In The News
There has been some media interest in gold mining again recently - some of it sparked by the high gold price on the world market, some by our own Amenity Effect Programme.
On a local level the staff at Waihi's radio station, 96.4 gold fm, visited the Favona mine to see for themselves what underground mining is all about and to talk to some of the workers on shift. An interview with an employee of underground mining contractor, HWE, will be played on air on gold fm tomorrow (Wednesday 9 April) around 8.00am to 9.00am.
Radio New Zealand has featured two pieces recently on gold mining in Waihi. The first was a general story for RNZ's weekend programme 'Country Life' in February, which followed up some interviews recorded during the Martha Mine open day. In the second piece Eric Frykberg investigated the price of gold and the part New Zealand plays on the world scene.
This report was broadcast at the beginning of March in the 'Spectrum' programme.
In addition to this attention, the announcement of Newmont's Amenity Effect Programme created intense interest from television and radio networks, newspapers and news web sites - not just in New Zealand but internationally as well.
Next week TV3's 'Campbell Live' team will be visiting to prepare another feature on gold and will be filming underground as well as other areas around the site.
Glenis, Sharyn and Paul from Waihi's 96.4 gold fm discussing geological features underground with Newmont Waihi Gold senior mining engineer Mike Horne.
The Answer Lies in the soil
Eirin, Deija and Tori-Ann - soil scientists from Waihi Central School.
Waihi Beach School principal Mike Petitt brought 12 students from Waihi Beach School, Waikino School and Waihi Central School to the mine site last week to carry out extension science activities with Newmont's education team Guy Spurr and Jeannine Wiki.
The students first collected samples of soil from established pasture and newer pasture and studied the topsoil and subsoil from both areas, comparing soil horizons. They also measured the levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphate present in the soil samples and examined the presence of earthworms.
Back at the Education Centre the students recorded the results over lunch and then went out to carry out further science-based investigations on the banks of the Ohinemuri River. Here they collected samples to study water clarity, charted the water's depth and calculated the river's flow.
The students, participants in a local schools' Enrichment Cluster initiative, will follow up the visit with school-based programmes that will include more soil sampling and water testing. The environmental science study will then be further developed with investigations in weather monitoring at the wetland area at Waihi Beach School.
