Joint Witness Statements

15 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on planning prepared during expert conferencing held on 15 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – planning #2 (PDF, 275MB)

12 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on geology, geotech and engineering prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held on 10 and 11 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – reconvened – geology, geotech and engineering (PDF, 1MB)

11 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – effects management prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held on 10 and 11 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – ecology – effects management (PDF, 435KB)

10 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on geochemistry, water quality, hydrology, water management and freshwater ecology prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held on 19 May 2026 and 10 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – reconvened – geochemistry, water quality, hydrology, water management and freshwater ecology (PDF, 668KB)

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – lizards prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held on 19 May 2026 and 10 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – ecology – Lizards (PDF, 340KB)

9 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on geochemistry, water quality, hydrology, water management and freshwater ecology prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held on 8 and 9 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – geochemistry, water quality, hydrology, water management and freshwater ecology (PDF, 416KB)

8 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on landscape architecture prepared during an expert conferencing meeting held 8 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses reconvened landscape architecture (PDF, 6.4MB)

3 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – terrestrial vegetation prepared during expert conferencing held 2 and 3 June 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – reconvened – ecology – terrestrial vegetation (PDF, 283KB)

2 June 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on landscape architecture prepared during expert conferencing held 18, 27 and 28 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – landscape architecture (PDF, 598KB)

29 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on bonds prepared during expert conferencing held 29 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – bonds (PDF, 304KB)

28 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on heritage prepared during expert conferencing held 28 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – heritage (PDF, 363KB) 

27 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on recreation prepared during expert conferencing held 27 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – recreation (PDF, 209KB)

26 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on lighting and dark sky prepared during expert conferencing held 26 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – lighting and dark sky (PDF, 236KB)

25 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – terrestrial vegetation prepared during expert conferencing held on 25 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – ecology – terrestrial vegetation (PDF, 369KB)

22 May 2026

The expert panel received Joint Witness Statements on air quality and economics prepared during expert conferencing held on 22 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses air quality (PDF, 362KB)

Joint statement of expert witnesses  economics (PDF, 452KB)

21 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on planning prepared during expert conferencing held on 21 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses  planning #1 (PDF, 286KB)

20 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on noise and vibration prepared during expert conferencing held on 20 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses  noise and vibration (PDF, 535KB)

18 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on groundwater prepared during expert conferencing held on 14 and 15 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses groundwater (PDF, 382KB)

15 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on traffic and roads prepared during expert conferencing held on 15 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses traffic and roads (PDF, 423KB)

13 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on contaminated land prepared during expert conferencing held on 13 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses contaminated land (PDF, 222KB)

12 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on geology, geotech, and engineering prepared during expert conferencing held on 12 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses geology, geotech, engineering (PDF, 528KB)

11 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – avifauna, prepared during expert conferencing held on 11 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses – ecology – avifauna (PDF, 216KB)

7 May 2026

The expert panel received a Joint Witness Statement on ecology – invertebrates, prepared during expert conferencing held on 7 May 2026.

Joint statement of expert witnesses ecology – invertebrates (PDF, 212KB)

Further information requests

25 June 2026 – RFI 11

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant). The applicant's response is due by 9 July 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 25 June 2026 (PDF, 122KB)

3 June 2026 – RFI 10

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant). The applicant's response is due by 17 June 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 3 June 2026 (PDF, 147KB)

Applicant's response

On 17 June 2026, the applicant responded to the request for information.

Matakanui Gold Limited's response to RFI 10 (PDF, 6.9MB)

28 May 2026 – RFI 7, 8 & 9

The expert panel issued 3 requests for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant) regarding:

The applicant's responses to the RFIs are due by 12 June 2026.

Applicant's response

On 12 June 2026, the applicant responded to the request for information.

