MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dunedin and Wānaka, Tuesday 10 June 2025 As community concern about the planned fast-tracked open-pit gold mine in Central Otago grows, two urgent public meetings have been organised in Dunedin and Wānaka next week. Organisers have confirmed that there is already strong interest in both meetings. The meetings,Continue reading "Media release: Urgent public meetings planned for Dunedin and Wānaka as concern over fast-tracked goldmine swells"

There is other, better gold than gold itself in Otago, Jonathan West writes. Santana Minerals proposes a vast open-cast gold mine to cut through the Dunstan Mountains above the Clutha River. CEO Damien Spring says "the gold rush has started" and his company trumpets big sums: perhaps $5 billion revenues for this small band of Australian minersContinue reading "Yes, all that glistens is not always gold – ODT 09/06/25"

Santana will try and push through their fast tracked gold mine within a matter of weeks. So it's important that as many people as possible are informed, understand some of the horrendous issues, and know what they can do about it. We are holding urgent public meetings in Dunedin on the evening of Tuesday 17Continue reading "Urgent public meetings – Dunedin and Wānaka – June 2025"

Yesterday, we wrote to Judge Jane Borthwick, Convener of the Fast-Track Panel. We outlined some of our significant concerns about the goldmine being proposed by Santana, and the use of the fast-track process to push the project through. Our letter is therefore a very good summary for people wanting to understand the issues in detail.Continue reading "Letter to Fast-Track Panel Convener"

You may have already seen the first video we produced giving initial details of the fast-track gold mine being planned near Bendigo. In this second video, we explore some of the likely downstream impacts of the mine, including significant and real risks. Watch the video below. https://youtu.be/d3HsFFSWqsc

Ever since we first got wind of a new Gold Mine planned in the hills above Bendigo (near Tarras, at the head of Lake Dunstan), we've been seeking further information about the project. It is on the confirmed list of upcoming Fast Track projects, to side-step the RMA process, and what we have found outContinue reading "Video: Central Otago gold mine to be fast tracked"

A proposed international airport at Tarras would have serious impacts. But does Christchurch Airport have the social licence they need to build it here? Watch the video to find out more. For further information, including detailed references and footnotes, follow the link to the script here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cAteQcHCxv8OqGbn1j76o-wbRnLpJyUlgB3PVEDT9sY/edit?usp=sharing. All claims, facts and stats in this videoContinue reading "Episode 3 – Social licence – the airport’s Achilles heel?"

The second instalment of our video series about the proposed Central Otago Airport is out now. You can watch it here. Right now, Christchurch Airport is proposing to build a significant jet airport in Central Otago. Industry experts estimate project costs being more than one billion dollars. Christchurch Airport has already spent 45 million dollarsContinue reading "Airport video – episode 2, out now"

On Sunday we published a video outlining our concerns about Christchurch Airport’s approach to calculating and reporting on carbon emissions and their claim that they are “climate positive”. Every fact or claim was carefully researched and we footnoted and published all references along with our video. These references include media coverage, industry comment, scientific papersContinue reading "Quite frankly, we’re shocked"

The proposed airport at Tarras is deeply concerning, for many reasons. Just thinking about carbon emissions alone, it’s a huge issue for New Zealand. Today, we release the first of a series of videos we are publishing about the proposed airport at Tarras - it’s about carbon emissions and greenwashing. Included with the video isContinue reading "Watch the first episode of our new video series"