Conferences, workshops and hearings

On 17 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic economics for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Economics (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Economics (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Economics (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Economics hearing transcript (PDF, 694 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Economics hearing – 17 June 2026 (PDF, 104 KB)

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

• Memorandum of counsel for Sustainable Tarras (PDF, 177 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc (PDF, 148 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 103 KB)

Hearing evidence

The expert panel was provided the following evidence.

Sustainable Tarras – Oceana Gold Annual Report 31 December 2025 (PDF, 7.8 MB)

On 16 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic geotech for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Geotech (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Geotech (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Geotech (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Geotech hearing transcript (PDF, 508 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Geotech hearing – 16 June 2026 (PDF, 104 KB)

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

• Memorandum of counsel for Otago Regional Council (PDF, 117 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 103 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Sustainable Tarras (PDF, 177 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc (PDF, 96 KB)

Hearing evidence

The expert panel was provided the following evidence.

Sustainable Tarras

• Statement of Evidence of Professor Steven Emerman (PDF, 191 KB)

• Annexure A Report (PDF, 1.2 MB)

On 15 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic water for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Water (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Water (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Water (vimeo link)

Part 4 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Water (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Water hearing transcript (PDF, 690 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Water hearing – 15 June 2026 (PDF, 106KB)

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

• Memorandum of counsel for Otago Regional Council (PDF, 120 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc (PDF, 103 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 103 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Fish and Game (PDF, 188 KB)

On 12 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic ecology for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Ecology (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Ecology (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Ecology (vimeo link)

Part 4 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Ecology (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Ecology hearing transcript (PDF, 722 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Ecology hearing – 12 June 2026 (PDF, 106 KB)

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

• Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc – 10 June 2026 (PDF, 155 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc – 12 June 2026 (PDF, 250 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Otago Regional Council (PDF, 121 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Sustainable Tarras (PDF, 188 KB)

• Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 103 KB)

The panel heard from Ms McArthur, Water expert representing Fish & Game, on Thursday 11 June 2026 at Willeston Conference Centre, Wellington.

Hearing recording

Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Ms McArthur (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Ms McArthur hearing transcript (PDF, 252 KB)

This hearing was previously mentioned in Minute 32 of the expert panel, dated 3 June 2026, and affirmed in the Memorandum of Counsel for Fish & Game, dated 4 June 2026. The panel note that the original proposed start time of 2pm was amended to 3pm to accommodate availability of the panel.

Memorandum of Counsel for Fish and Game (PDF, 186 KB)

On 10 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic heritage for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Heritage (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Heritage (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Heritage (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Heritage hearing transcript (PDF, 421 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Heritage hearing – 10 June 2026 (PDF, 106KB)

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 116KB)

Memorandum of counsel for Sustainable Tarras (PDF, 196KB)

Department of Conservation (PDF, 458KB)

On 9 June 2026, the expert panel conducted a hearing on the topic landscape architecture for Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Hearing recordings

Part 1 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Landscape Hearing (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Landscape Hearing (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project – Landscape Hearing (vimeo link)

Hearing transcript

Landscape hearing transcript (PDF, 605 KB)

Hearing schedule of attendees and programme

Landscape architecture hearing – 9 June 2026 (PDF, 228KB) 

Cross-examination memorandums

The following parties are seeking leave to cross examine under section 58(1)(e).

Memorandum of counsel for Matakanui Gold Limited (PDF, 116KB)

Memorandum of counsel for Environmental Defence Society Inc (PDF, 124KB)

Memorandum of counsel for Sustainable Tarras (PDF, 193KB)

Hearing evidence

The expert panel was provided the following evidence.

Matakanui Gold Limited

• Boffa Miskell Plan Set – Index (PDF, 83KB)

• Boffa Miskell Plan Set (PDF, 2.8KB)

• Landscape Hearing Plan Set – Index (PDF, 17KB)

• Landscape Hearing Plan Set (PDF, 5.6KB)

The recordings of the Cromwell hearing held on 29 and 30 April 2026 at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell for the Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project are available to view using the below links.

Video captions are automatically generated.

Day 1 – 29 April 2026

Part 1 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Day 2 – 30 April 2026

Part 1 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Part 3 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Part 4 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Marsden Lake Resort, Cromwell (vimeo link)

Transcripts of the hearing recordings have been prepared and are available below.

Day 1 – Cromwell hearing transcript – 29 April 2026 (PDF, 734KB) 

Day 2 – Cromwell hearing transcript – 30 April 2026 (PDF, 704KB)

The expert panel was presented the following evidence.

