Kit was introduced by Andy in one of the finest welcomes you could wish for, thanks Andy.

 

Kit started life as a Teacher at Katikati College. Being passionate about the environment he helped form the Kaimai Action Group against mining in the Kaimai Ranges. However, after an eye opening visit to the Waihi mine he ended up working for Oceania Gold instead!

 

Kit started with a presentation showing the common misnomers of what people think of mining and also showed some poor mining practices of the past and present. He then went on to teach us about what a Tailing Impoundment was and that it was designed to last up to 10,000 years and withstand earthquakes over Richter 8! He then showed us how safe and environmentally good mining practices have become in the year 2022. This includes a special frog called Archie that has no ears, doesn’t need water, lives in flax and only comes out at night time. While very rare, they seem to be finding more and more of these frogs than DOC could have ever imagined. One of Kit’s favourite party tricks is to drink water directly from the river below the tailings. There was also something about being paid to watch birds! All the mining is underground these days, and they start at the bottom and work their way back up, all while back-filling the mine as if they had never been there.

 

We also found out how the mine helps the community by employing 350 people, with 79% of those being local, and 84% of mines spend stays in New Zealand. This contributes 40-45% to the local Waihi economy. Interesting fact is that most of what is extracted from the mine is Silver as opposed to Gold. Who would have thought!

 

Finally Kit talked about the mining pit in the middle of Waihi Township that will one day become a Lake. He’s still waiting to build on his section…

Kit encouraged us to do the Rim walk one day, and also kindly offered to give the club members a guided tour when daylight saving starts again.

 

Amanda thanked Kit for his presentation. 

This started with Glen Dougal informing us that former Rotarian Graham Skellern at the young age of 75 years old has just qualified for the NZ Commonwealth Games for Lawn Bowls. Well done Graham.

 

Read more on the link below

Thank you Sun Media for the picture and link

Well-known Bay of Plenty journalist Graham Skellern has reported four Commonwealth Games. Now, he has been handed a unique opportunity of leaving the press bench and stepping into the arena of competition.

Graham, who plays out of the Tauranga Bowling Club in the domain, has been named in the New Zealand Para men’s pair for the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham, England in late-July.

Read more  on the link below

Thank you Sun media for the photo and link