Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust

11/11/2025

Postie Bike Rally kicking off this Saturday 9am from the Ranfurly Bowling Club!
Cooked breakfast, packed lunch, ham dinner all included. Plus full course details and 'broom wagon' and post event prizes!!
Just $250 per rider. Register at Breakfast, 8am Saturday the 15th November. Check out a fly-through of the route below. Thanks very much John Wekking for organising the route!

19/10/2025

A fantastic agm weekend. We spent the weekend looking at the new proposed mine site for Thompson Gorge and some old mining history at the Lindis Pass Hotel. We have some exciting news coming soon about the Lindis Pass Hotel preservation project!

05/10/2025

Click here to see details of the AGM
OGHT AGM & Field Weekend

Join us for our Annual General Meeting and an optional engaging weekend of learning, exploration, and connection with the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust community.

23/09/2025

Did you know Goldpanning is a legitimate sport!! The NZ National Champs are on this Saturday at the Blossom Festival! Come along, have a go, and start getting excited about the WORLD GOLDPANNING CHAMPIONSHIPS in Cromwell, Central Otago next year!!!

16/09/2025

MEDIA STATEMENT
Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust – Santana Minerals and Shepherds Creek Road Access
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust (OGHT) wishes to clarify its position following recent media coverage regarding the proposed Santana Minerals mining project and the Shepherds Creek road access issue.
Clarification of OGHT Position
The OGHT notes that comments attributed to its former president Martin Anderson in recent media reports represent his personal views and do not reflect the official position of the Trust. The OGHT does not oppose the proposed mining project by Santana Minerals Ltd.
Our Focus: Heritage Access and Preservation
The OGHT's primary concern remains ensuring continued public access to the significant 19th-century gold mining heritage sites in the Shepherds Creek area, including the Rise and Shine, Come in Time, and Shrek deposits. These sites represent important elements of Central Otago's goldfields history that should remain accessible to the public for educational and heritage purposes.
Sponsorship
The OGHT has for many years been the benefactor of sponsorship from gold mining companies and individuals. We welcome this sponsorship as it supports our ability to maintain and interpret goldfield heritage sites throughout Otago. Santana Minerals is currently supporting the OGHT’s hosting of the World Gold Planning Championships to be held in Cromwell in September 2026. The OGHT is also encouraged to know that Santana Minerals is planning to provide alternative, improved, public access to the Come in Time heritage site and undertake stabilisation work that is required there.
Collaborative Approach
The Trust believes that heritage preservation and responsible resource development can coexist when approached collaboratively. We remain open to working constructively with all stakeholders—including Santana Minerals, the Central Otago District Council, and the Outdoor Access Commission—to find solutions that:
• Maintain public access to heritage sites
• Respect legitimate property rights
• Support appropriate heritage interpretation and protection

• Follow proper legal processes
Way Forward
The OGHT encourages all parties to work within existing legislative frameworks to resolve the current access issues. We support the Outdoor Access Commission's guidance that any changes to public access should include appropriate alternative arrangements that preserve access to heritage sites.
The Trust remains committed to its core mission of preserving and interpreting Otago's goldfields heritage for current and future generations.
Contact:
Warwick Hawker, President, Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust E-mail: [email protected]

The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust is a charitable organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the understanding of Otago's gold mining heritage.

16/09/2025

The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust 2025 National Gold Panning Champs are on again at the Alexandra Blossom Festival 27th September

08/08/2025

A massive THANK YOU to the Spanish organising committee, to our Swedish and Finnish friends, to our 'ring-in friends', to the Team NZ members and to mum and dad! It was a MASSIVE effort to feed about 500 people two 'Tumeke Tacos' (pork and chicken cooked in Mrs Rogers Classic Kiwi BBQ rub with Horopito with kiwifruit salsa) and a glass of sparkling wine with chopped kiwifruit and ice.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive - lots came back for seconds and we still had some to share with the locals... was an incredible night.
Thanks so much to Minerals for making this financially possible.

07/07/2025

Day 4 - Coromandel. Driving Creek Railway is definitely worth the visit!!

06/07/2025

Day 3 Thames.

05/07/2025

Day 2. Victoria Battery, Waikino and Paeroa en route to Thames.

04/07/2025

OGHT Fieldtripping!
Waihi.

28/05/2025

Get on it people! An important fundraiser for the OGHT! Please help us share it far and wide!