Martha Open Gold Mine

Traveled to Waihi to visit the Martha Open Gold Mine. Mind blowing! Just absolutely mind blowing!
It was so deep. Deeper than I had even expected! Plus, it was on top of a hill, so you couldn't even see it. Deceiving...

They collect rock from within the mine, crush it, put it through a sodium cyanide solution, and bind the gold and silver to carbon to extract the gold. They only get 1 0z of gold from 10 tons of rock! Hardly seems economically viable. Not too mention that the sodium cyanide solution is toxic. Sure the company says that they are doing things to reduce the risk of leaking, and reduce the environmental impacts...but still, is the risk worth it?

All in all the tour was really interesting. It was cool to see how it works. Crazy though. Our tour guide said that all of the gold that has been mined fits in a football field one meter high! Try to get your head around that.

After our tour around the Martha mine, we drove down to the Karangahake Gorge.

The place was peppered with hanging bridges, awesome...especially when we all ran and jumped across them. The place used to be a gold mine. There are ruins of the gold battery and old train tracks cover the hills which come directly out of the river.

Towards the end of our hike/walk through the gorge, we walked through the old tunnels of the mine. It was incredibly dark! So dark, that I couldn't even see the difference between my eyes open and my eyes closed. It was amazing. The ceilings were covered in glow worms too. Sadly I have no pictures because they only glow in the dark, obviously.

The next day we had a long discussion about the gold mining industry. We then had to prepare a debate on whether the Golden Cross mine should be re-opened for further gold exploration. My team took the negative. It was a solid debate, but my team lost.


We still had a great time debating, at least I did!

Going to Cathedral Cove and Secret Beach tomorrow!!!!!

Awhitu Wild Food Festival

As much as I would like to blog about my experiences on the south island...I just can't. There was too much that happened, and I would describe it in too much detail. I simply just do not have the time. Sleep is too precious here, as is hanging out with friends, and school work. This environment is just not conducive to work...it's too beautiful! It's finally not raining...I know hard to believe. Though 4 weeks of rain was enough for a while.

We had a three day weekend this week because today was labor (sorry labour) day! Friday we worked on our directed research projects for the first time. I am working with Hope, Kate, Amanda, Kim, and Emily, and we are researching environmental education within the New Zealand curriculum. It's pretty sweet, and I get to work with some of the local children at the primary school here in Kaiaua. I miss working with kids. I got asked to go back to Kamp Kohut, and I'm really struggling with finding reasons not to go back. Sure I need an internship...but...ah!

Friday night we celebrated Janet's 21st birthday! Lots of fun. Kate and I made Janet a Hogwarts acceptance letter. It looked awesome! Complete with Hogwarts coat of arms, tea stained paper, a red wax seal on the back with the impression of a New Zealand coin stamped in the wax. Oh ya we got fancy! She absolutely loved it! And we have her reaction on film to view over and over again. It was really nice to get creative. I seriously need a creative outlet here. Mom, if you are reading this...please send crochet hooks, and some yarn from my green and black bag next to my bed. Please and thank you.

Saturday we woke up late (for once in a long time) made a delicious breakfast of eggs-galore (hashbrowns, eggs, onions, garlic, and cheese all mixed together in a pan...yum!). Then we headed out for the Awhitu Peninsula.

Me, Kate, Sarah, Amanda, Holliday, Beck, Denny, Janet, and Cara drove out to the peninsula for a night of camping in the Awhitu Regional Park. It was so much fun. We found a sweet lighthouse, and took tons of pictures.

Ate some delicious pizza too!

The next day we went to the Awhitu Peninsula Wild Food Festival! It was such a nice day (I even got a little sunburn). There were lots of crazy foods to try. I ate curried goat, a mussel fritter (a very popular kiwi treat), a venison burger, hot chips (french fries), and green mussels. SO much good food. While we ate there was also live music. The last band that played was an awesome reggae band. Most of us got up and danced. I had such a great time!

We stayed from 11:30 until the festival ended at 5:00, then started the drive back to EQ headquarters.Did a little work on my paper, then called it a night. Worked on papers all day today, which was a shame too because once again it was wicked nice. Hard to believe that it's getting cold at home. Missing fall. And I keep torturing myself by reading blogs from people in the states who are making candy apples, and carving pumpkins.