Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

OceanaGold lodges fast-track Waihī mine application

SunLive
5 Mar, 2025 07:22 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

OceanaGold has submitted an application through the fast-track approvals process for its Waihī North Project. Photo / OceanaGold Waihī Project

OceanaGold has submitted an application through the fast-track approvals process for its Waihī North Project. Photo / OceanaGold Waihī Project

OceanaGold has submitted an application through the fast-track approvals process for the Waihī North Project.

OceanaGold senior vice-president for New Zealand legal and public affairs Alison Paul said the new consenting process through fast-track, which streamlines permitting while ensuring the same high environmental and social standards were met, was welcomed by the company.

“While we are in the early stages of the process, we believe in our project and OceanaGold’s ability to continue to support economic growth, create high-paying jobs, generate royalties, support communities, and boost exports at the same time as making a positive contribution to the environment,” Paul said in a statement.

The fast-track application included the proposed Wharekirauponga underground mine, which the company expected to be fully permitted, subject to any appeals, by the end of 2025.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This timetable would allow the company to begin decline and underground development work for the proposed mine in 2026.

About $70 million of early works not requiring fast-track approvals were planned for this year.

“In the Waihī area alone, we are expecting to sustain more than 1100 jobs and spend an estimated $3.4 billion over a 15-year mine life, of which about 80% is expected to be spent in New Zealand and over 30% within the Hauraki district,” Paul said.

“We acknowledge that we must maintain our current operating standards and continue to meet the expectations of our communities and of New Zealanders.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“We believe we have the expertise to do that, operating an underground mine that is not just productive – not just a source of jobs and an export earner for New Zealand – but is also environmentally and socially responsible.

“We recognise the ecological value of the Wharekirauponga area, which is a key driver for the mine being underground and accessed by a tunnel from outside the forest park area.”

A map provides an overview of the Waihī North Project. Image / OceanaGold Waihī Project
A map provides an overview of the Waihī North Project. Image / OceanaGold Waihī Project

Paul said the company had committed to a biodiversity project, which it said would result in a significant net gain for the environment while providing jobs and contributing to the economy.

“Our 35-year track record shows our continued commitment to developing resources responsibly, ensuring that we balance economic benefits with environmental and community considerations,” Paul said.

“The recent GNS Science report, The Mineral Potential of New Zealand, highlighted that gold exploration offers prospects for future high-value production from known resources.

“We believe we can contribute to that and the environment and the communities in which we operate.”

Additional information about the Waihī North Project can be found here: www.waihinorth.info.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

Four-vehicle crash on SH29 injures six, road now reopened

08 May 08:53 PM
Waikato Herald

'Significant win': New Homegrown host city confident in pulling it off

08 May 06:00 PM
SportUpdated

Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

08 May 05:00 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Four-vehicle crash on SH29 injures six, road now reopened
Waikato Herald

Four-vehicle crash on SH29 injures six, road now reopened

08 May 08:53 PM

Six people were treated, with one in serious condition at Tauranga Hospital.

'Significant win': New Homegrown host city confident in pulling it off
Waikato Herald

'Significant win': New Homegrown host city confident in pulling it off

08 May 06:00 PM
Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

08 May 05:00 PM
'Sense of injustice': Act minister, National MPs to face protests over pay equity changes
Waikato Herald

'Sense of injustice': Act minister, National MPs to face protests over pay equity changes

08 May 06:28 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP