AXG - Antipodes Gold [formerly GEL - Glass Earth]

[elZorro]

Two NZ mining sector lobbyists have combined: Straterra is the more recent entity but was more active. Glass Earth's Wellington office is one of a cluster of similar companies like Chatham Rock Phosphate, set up around Straterra's offices.

NZMIA merges with Straterra

Simon Hartley — 3 July 2013
The original industry voice for the New Zealand minerals sector the New Zealand Minerals Industry Association (NZMIA) has merged with the more active industry organisation Straterra.
The NZMIA was established in 1981 during a brief gold boom and later increased its size by bringing in the quarrying industry. It was originally known as the New Zealand Mineral Exploration Association
When Straterra was launched in 2008 at the annual AusIMM New Zealand Mining Conference in Wellington it prompted many in the resource sector to question the need for two agencies delivering similar messages.
Straterra'a inaugural members included mining heavyweights such as OceanaGold Corporation, State owned enterprise Solid Energy, the NZ Coal Association, Newmont Waihi Gold, Minerals West Coast and L&M Group.
The NZMIA council had included representatives from Heritage Gold NZ Ltd (now New Talisman Gold Mines Ltd), Holcim (NZ) Ltd, Winstone Aggregates, New Zealand Steel Ltd and Newmont Waihi Gold.
Straterra's membership now represents 90%, by value, of the country's mineral production, including a large share of exploration, but not representing, oil, gas and geothermal interests.
Straterra chief executive Chris Baker said the merger was an important step to consolidating the mineral industry sector into one voice to achieve more effective sector representation.
In recent years has grown in membership and also linked with the Austmine industry organisation to help operate Austmine NZ.
The veteran chief executive of NZMIA has been Douglas Gordon.
“NZMIA holds much history and knowledge, and we welcome NZMIA members into Straterra. Mining faces many challenges in New Zealand,” Chris Baker said.
It is important that we manage our scarce resources efficiently, and present our industry professionally. This agreement helps us do that,” he added.
*Simon Hartley is senior business reporter and assistant chief reporter for the Otago Daily Times.
-additional reporting by Ross Louthean.