Response to RFI 7 – cultural issues (PDF, 205KB)

Response to RFI 8 – light and dark skies (PDF, 1MB)

Response to RFI 9 – recreation, traffic and roads (PDF, 15MB)

26 May 2026 – RFI 6

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant) regarding hazardous installations. The applicant's response is due by 10 June 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 26 May 2026 (PDF, 147KB)

Applicant's response

On 22 June 2026, the applicant provided responded to the panel's request for further information.

Matakanui Gold Limited's response to RFI 6 (PDF, 2.9MB)

On 29 May 2026, the applicant provided a memorandum of counsel requesting an extension to respond to 22 June 2026.

Memorandum of counsel on behalf of the applicant (PDF, 135KB)

21 May 2026 – RFI 5

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant). The applicant's response is due by 5 June 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 21 May 2026 (PDF, 147KB)

Applicant's response

On 5 June 2025, Matakanui Gold Limited responded to the request for information.

19 May 2026 – RFI 4

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicant). The applicant's response is due by 3 June 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 19 May 2026 (PDF, 84KB)

Applicant's response

On 3 June 2026, Matakanui Gold Limited responded to the expert panels request for information.

Matakanui Gold Limited's response to request for information (PDF, 9.4MB)

15 May 2026 – RFI 3

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited (the applicants). The applicant's response is due by 22 May 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 15 May 2026 (PDF, 81KB)

Applicant's response

On 22 May 2025, Matakanui Gold Limited responded to the request for information.

Memorandum of Counsel on behalf of the applicant (PDF, 151KB)

Applicants' response to request for information (PDF, 7.3MB)

1 April 2026 – RFI 2

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited. The applicant's response is due by 17 April 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 1 April 2026 (PDF, 81 KB)

Attachment A - RFI combined topics – 1 April 2026 (PDF, 195KB)

Applicant's response

On 17 April 2026, Matakanui Gold Limited responded to the request for information.

19 March 2026 – RFI 1

The expert panel issued a request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited. The applicant's response is due by 24 March 2026.

Request for further information to Matakanui Gold Limited – 19 March 2026 (PDF, 93 KB)

Applicant's response

On 19 March 2026, Matakanui Gold Limited (the Applicant) responded to the request for information.

Reports

15 July 2026

The applicant's ecologist provided reports to the expert panel following the Lizard Expert Conferencing and the expert hearings.

Biodiversity offset table (PDF, 311 KB)

Lizard habitat (PDF, 49 KB)

22 May 2026

The expert panel has received a memorandum and update to the Joint Witness Statement regarding contaminated land from its s67(1)(b) appointee Dave Bull.

Expert conferencing memorandum additional information (PDF, 856KB)

Update to joint witness statement contaminated land 13 May 2026 (PDF, 447KB)

11 May 2026

The expert panel has received an initial report from its s 67(1) (b) air quality appointee Jenny Simpson on the application. 

Technical review of air quality assessment (PDF, 2.6MB)

Section 51 reports

25 March 2026

The Fast-track team received the s51 reports from the Director-General of Conservation and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Department of Conservation

DOC s51 Covering report (PDF, 265 KB)

DOC s51(2)(a) Concessions Report (PDF, 794 KB)

DOC s51(2)(b) Conservation Covenant Report BOGP (PDF, 475 KB)

DOC s51(2)(c) Wildlife Report BOGP (PDF, 804 KB)

DOC s51(2)(e) report - complex freshwater fisheries activity - BOGP (PDF, 294 KB)

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

HNZPT Section 51(2)(d) Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 Report (PDF, 298KB)

8 December 2025

At the direction of the panel convener, the Fast-track team requested advice from Department of Conservation and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, under section 51 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Letter to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Māori Heritage Council requesting s51 reports (PDF, 109 KB)

Letter to Department of Conservation requesting s51 reports (PDF, 120 KB)

Section 18 report

19 December 2025

The Ministry for the Environment provided the Fast-track team with a section 18 report on Treaty settlements and other obligations, as required under section 49 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Treaty settlements and other obligations (section 18) report (PDF, 2.3 MB)