Waihi

OceanaGold’s Waihi Operation is uniquely located directly in the Waihi township, in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand's North Island.

The small town of ~5,000 people has a relaxed pace of life, and a rich history; particularly with gold mining, which has been a significant part of the area for over a century. Waihi offers a quieter lifestyle while remaining relatively close to larger urban centres. It is about a 60-minute drive from Tauranga and around two hours from Auckland.

In addition to its close proximity to city centres, Waihi is centrally located to a variety of recreational opportunities. The town neighbours the Karangahake Gorge, which offers hiking opportunities, and the surrounding forests are popular for hunting. Waihi is also just a short drive from Waihi Beach, known for being one of New Zealand’s safest surf beaches, as well as more challenging surf destinations on the Coromandel Peninsula, including Whangamata and Opoutere.

OceanaGold’s Contribution to Waihi

OceanaGold Waihi is committed to responsible mining, managing the impacts of its activities and, more broadly, contributing positively to Waihi. OceanaGold regards its activities as an opportunity to be a good neighbour, build a positive and lasting legacy, and deliver value during and beyond the life of the mine.

OceanaGold Waihi makes significant and long-term national, regional and local economic contributions through:

• Direct and indirect contribution of mining operations and exploration projects, for example creation of jobs and purchase of goods and services from local and national providers;

• Payment of taxes, licence and approval fees and royalties to government agencies; and

• The Operation’s established community and social investment programmes

A specific example is OceanaGold Waihi’s contribution to local schools. Each year OceanaGold, through the Waihi Gold Mine Education Trust, funds nine scholarships for Waihi College students; five for students who intend to study at a tertiary institution, and a further four for students entering into the trades. Further to this, OceanaGold's Education Officer, with support from the site’s People and Culture Team, oversees a range of initiatives aimed at providing upskilling opportunities for the rangatahi (young people) of Waihi College and the broader Waihi community. These initiatives are funded and implemented by the company as part of its ongoing commitment to local development and community engagement. 

Among these initiatives is the company’s JumpStart Drivers Licensing programme, which was launched in 2022. Since its inception, the programme has helped over 100 College students and community members obtain their restricted driver’s licenses, enhancing their mobility and job prospects.

Other Key Things To Note:

Local Workforce:

• Waihi is a residential mine, with ~80% of our workforce living within 30 km of the township.

Community Infrastructure:

• There are twenty-five schools in the local area (within 30km), including fourteen primary schools, four secondary schools, five ‘contributing’ schools’, one composite, and one special needs school. Several of these are in the Waihi Township

• The two nearest public hospital facilities are: a) Thames Hospital (53 km from Waihi), and b) Tauranga Hospital (59 km from Waihi). Emergency services are available at these public hospitals, in addition, 21 km away at Paeroa Medical Centre and 26 km away at Katikati Medical Centre. The nearest private hospital facilities are in Tauranga and Hamilton.

• There are a number of sporting clubs in the area including the Waihi Athletic Rugby Club (2024 Thames Valley Premier Champions), Waihi Association Football Club, Waihi Basketball Association, and Waihi Golf Club.

Neighbouring Areas of Interest:

• Waihi Beach – 10mins: Popular golden sand coastal destination located just a few kilometres from the town of Waihi. Known for its swimming, fishing, surfing and scenic walks.

• Tauranga / Mount Maunganui – 60mins: Tauranga is the largest neighbouring city to Waihi, and offers a range of amenities, including an airport, several shopping centres, and a University of Waikato Campus. 

• Auckland – 120mins: New Zealand’s largest city, and home to the Country’s main international airport.

Rotorua – 110mins: Famous for its geothermal activity and outdoor adventure opportunities. The area's lakes are renowned for trout fishing, and the surrounding region offers world-class mountain biking trails.

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