Conservationists Secure Landmark Court Victory Over OceanaGold’s Proposed Coromandel Mine Vents

A community group wins a Court of Appeal case against OceanaGold over public road access, though the miner says the $110M Waihi project remains on track.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 12:39 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from RNZ

The Legal Battle Over Public Paper Roads

A three-year legal crusade by the community group Ours Not Mines culminated this week in a significant Court of Appeal ruling against OceanaGold. The dispute centered on a "paper road"—a legally designated public thoroughfare that remains unformed and indistinguishable from the surrounding Wharekirauponga Forest. The Hauraki District Council had previously granted the mining giant a 40-year license to use this land for ventilation and escape shafts for a nominal fee of just $1 per year. However, the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier High Court decision, finding the license unlawful because it interfered with the public's statutory right to access the road, regardless of its current unformed state.

Environmental Concerns at Wharekirauponga Forest

OceanaGold’s Waihi North Project involves tunneling seven kilometers beneath the Wharekirauponga Forest Park, an area administered by the Department of Conservation. The project requires up to four ventilation shafts to ensure the safety of underground workers. Conservationists, including Ours Not Mines co-founder Morgan Donoghue, argue that even underground mining carries severe surface risks. Donoghue expressed fears that major weather events—which are increasing in frequency—could cause toxic tailings or mining debris to wash into local river systems, devastating the pristine Coromandel ecosystem and the forest’s biodiversity.

OceanaGold Asserts Project Continuity

Despite the court’s setback, OceanaGold remains firm in its development timeline. In a statement, Senior Vice President for Legal and Public Affairs Alison Paul emphasized that the Waihi North Project received approval under the government’s Fast-track Approvals regime in December 2025. The company claims the ruling does not affect its ability to proceed, as it has already secured alternative options for vent locations. OceanaGold intends to begin ore production as scheduled, asserting that its mining operations can coexist with conservation land through sophisticated underground engineering that minimizes visible surface footprints.