Macraes

Oceana Gold's new Coronation open pit development at its Macraes site in East Otago is progressing towards production, but the estimated 100,000 ounces of gold it contains will not extend the overall Macraes mine life.

A massive slip at the open pit of the Macraes Gold Mine in Otago cut off access to underground workers, mining company Oceana Gold says.

There appears to be a degree of optimism among 70 Oceana Gold employees, despite learning yesterday they are to lose their jobs at the Macraes gold mine.

The speed at which Oceana Gold has pushed through job cuts at Macraes gold mine has shocked workers and the fall-out is expected to continue with losses at other firms.

Following 16 months of painstaking restoration, a 109-year-old gold stamping battery was finally this week returned to full working order.

Hopes are high the review of Oceana Gold's operations - particularly of its Macraes gold project - will not cut deeply into the Otago economy.

A 109-year-old engine from the historic gold stamp battery at Macraes mine will undergo extensive repairs for the first time.

A simple but poignant tribute was paid to the 29 men who died at the Pike River Coal mine at Oceana Gold's Macraes gold-mining operation open day at the weekend.

Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Ltd will take delivery later this year of a massive 360-tonne mining excavator worth about $8 million.

Peter and Cheryl Simpson might make the trip from Oamaru to Macraes every day but they never tire of the journey.

Mining in New Zealand is a male-dominated industry, so what is it like for women at Oceana Gold's mine at Macraes? Sally Rae talked to a nail-polish wearing grandmother who drives a 120-tonne truck.

"Technology, eh." Metallurgist Geua Kivung beams as she describes how the oxidation process can be done in 60 minutes in the process plant at OceanaGold's Macraes site, rather than the traditional method which takes millions of years.

Investment and jobs are key factors in any decision to allow mining of New Zealand's protected land areas. OceanaGold has been digging in our backyard at the Macraes site in East Otago for 20 years. Sally Rae and Craig Baxter went underground to meet the workers.