Mining Company Accepts Schedule 4 Decision

Newmont Waihi Gold has accepted the government’s decision on Schedule 4 land and business will continue as normal.

‘The Schedule 4 debate for us was never about mining large tracts of Conservation Land’ says Newmont Waihi Gold External Affairs manager Kelvyn Eglinton. ‘It was about finding out what was there and doing a comprehensive stocktake so that as a country we can make some informed decisions.’

“As the mining company in the Coromandel we are as close to the action as you can get and in regular communication with our communities so we are aware of the issues and concerns. Our submission shows we were prepared to seek compromise and commit to underground mining only, on low value land where exploration had shown high grade mineral potential.”

“That was our public strategy prior to and during the debate and will continue to be our strategy as we progress. It has received a lot of support around the Coromandel and has been seen as reasonable and a practical way forward.’

The community has regularly been misinformed during this debate, says Eglinton. ‘First they were told that it is not possible to mine in the Coromandel. This is not true. It is currently possible, under the Crown Minerals Act, to mine under Schedule 4 Land subject to very stringent controls on vegetation clearance. Secondly, some groups have repeatedly misrepresented the debate, stating that exploration will automatically lead to mining. This is also not true’.

Newmont Waihi Gold had been at pains to invite opposition groups, the Greens and Labour Party’s to meet to discuss this strategy but to no avail.

“It is disappointing that those who demand engagement and transparency from companies then ignore it when offered.”

ENDS

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