'Beyond The Mine - The Journey Towards Sustainability'

A two page summary report on Newmont Waihi Gold's 2006 performance in a range of disciplines is now available to anyone who is interested in receiving a copy.

The report describes Newmont Waihi Gold's track record in health and safety, employee relations, social responsibility and environmental stewardship in 2006.

The report can be viewed on our web site www.marthamine.co.nz or you can pick up a copy from either the Golden Legacy Centre or the Moresby Avenue office reception.

If you would like to receive a copy by post or email please call Donna on 0800 NEWMONT (0800 639 6668) with your address details.





The Newmont Waihi Gold freephone is attended 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


0800 NEWMONT (0800 639 6668)

Martha Layback Proposals

Newmont Waihi Gold is engaging specialists to undertake studies and prepare reports on a range of factors related to Martha east or west layback proposals.

NWG requires that reports about social and community issues are to be completed as soon as possible. This will allow more time for people to consider the content of the reports and will enable informed discussion and feedback before any decisions are made about whether to take the proposals to the next step.

All consultants have been selected and are being briefed on scopes of work. Work has started on landscape and rehabilitation design and visual impact, with other studies expected to start within the next week.

More Information?
As more information and detail come to hand we will be pleased to present this to community groups. To arrange a visit or if you have any questions please contact our Company Liaison Officer, Donna Fisher. Phone 0800 NEWMONT (0800 639 6668)

Open Days - Yeah Right!

Since 1994 there have been seven Martha Mine Open Days, each one held in January or February to take advantage of summer weather and large tourist numbers. The last three times that Newmont and the Lions Club have worked together to start organising another Martha Mine Open Day we have described and advertised the event as 'the last chance to enter an operating gold mine' because that is what we genuinely believed at the time.

The popular slogan of the Tui beer advertising billboards - Yeah Right! - is becoming the catch phrase following any mention of a last ever open day. So this time we aren't going to say anything about its chronological order, but just get on with it.

The next Martha Mine Open Day is being planned to take place on Sunday 20 January 2008. Mark it on your calendar and rock on down!

Digger Bucket

The Martha Mine 'Rock On In' Open Day in 2006 attracted around 10,000 visitors to the mine and to Waihi's Life and Soul Festival.

Newmont Global Special Award

Newmont Mining Corporation employs around 34,000 people worldwide and operates gold mines in North and South America, Ghana, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, with exploration projects and new mines currently being developed. Each year the corporate office in Denver, USA calls for nominations from sites for outstanding performances to be considered by the Chairman's Award Committee.

Waihi received the 2003 Chairman's Award in recognition of 'outstanding efforts and accomplishments' on the development and implementation of curriculum-based educational programmes at the Education Centre.

Early this year Newmont Waihi Gold entered a submission to the corporate office in Denver detailing the Cornish Pumphouse Relocation Project and its significance to the Waihi community.

This project was not awarded the Chairman's Award but was recognised as an outstanding effort worthy of special acknowledgment.

A spot award carrying a prize of $US 5000 'specifically recognises Waihi Gold's exceptional contribution in demonstrating Newmont's value of social responsibility and stewardship of the environment'.

It has not yet been decided how the prize money will be used, but it will go towards a special project.

Pumphouse Overview

Pumphouse Fireworks

From this (July 2006) ... to this (February 2007)

Blasting Window

Most of the rock mined from the Martha Mine open pit is so hard that it is not possible to excavate it without first blasting it to cause it to fracture. Resource consent conditions relating to blasting in the pit allow blast events to occur intermittently between 10.00am and 3.00pm on weekdays and between 10.00am and 12.00 noon on Saturdays.

Most blasts occur either between 10.30am and 11.00am or between 2.30pm and 3.00pm on weekdays because these times coincide with morning and afternoon breaks for staff and contractors working in the pit. Apart from the blast crew, all personnel are required to leave the pit during blasting times in line with safety procedures. Blast crew members are trained to carry out their tasks according to strict policy and guidelines.

Infrequently delay or difficulty setting a blast can mean a shot cannot be fired within the permitted time. It is preferable and safer to detonate a prepared area rather than 'sleeping' the blast overnight until the next blasting window.

Newmont Waihi Gold recently gained approval from Hauraki District Council to extend the blasting window to allow buffer time to complete these blasts. The blasting window is now 10.00am to 3.30pm on weekdays. Newmont has undertaken to use this half hour extension sparingly and only when necessary.

Pre-split Blasting

Two pre-split blast events have taken place over the last fortnight, as explained in the Update appearing in Waihi Leader 16 October 2007.

Pre-split blasts sound quite different from usual production blasting. Pre-splits create a sharp cracking sound because the blast holes are not stemmed.

The increased noise generated by pre-split blasts can create the perception of a larger-than-normal blast, but in terms of vibration these blasts are no bigger, and are usually smaller, than the typical production blast.

Several more pre-split blasts will take place over the next few months as final pit walls in the southern stability cutback are prepared for rehabilitation works.