of those who work in and around the industry, who know what goes on, and who want to let everybody else know too. The idea is to get the facts out there so that you can make up your own mind.

One of the reasons mining in general is in the news right now is because of the government's proposal to open up land contained in what is called Schedule 4. This is conservation land which is currently not available for surface mining (although it is permissible to mine under this land.) There's been a lot of alarmist talk about mining Mount Moehau or levelling the Pinnacles. Our position is clear and unequivocal: the people of the Coromandel wouldn't allow it, the Resource Management Act wouldn't allow it, and we live and work and play here too and we wouldn't do it. We can't be clearer than that.

We do, however, think that there are some areas of lesser conservation value that should be explored.

Submissions to the government on Schedule 4 have now closed.

Read Newmont Waihi Gold's submission on Schedule 4.

Find out more about Schedule Four on the Ministry of Economic Development website

Maximising our Mineral Potential:

A summary of the government's proposals (0.2MB PDF)

Discussion Paper (1.0MB PDF)

Questions & Answers (0.3MB PDF)

By the Numbers (0.2MB PDF)

Find out more about exploration, mine rehab and closure, and how we work in the community

Exploring for Gold (2.8MB PDF)

Rehab, Closure & Bonds (4.2MB PDF)

Getting On with the Neighbours (3.5MB PDF)

Another View welcomes your feedback and your comments.
Contact us

 In the news

Poll Shows 74% Of New Zealanders Want To Know More About Their Mineral Wealth
Click here for more


A proper assessment of the country's underground resources is essential for the public good
Click here for more

The silly belief that overseas-owned companies send all their profits overseas has bubbled away in the background for decades. Read this Christchurch Press article dated 26 May 2010 which uses data from Newmont Waihi Gold to dispel the myth that being overseas owned means no money stays in New Zealand.
Click here for more

Can mining companies be exciting? .... seems they can.
Click here for more