Rugby Park, Waihi

An interesting day in Waihi. Mr H in particular was very keen to see the mine. In the late 19th century gold was found under what is now Waihi, and a very productive mine was established; the Martha mine. Named after the favourite niece of the man who made the claim some years following the first discovery. The Martha mine closed in 1952 due to a lack of labour coupled with the low price of gold. In the 1980s permission was granted b the NZ Government for an open cast mine, which has been in production ever since.

So we took a guided tour. Only about halfway through we were stopped due to a total shutdown of the mine processes. We were taken back to the start and offered space on the afternoon tour. Still not exactly sure why the shutdown occurred. Finished the tour which was very interesting. I got some good pictures (which when I am back home with better wifi access I will put in my blipfolio). Later I went for run on the Pit Rim Walkway, which for most of the way was not on the edge of the gigantic hole in the ground.

On that run I cam across this view of a ground where as a primary schoolboy I played the occasional game of rugby. And once watched a game between Thames Valley and some other team, possibly Waikato. Behind and to the side of the ground is a Poppet Head (which tonight was lit up with blue lights) and the Cornish Pumphouse.

The Pumphouse was moved to where it currently stands after being strengthened and then carefully moved between 250 and 300 m out of danger from subsidence.

Also today I photographed two more bird species; magpie and chaffinch.

The internet connection here is very variable. so please excuse the dash and run approach I'm adopting.