Forest & Bird Appeals FastTracked Approval Of Waihi North Gold Mine

Forest & Bird is appealing the Government’s fasttracked approval of the Waihi North gold mine which threatens Coromandel Forest Park – a nationally significant conservation area.

“Conservation land should be for people and nature, not for mines,” says Erika Toleman, Forest & Bird’s General Counsel. “This appeal is a last chance to try and ensure that nature is appropriately protected in the face of a large mining proposal.

“Forest & Bird’s view is that the expert panel that approved the mine made errors of law when granting the approvals. Forest & Bird’s appeal focuses on the conditions attached to the approval, which rely heavily on management plans, as well as the scope of the wildlife approval. The approvals for the mine include permits to kill wildlife during the construction of drill sites and ventilation shafts.”

If it goes ahead, the approval allows OceanaGold to kill wildlife in order to build the mine. Forest & Bird is taking action because that local wildlife includes rare and endangered frogs, plants, and native lizards. These species are unique to Aotearoa New Zealand and deserve protection.

This is one of the last opportunities Forest & Bird has to appeal fasttracked projects. A law change in December 2025 removed the ability for independent voices like Forest & Bird to appeal projects such as this mine.

“New Zealanders want a strong, independent voice for nature at the table. Forest & Bird is standing up at every opportunity to ensure nature is prioritised over mining on conservation land,” says Ms Toleman.

Forest & Bird notes the project is led by a Canadianowned company, meaning the longterm economic benefits to New Zealand are limited, while the damage to nature may be permanent.

Forest & Bird is calling on decisionmakers to uphold the principle that conservation land is for nature – not for mining.