OceanaGold has released results from 16 completed drill-holes at its Wharekirauponga prospect, located around 10km north of the company’s Waihi Operation in New Zealand.
The update forms part of ongoing exploration and resource conversion efforts in the Waihi District, which includes both the Wharekirauponga and Waihi North projects.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to the company, drilling at Wharekirauponga has produced multiple high-grade gold intercepts.
Among the reported results are intercepts of 6.3m at 97.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from a depth of 481.5m (hole WKP146C); 8.5m at 41.5g/t gold from 399m (WKP150); and 4.2m at 32.4g/t gold from 602.9m (WKP147A) within the East Graben (EG) Vein.
Other notable results include 9.6m at 18.5g/t gold from the EG Hanging Wall veins.
The company reported that drilling activity has accelerated at Wharekirauponga, which is currently operating five drill rigs, following the expansion of its exploration fleet and the construction of a new drill site.
The reported results support the continuity of the southern high-grade zone within the EG Vein, which remains open along strike, up-dip and at depth.
OceanaGold indicated that these findings may allow for an upgrade of a portion of the southern high-grade zone from inferred to indicated mineral resources.
OceanaGold president and CEO Gerard Bond said: “Drill results from Wharekirauponga continue to demonstrate the exceptional grade and continuity of the EG Vein zone, and include some of the highest-grade intercepts reported to date.
“These results confirm further continuity and up-dip extension of the southern high-grade zone, which currently lies outside of reported reserves, therefore representing outstanding conversion and growth potential.”
In addition to Wharekirauponga drilling, OceanaGold provided an update on the Waihi North Project.
Construction and underground tunnelling are progressing as planned, with decline development, which began in May 2026, now advanced by approximately 350m.
The company has started construction of the first ventilation shaft and expects to add a second jumbo in the first half of 2027.
Early stage work on a new tailings storage facility is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The company confirmed that an updated technical report for the Waihi District, compliant with National Instrument 43-101, is expected to be released in January 2027.
