Simpson Grierson provide legal and strategic advice to a range of mining and natural resource companies including the two largest gold mining companies in New Zealand.  We are able to offer our clients numerous benefits, including:

• A top-tier energy and natural resources practice (Asia Pacific Legal 500 directory 2006/07)
• A wealth of experience gained from acting for both of the major gold producers in New Zealand (GRD Macraes and Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd), a number of the major quarrying companies including Firth Industries Ltd, Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd, Winstone Aggregates as well as other clients in the related sectors of oil and gas, and electricity transmission

In addition we offer a full range of commercial legal services, including:

• Energy and Natural Resources
• International Trade and Investment
• Corporate and Commercial
• Financial Services
• Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers
• Banking and Finance
• Resource Management and Environment
• Litigation
• Employment
• Insurance
• Government and Business
• Networks and Utilities
• Tax
• Information Technology
• Construction
• Property
• Competition

We advise on all aspects of the mining and quarrying process from permits, consents and hazard management through to commodity sale agreements. In addition to mining and quarrying, we cover all aspects of the wider energy and natural resources sector including oil and gas.

Our expertise includes:

• Minerals permitting and access arrangements
• Regulatory compliance
• Land use, water management and air discharge permits
• Hazard management, site contamination and seepage
• Employment and health and safety requirements for employees working in the industry
• Project financing
• Mine development, construction, contracting and outsourcing
• Heavy mining equipment fleet leasing
• Joint ventures and management agreements
• Taxation
• Corporate and listing issues, takeovers and mergers and general corporate advice
• Commodity supply agreements

Clients choose us for this combination of skills and our understanding of the minerals sector. Our recent mining and quarrying experience includes:

• Advising GRD Macraes on its $67m dual currency operating lease facility for its new mining fleet and acting on the extension of its secured syndicated bank facilities (including gold hedging facility)
• Advising Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd. on the implementation of community solutions following subsidence over historic underground workings
• Advising Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd. on resource consent applications including for the Favona exploration decline and underground mine
• Advising Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd. on  a range of issues relating to the move of the Cornish Pumphouse
• Advising Solid Energy on the contracts and procurement processes for Stockton Opencast Coal Mine (including long term alliance for development of Stockton Plateau) and  Spring Creek Underground Coal Mine
• The tender and documentation of the mine operations contract for Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd
• Appearing on behalf of the New Zealand Minerals Industry Association in respect of the Environment Court, High Court and impending Court of Appeal hearing regarding the use of prohibited activity status in the Thames-Coromandel District

Examples of the major mining and quarrying projects Simpson Grierson has been involved in New Zealand in recent times include:

• Gold mine and extensions - Macraes Flat, North Otago
• Open pit and underground goldmines - Waihi
• Aggregate quarry - Bombay, Auckland
• Aggregate quarry - Whitehall, Cambridge
• Aggregate quarry - Puketutu Island
• Aggregate quarry - Hukatere, Northland
• Aggregate quarry - Motumaho, near Morrinsville
• Sand-mining consents - Mangawhai and Kaipara Harbour
• Mining permits - Northland, Coromandel, West Coast

In addition to the mining examples above, in the related sectors of exploration for oil and gas, we have advised clients such as Swift Energy, Westech, OMV, Origin Energy, Tap Oil and Contact Energy on a broad range of issues. We have also advised Transpower with respect to electricity transmission.

Our mining specialists have extensive day-to-day involvement in resource management issues such as resource consent applications, plan drafting, submissions and appeals, project management, representation before local authorities, the Environment Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and pursuing and defending enforcement action.

Our commercial team interact regularly with Crown Minerals and this interface includes mining and exploration permit applications, licence issues, work programme negotiations, AFO regime and bidding agreements.

A particular strength lies in our ability to help international players come to market in New Zealand. We are able to combine our understanding of, and experience in, the minerals and natural resources sector with our legal skills in contract issues, due diligence, financing, employment and property.

For more information on our mining expertise, please contact:

Don Holborow
Robert McLean
Michael Weatherall
Elisabeth Welson
Stephen Flynn
Dave Trueman
Michelle van Kampen