Community Updates » 2012
2012
The Waihi Gold Update is a fortnightly newsletter designed to inform the public about our operations.
To access a specific topic use the search function at the top right.
17 May 2012
Education Special
We report on what's happening at the Newmont Waihi Gold Education Centre. It's school, but not as we know it ...
- School groups can now get in touch with the Education Centre via Skype.
- Using QR codes to learn more about gold mining in Waihi.
- Recreating an underground mine above ground at the Education Centre.
3 May 2012
Mill back on track
- ore supply to the mill has resumed and the refurbished mill is running at full capacity.
Removing a Haszard
- Some unoccupied and run-down houses are to be removed. A house in Haszard Street will clear the way for access to construct Waihi's new Gold Discovery Centre.
All steamed up
- Warm air rising from the new Trio vent shaft on cold frosty autumn mornings creates a vapour plume.
Hire! Hire!
- The roof of the Newmont Waihi Gold administration building gets a spruce-up with the help of a hire engine that looks like a fire engine.
19 April 2012
What makes Waihi the way it is?
What is NZDep?
What does NZDep measure?
What can Newmont Waihi Gold do?
Where to from here?
Belting along - the 'Conveyor Belt Boogie' walk for the 2012 Echo Walking Festival.
12 April 2012
Your questions about our policy
We launched our Property and Community Investment Policy (PCIP) in the middle of March. Since then we have received a range of questions about aspects of the policy. Last week we looked at some frequently-asked questions and some answers. This week we publish some more.
1. How do I get Top-Up for the sale of my property?
2. What is meant by "fair price, fair offer" for Top-Up?
3. How do I contact the Independent Review Panel?
4. Why does the Healthy Home Fund only include insulation and clean heating?
5. Why are there no cash payments offered?
6. Will you buy my house?
5 April 2012
Your questions about our policy
We launched our Property and Community Investment Policy (PCIP) in the middle of March. Since then we have received a range of questions about aspects of the policy. Here are some frequently-asked questions and some answers. Next week's 'Update' will look at some further questions.
1 What support will you provide for people whose properties are over or near the proposed Correnso workings?
2 How do I jpin the AEP - and when will AEP payments start?
3 Where are the bands 1, 2 and 3?
4 Wil NWG pay out AEP and also Top-Up on the same property?
5 How will the Community Forum be formed?
6 Where will you go next?
22 March 2012
Property and Community Investment Policy (PCIP)
Newmont Waihi Gold's PCIP was launched on 16 March 2012 at a meeting attended by community groups whose members had contributed to the development of the policy.
The full policy document has been delivered to Waihi residents.
Mill overhaul
- Waihi Gold's mill has produced very little gold and silver this year but the workers are busier
than they have ever been while the processing plant is having a major overhaul.
Property and Community Improvements Policy
- Details are being finalised.
Coming up in Waihi
- Several exciting events coming up in the next couple of months include the Pit Rim Fun
Run/Walk, Waihi's Warm Up Party for Beach Hop, the Echo Walking Festival, the Miners'
Reunion and the Nugget Multisport Festival.
Students' work experience over summer holidays
Kristina is one of the 14 students who worked for Newmont Waihi Gold through the 2011 - 2012 summer vacation. She writes about her experience as one of the workforce.
Property and Community Improvements (PCI) Policy
Planning, talking and listening. Newmont Waihi Gold is formulating the PCI Policy based on extensive feedback received. The policy will be released once all specialists' reports and technical details are finalised. We anticipate this will be late March. In the meantime, in early March, the company will meet with the groups that have provided valuable input into the policy to discuss its progress.
9 February 2012
Latest look for NWG Education Centre
Up-to-the-minute technology and new activities are incorporated into the educational programme offered at Newmont Waihi Gold's Education Centre.
MEP clarifications
Clarifying misinformation that has been reported by regional newspapers about the location of the Martha Exploration Project, the proposed hours of work and the proposed location of ventilation and escape shafts.
Union Hill
Following up our story in Update 26 January about archaeological investigations on Union Hill.
2 February 2012
Martha Exploration Project (MEP)
Before we complete all activity in the open pit we wish to evaluate the economic potential of the gold and silver remaining below the pit floor. To do this we propose to explore underground inside the current mining licence boundary. If the MEP indicates the potential for underground mining we would be required to commit to a full resource management consenting process.
We lodged an application in September last year to vary the existing mining licence to permit us to carry out the Martha Exploration Project. Our application was jointly considered by Hauraki District Council (HDC), Waikato Regional Council (WRC) and the Minister of Energy and Resources (MER). On 26 January 2012 HDC, WRC and MER gave joint public notice of their decision to vary the conditions of the licence. Submissions to the Environment Court may be lodged until 27 February 2012.
The Martha Exploration Project is located entirely within the existing Martha mining licence area and within the boundaries of the pit rim. The project will not tunnel under any residential property.
We expect this work will take two to three years to complete. This will approximately coincide with the completion of the layback to the east wall of the Martha pit. In terms of scale the MEP is a small project; less waste rock and ore will be moved during its two year life than approximately one month of open pit mining.
Further information is available at our Golden Link information office in Seddon Street, Waihi, next to the Waihi Memorial Hall.
26 January 2012
Union Hill activity
Newmont Waihi Gold is carrying out some archaeological investigations at Union Hill, the site of the battery and refinery run by Union Gold Mining Company. This is also the site of the historic cyanide tanks, listed Category A in the Hauraki District Plan and by NZ Historic Places Trust.
Newmont Waihi Gold is also installing monitoring equipment on the relics.
Ore-roasting kilns
- The Union Gold Mining Company (later acquired by the Waihi Gold Mining Company) operated 13 kilns on Union Hill from 1889 to 1901.
Gold-bearing ore and firewood were loaded into the kilns from the top. The firewood was set alight. Later the ore was removed from the bottom of the kilns and more fresh ore and firewood added at the top. The aim was to 'roast' the gold-bearing ore by slowly burning the wood. Too hot and the gold was less accessible than before; not enough heat and the process failed to work. Roasted gold-bearing ore was more friable and so it crushed more readily. This reduced wear and tear on machinery and improved the recovery rate. In addition the heating process oxidised sulphides present in the rock which would otherwise hinder the separation and then amalgamation of gold particles.
12 January 2012
Investing in our community
Over a hundred years ago gold mining was responsible for the development of the town of Waihi and the local and regional infrastructure. Roads, railway, telegraph and electric power were all provided initially to service the mining industry.
Construction of the modern Martha Mine started in 1987. Since that time we have invested a significant amount of money in the community through partnerships and sponsorship of groups, organisations and projects. We have also contributed a large amount to the local economy. For example, in the last five years we have spent over $264M in the local community, amounting to about 32% of the town's economy.
Here are some of the projects we have supported and been involved in over the years since mining returned to Waihi.
See further information about Newmont Waihi Gold's community investment programme