Central Otago District Council

• Overview summary paper for CODC (PDF, 196 KB)

Central Otago Winegrowers Association

• Second Memorandum of COWA Counsel (PDF, 143 KB)

Di Lucas

• Evidence to Bendigo-Ophir Gold project expert panel (PDF, 850 KB)

• Appendix 1 (PDF, 103 KB)

• Appendix 2 (PDF, 775 KB)

• Appendix 3 (PDF, 6 MB)

Environmental Defence Society

• Legal submissions for 29 April hearing (PDF, 253 KB)

• Appendix A – summary of legal submissions (PDF, 79 KB)

• Appendix B1 – summary of economic evidence (PDF, 57 KB)

• Appendix B2 – summary of hydrogeology evidence (PDF, 75 KB)

• Appendix B3 – summary of geochemistry evidence (PDF, 66 KB)

• Appendix B4 – summary of ecology evidence (PDF, 77 KB)

• Appendix B5 – summary of landscape evidence (PDF, 94 KB)

Fish & Game New Zealand

• Submissions of Counsel for hearing (PDF, 329 KB)

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

• Legal submissions (PDF, 562 KB)

• Statement of Evidence of Emma Clifford (PDF, 214 KB)

• Appendix A: Internal Assessment for Bendigo Ophir Gold Project (PDF, 617 KB)

• Appendix B: Statements of General Policy (PDF, 1 MB)

Holger Reinecke

• Holger Reinecke – supplementary Letter for Holger.docx (PDF, 147 KB)

Matakanui Gold Limited (the Applicant)

• Hearing Attendees (PDF, 114 KB)

New Zealand Transport Agency

• Helen Dempster evidence (PDF, 173 KB)

• Roy Johnston evidence (PDF, 126 KB)

• Stephen Cottrell evidence (PDF, 112 KB)

Otago Regional Council

• Legal submissions for Otago Regional Council (PDF, 273 KB)

Paul Pujol

• Paul Pujol video submission (external Vimeo link)

Peter Rough

• Peter Rough – overview statement (PDF, 190 KB)

Ross Hanan

• Ross Hanan – hearing statement (PDF, 109 KB)

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society New Zealand

• Forest & Bird – speaking notes for hearing on 29 April 2026 (PDF, 316 KB)

Sustainable Tarras

• Outline Submissions of Counsel for Sustainable Tarras for hearing (PDF, 309 KB)

• Additional written submissions on Introduction key themes (PDF, 129 KB)

• Referenced court decision – Remediation (NZ) Ltd v Taranaki Regional Council [2026] NZHC 55 (1) (PDF, 710 KB)

• Referenced court decision – [2026] NZCA 138 (PDF, 287 KB)

The Canyon Vineyard Ltd

• The Canyon Vineyard Ltd – Supplementary Addition (PDF, 1 MB)

Trevathan family

• Submissions to Expert Panel (PDF, 524 KB)

• TSF Study (PDF, 5 MB)

The recordings of the Cromwell hearing held on 28 April 2026 at Ōtākou Marae, Ōtākou for the Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project are available to view using the below links.

Video captions are automatically generated.

Part 1 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Ōtākou Marae (vimeo link)

Part 2 – Bendigo–Ophir Gold project hearing at Ōtākou Marae (vimeo link)

Transcript of the hearing recordings have been prepared and is available below.

Ōtākou Marae hearing transcript – 28 April 2026 (PDF, 734KB) 

Holm Majurey Limited – Memorandum of Counsel – 24 April 2026 (PDF, 202 KB)

Holm Majurey Limited – Evidence of Mike Dreaver – Kā Rūnaka (PDF, 140 KB)

On 26 February 2026, the expert panel attended an overview conference where the applicant of the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project provided a summary of the application.

Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project overview conference recording (vimeo link)

On 21 January 2026, the panel convener held a conference with participants for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold project.

Conference recording

Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project panel convener conference recording (vimeo link)

Invitation to conference

On 18 December 2025, the panel convener issued Minute 3 inviting participants to a provide a written response to the matters raised in the Minute.

Minute of the panel convener (PDF, 150KB)

Responses to invitation

Memorandum for Central Otago District Council for first convenors conference (PDF, 281 KB)

Memorandum for Otago Regional Council for first convenors conference (PDF, 325 KB)

Memorandum for Department of Conservation for first convenors conference (PDF, 132 KB)

Memorandum for Heritage New Zealand for first convenors conference (PDF, 250 KB)

Memorandum for applicant for first convenors conference (PDF, 389 KB)

Memorandum for Kā Rūnaka for first convenors conference (PDF, 335 KB)