Whare Kaupapa
Atawhai –
Conservation House
18 Manners Street
Wellington, 6011
doc.govt.nz
1 July 2025
OIAD-5275
Suze Keith
[FYI request #31104 email]
Tēnā koe Suze
Thank you for your Of icial Information Act (OIA) request to the Department of Conservation,
received on 26 May 2025 in which you asked:
Could you please send me all correspondence, reports, documents, meeting minutes, file
notes, etc, you have on record regarding the proposal to develop a series of open cast
goldmines in the Bendigo Ophir - Dunstan Mountains area by Matakanui Gold / Santana
Minerals?
I would very much appreciate a prompt reply, as the mining company is looking to apply for
fast tracked approvals at the end of June.
On 5 June 2025 you clarified:
Regardless of whether they are associated with fast track consenting or any other process.
2. From October 31, 2024 until present day.
This clarification reset the timeframe to respond to your request to 4 July 2025.
While I appreciate that you requested this information urgently, unfortunately it is stil necessary to
extend the 20-working day period to respond to your request, as allowed under section 15A(1) of the
Of icial Information Act 1982. We require an additional 15
days to respond to your request. We wil
send you a response no later than 25 July 2025, earlier if possible.
The extension of time is necessary both because of the large quantity of information to search
through and because of the consultations necessary to make a decision on the request. I understand
that you spoke with a member of DOC’s OIA Support Team on 27 June 2025 who explained this to
you.
I understand that you also asked if it was possible to proactively release/publish more information
about the project. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem feasible at this stage. The timelines are mostly
driven by the applicant and DOC responds to work as it comes in. However, you might like to direct
your request for more communication about projects to the Environmental Protection Agency, the
agency with overall responsibility for fast-track, or the Ministry for the Environment:
https:/ environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/fast-track-approvals/fast-track-
projects/bendigo-ophir-gold-project/
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Of icial Information Act to make a complaint to an
Ombudsman about the extension.
If you wish to discuss this response to your request, please contact
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Siobhan Quayle
Director Regulatory Systems Performance
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
