Following the road east along the gorge takes us to Waihi, home of New zealands richest gold and silver mine, Martha Mine. After closing in 1952 the open cast mine reopened in 1988 and continues to produce 3g to 6g of gold from each tonne of rock. This has left a massive scar on the landscape which will be to turned into a lake one day. . . .

The truck indicates the scale of this 'hole'

The bottom of 'the lake' is just visible

The edge of the mine with the 'Cornish"pump house on the rim

Close up of the pump house which was transported 200m to stop it falling down the hole! (think it might have been better off in the hole)

The terraces of the mine