Gold Mine: The (almost) impossible battle that regional New Zealand can't win.

Today Crux has published a major investigation into the proposed gold mine at Bendigo - funded by Crux paid subsribers.

Due to high levels of public interest we've removed the paywall - and our full story can be read now on Substack.

Central Otago’s Mayor on the Santana Bendigo gold project - “the community is split but the council does not have a position on the mine.”
Community group confronts CODC’s “neutral” CEO as he tells them he’s “on opposing sides to them" on the mine.
“Dig, Baby, Dig” Minister Shane Jones exclusively reveals new plans to channel Government cash to the Central Otago District Council - but says “awkward choices” need to become part of our national culture.
CODC’s Chief Executive secretly gave Santana vital road access to the mine site in an October 16 letter - but then said the permission was not “legal.” Could the questionable authority of this letter trigger a dramatic judicial review?
Kiwi movie icon (Jurassic Park) Sam Neill has mobilised his 800,000 international followers against the mine but is getting push back from highly organised pro-mine trolls on social media.
CODC Deputy Mayor Tracy Paterson’s family farm sits on top of another seam of (Santana) gold and she has stood down from council mine meetings due to this future conflict.
The mining company Santana did not reply when asked questions by Crux in relation to this article.