West Coast Minerals Forum draws 250 people to Runanga Workingmen's Club
The West Coast Minerals Forum 2025 was another sellout event. In total, 250 people came from throughout the West Coast, New Zealand, and as far afield as Perth, Jakarta, and Vancouver to hear the latest updates and forecasts for mining on the West Coast and elsewhere in Aotearoa. A gallery of all photographs from the event is available here.
The day began with a video address from Minister for Resources, Shane Jone. On the back of the ministerial address, an opening panel discussed drivers of investment in the sector, both political and non-political. The panel, chaired by Minerals West Coast chairman and Bathurst Resources chief executive, Richard Tacon, included Robert Eckford (RUA Gold), Danny Walker (New Zealand Placer Mining), Alison Paul (OceanaGold), and Campbell MacKenzie (RSCMME).
The remainder of the morning session included a presentation from Damian Spring (Santana Minerals) discussing the requirements for raising capital for Santana Minerals’ proposed Bendigo-Ophir project, and a presentation from Heath Milne (DWC) outlining the economic value of mining to the West Coast region.
The next panel discussion, chaired by Minerals West Coast trustee, John Crawley, discussed the future of banking and financial services for mining industry operators. The lineup of panellists included Nic McLennan (UDC Finance), Michelle Herlihy (Speirs Finance), Sam Johnstone (Bathurst Resources), and Bryan O’Hara (Endura Mining).
The remainder of the morning session included presentations on South Island process heat, and the challenges of shifting from coal to biomass or electricity from Alan Young of Enerlytica. In a similar vein, Giovanni Frances, an industrial boilerman, presented on comparisons in experience between coal and biomass boiler plants.
Rick Barker and Eric Martini also presented on behalf of the Runanga Miner’s Hall Trust on efforts to restore the hall, which has stood since it was built in 1937.
The early afternoon session focused on underground mining. Paul Moffitt of mines rescue chaired a panel discussion on the future of underground mining. The panellists included Lincoln Smith (Terra Firma Mining), Ted Matteschek (OceanaGold Corporation), Charlotte Buxon-Blue (Endura Mining), and Johnny Ewen (WorkSafe).
Alex Mayhead and Mark Tregoweth of Terra Frima Mining presented on projects the company has worked on in the previous year. Rob Boyd of Bathurst Resources gave a presentation on historic methane management in underground West Coast coal mines, and implications for future coal mining. Ted Matteschek (OceanaGold) gave an update on mining operations at OceanaGold’s Golden Point Underground operation at Macraes Mine. Lincoln Smith (Terra Firma Mining) presented on plans and progress regarding his company’s plans to reopen Spring Creek Mine.
Immediately after afternoon tea, Patrick Phelps (Minerals West Coast) chaired a panel discussion between Maureen Pugh (New Zealand National Party) and Damien O’Connor (New Zealand Labour Party) abut the policy positions of New Zealand’s two major political parties with regard to the mining industry.
Then, attendees heard from Simon Court (parliamentary under-secretary for RMA reform) on work underway from the coalition government to reform the Resource Management Act.
Updates from regulators included a presentation from Kylie Smeaton of New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, and Tim Shaw from the Department of Conservation.
The final presentation for the day was from Sefton Darby (consultant), who among other things has published a book on trying to find a middle ground in contentious debates relating to mining, drawing on his experience working for mining operators and regulatory agencies.
The day ended at 5:00pm, with closing remarks from Patrick Phelps and Richard Tacon.
Minerals West Coast thanks all those who attended, spoke at the event, sponsors and exhibitors, the team from the Runanga Workingmen’s Club, and all other service providers who made the event possible.
Meet the Miners series continues to grow
In the past year, Minerals West Coast has been producing and publishing videos as part of an online video series, ‘Meet the Miners’. The lates episode to be released (below) was Episode #5: Macraes Gold Mine, released in September. All previous episodes are available here.
A sixth episode, featuring Stockton, New Zealand’s largest coal mine, is currently in its post-production phase.
More recently Minerals West Coast has been breaking up previous episodes and reformatting them for short form viewing on mobile phones on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The aim of this series is to showcase mining as an industry, and the people in it, to as wide an audience of New Zealanders as possible. So far across all platforms, the series has had an encouraging level of interest. The series’ YouTube channel has had over 425,000 views, along with 2.4 million on Facebook, 150,000 on Instagram, and 480,000 on TikTok at the time of writing.
Reclassification of Stewardship areas
In December, the New Zealand Government announced the outcomes of decisions relating to parcels of Stewardship areas managed by the Department of Conservation. This follows similar work carried out by the previous government. The issue was discussed on RNZ’s show, The Panel with Wallace Chapman, between panellists Claire Amos and Patrick Phelps, and former conservation minister, Eugenie Sage. The full episode is available on RNZ’s website (Part 1 & Part 2), and the conversation about Stewardship land can be listened to below.
Green Party promises to repeal Fast-Track Mining permissions
On Monday the 17th November the Green Party announced that, if elected, it would repeal permissions for any mining projects approved under the Fast-Track Approvals Act.
Patrick Phelps spoke on RNZ’s show, The Panel, to discuss the news. The conversation can be heard below.
Minerals West Coast farewells manager
Minerals West Coast’s manager, Patrick Phelps, concludes his work with the organisation at the end of this year.This marks six years and five months since he began in the role in August 2019.
Minerals West Coast wishes Mr Phelps well with his future endeavours.
