Looking back on some Memorable Moments in 2009

Newmont Waihi Gold achieved OHSAS 18001 registration and maintained environmental ISO 14001 certification, first attained in 2002.

Newmont Waihi Gold received certification to the international Cyanide Code in November.

Newmont Waihi Gold won the ACC Workplace Safety prize at the Westpac Waikato Business Excellence Awards in November and also maintained ACC's highest tertiary status at the biennial audit in December.

Dotterels, Dabchicks and Ducks - The New Zealand dotterel and the dabchick are both threatened species that are frequent visitors to the tailings storage areas throughout the year. From early May to late June there are also numerous ducks on site taking refuge during the duck shooting season.

Visitor numbers are way up on previous years. At Waihi's Gold Story there were more than 35,000 visitors counted. The Education Centre recorded 5465 students visiting in 2009.

The 22nd annual Miners' Reunion was held in March. Brothers Doug (left) and Wally Kingsford both attended - sadly this was to be the last time for them. Wally passed away in June this year aged 91 and Doug in August aged 93. In the early mining days they worked at the Victoria Battery and were both keen sportsmen all their lives.

An electrical fire at the mill's motor control centre resulted in loss of precious metals production for twelve weeks from May to July. However, no one was injured and installation of new plant and equipment makes work even more efficient than before.

Plantings and other improvements continue to enhance the pit rim walkway and its popularity increases all the time.

This year it hosted a duathlon and a triathlon as well as many walkers - tourists and locals.

Nobody knows how they got there or where they came from, but the 'wild things' kept appearing in the trees on the pit rim walkway. See if you can still spot them ...

Around 200 students from five local primary schools took part in science-in-action worm studies at the rehabilitated mine pasture and in their classrooms.

Work in the open pit was on hold for a few days in October while the area over the historic 'Milking Cow' mining block was stabilised. Tyres that had previously formed a buttress against the wall were dislodged with the encouragement of a front end loader and large boulders.

The DotterelWatch partnership between NWG and DOC has been protecting NZ dotterels on Coromandel beaches since 1995. Please be careful on beaches where you see this sign because right now is nesting season.

The 2010 Martha Mine Open Day will feature some old favourites as well as several new attractions, says Education Officer and Open Day Co-ordinator Jeannine Wiki.

The ever-popular rock fossicking, gold panning and machinery displays will be available, and of course there's the chance to walk down into the open pit. Jeannine says that the big difference this year will be a community display area based in the large site workshops that organisers have called 'The Village'.

"The Village provides a central area for a range of displays and activities", says Jeannine "and because it is inside we have been able to be more creative than previous years."

One special attraction currently being constructed is a display that will allow the public to feel as if they are underground in the Favona mine. "We can't really get crowds underground at Favona, so the team is busy creating a portable 'underground' on the surface that will be assembled in a workshop in the Village so we can give some idea of what underground mining is like."

Proceeds from the previous nine Open Days have been used in a wide range of community projects under the auspices of the Waihi Lions Club. This year Vision Waihi Trust has been the lead partner in the event organisation and will be the recipient of money raised on the day. VWT CEO Eddie Morrow says that funds received will be used by the Trust for long term community development initiatives.