5 Oct 2021 OceanaGold Waihi North Project – Archaeological / Heritage Assessment • Upgrades of the existing Processing Plant; • Modifications to the existing overland and load out conveyors to allow rock loading and conveying to the NRS and return of rock to the mines for backfilling; and • Re-siting of some of the existing surface infrastructure is required due to proximity of the proposed GOP to the existing Favona portal. • Establishment of a new Surface Facilities Area (SFA) near the Willows Road portal will be required to support the tunnelling and subsequent mining at WUG. A new portal for ore delivery and rock return will be constructed close to the Processing Plant for servicing the WUG Mine via a tunnel extension to meet at the Willows Road vent raise (underground). Methodology The New Zealand Archaeological Association’s (NZAA) site record database (ArchSite), the Hauraki District Plan (2014) (HDP) schedules and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (Heritage NZ) New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero were searched to determine whether any archaeological or other historic heritage sites had been recorded on or in the immediate vicinity. Literature and archaeological reports relevant to the area were consulted (see Bibliography). Plans, maps and photographs from collections such as the Sir George Grey Special Collections (Auckland Libraries), Auckland War Memorial Museum, Alexander Turnbull Library, Archives New Zealand, and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) were searched for material relevant to the project area. Certificates of Title and Residence or Business Site Licenses were searched through LINZ and Archives New Zealand to establish ownership of potentially affected sites in the project area. Aerial photographs dating from the 1940s and historical plans were also examined (and compared to present day aerials) to establish past activities and features within the project area that may no longer be extant. Visual inspections of the project area were conducted on a number of occasions. The main fieldwork occurred during June 2017, when a study list for further research was compiled based on the fieldwork results, and in November 2017, when more detailed aspects of the proposal were being developed. Additional surveys were carried out between 2018 and 2021.
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