Protecting the Kuaotunu Peninsula for future generations.
The threat of large-scale mining activities occurring on and beyond the Kuaotunu Peninsula has become a reality.
Large parts of the Coromandel including the Kuaotunu Peninsula have active Exploration and Mining licences attached to them - largely unknown to the local communities and landowners.
Over 17,000 hectares of OceanaGold exploration permits between Kuaotunu and Tairua!
They are expanding their operation
OceanaGold are aggresively expanding their operation at Waihi and have lodged a resource consent for mining under conservation land and for a new tailings storage facility near Waihi
They are already here!
OceanaGold also have active exploration licences across the Coromandel including the Kuaotunu Peninsula and Purangi to Tairua.
OceanaGold have recently been observed (August 2021) undertaking exploration activities at Purangi near Hahei and Cooks Beach.
Landowners you can prevent them coming onto your land. Help us to Lock the Gate on OceanaGold.
Gold price at record levels
The price of gold has reached a near record high and the push for new mines in areas that are well known for precious metal resources like the Coromandel are expected to get more aggressive.
It’s a disaster waiting to happen!
They are here
OceanaGold have recently been observed (August 2021) undertaking exploration activities at Purangi near Hahei and Cooks Beach.
Mining activity also continues on conservation land in Karangahake
Prone to fail
The UN concluded in 2017 that ”while the overall number of (tailings dam) failures has decreased, the number of serious failures has increased in the last three decades”.
The principal factor is “the lack of management continuity and inadequate resourcing (especially financial )”.
There have been 68 tailings dams failures worldwide since 2007.
A house in Barry Road, Waihi, near the Martha Mine, lies in a huge hole measuring 50 metres wide and 15 metres deep.
With too few checks and balances
Resource consent applications for mining can be processed as ‘notified’ or ‘non-notified’ (or ‘partially notified’). Mining companies avoid public participation as much as possible, hence a participatory process cannot be relied on.
None of the gold or silver stays in New Zealand
Gold is over $1800 US an ounce (Goldprice.org 13th Jan 2022)
Silver is over $23 US an ounce
Waihi produces approximately 100,000 ounces of gold, and 700,000 ounces of silver every year
Productivity is 6-7 grams per ton
The mine has been in operation since 1988 (more than 30 years)
None of the gold stays in New Zealand. We have held no gold reserves since 1991.
Do the maths!
Approximately 6 billion dollars worth of minerals have been exported to Australia, with 156 million tonnes of mine waste is left behind.
If you think that sounds bad, it gets worse. Why is mining so bad for the Coromandel?
How can you help?
Since 1983 hundreds of hard working volunteers have fought to keep the Coromandel north of Waihi free of mining. We need your support more now than ever. See more about us >>