View source for Waihi

{{For|the settlement near Tūrangi|Waihi Village}}
{{Distinguish|Waihi Beach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
| name                    = Waihi <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in -->
| settlement_type         = Town <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.-->
| image_skyline           = Waihi's Main Street (Seddon Street) looking South.jpg
| image_caption           = Waihi's Main Street (Seddon Street) looking South
| image_map               = {{Infobox mapframe|zoom=9}}
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Waihi within the North Island
| coordinates             = {{coord|37|23|S|175|50|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Waikato]] region
| subdivision_type2       = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Hauraki District]]
| subdivision_type3       = Ward
| subdivision_name3       = Waihi Ward
| leader_title            = Territorial Authority
| leader_name             = [[Hauraki District Council]]
| leader_title1           = Regional council
| leader_name1            = [[Waikato Regional Council]]
| leader_title2           = [[Mayor of Thames-Coromandel]]
| leader_name2            = {{NZ officeholder data|Thames-Coromandel District Mayor|y}}
| leader_title3           = [[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel MP]]
| leader_name3            = {{NZ officeholder data|Coromandel MP|y}}
| leader_title4           = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]]
| leader_name4            = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}}
| seat_type               = Electorates
| seat                    = {{ubl|[[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel]]|[[Hauraki-Waikato]] (Māori)}}
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="Area"/>
| area_total_km2          = 9.55
| population_total        = {{NZ population data 2018|Waihi|y}}
| population_as_of        = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_footnotes    = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in New Zealand|Postcode(s)]]
| postal_code             = 3610
| timezone                = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]]
| utc_offset              = +12
| timezone_DST            = NZDT
| utc_offset_DST          = +13
}}

'''Waihi''' is a town in [[Hauraki District]] in the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]], especially notable for its history as a gold mine town.

The town is at the foot of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]], close to the western end of the [[Bay of Plenty]]. The nearby resort town of [[Waihi Beach]], ten kilometres to the east, is often regarded as the westernmost point of the Bay of Plenty region. To the west are the hills of the [[Kaimai Ranges]]. Road access from this direction is through the winding [[Karangahake Gorge]] road. Waihi has a warm and temperate<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/12717/|title=Climate: Waihi - Temperature, Climate graph, Climate table - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> climate but unusually high rainfall for New Zealand's east coast with an average annual rainfall of 2147&nbsp;mm.

==Demographics==
Stats NZ describes Waihī as a small urban area. It covers {{Convert|9.55|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=7 March 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Waihi|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Waihi|y}}|R}}/9.55|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|4,620|2013|4,671|2018|5,409|2023|5,682|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waihī town|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Waihi North (169400), Waihi East (169500) and Waihi South (169600)}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 9.40 km<sup>2</sup>.}}
Waihī had a population of 5,682 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 273 people (5.0%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 1,011 people (21.6%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 2,745 males, 2,919 females and 18 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 2,379 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1157%2B169401%2B169500%2B169600.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 2.5% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 50.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 924 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 765 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 2,289 (40.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,704 (30.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.2% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 23.4% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 4.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 6.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 4.5%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 6.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 27.5% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.8% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.2% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 1.5% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 0.7% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.8% [[New Age]], and 2.3% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 57.1%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 567 (11.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,571 (54.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,617 (34.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 231 people (4.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,746 (36.7%) people were employed full-time, 564 (11.9%) were part-time, and 156 (3.3%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1157.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Waihī (1157)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Individual statistical areas
|-
!Name !! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density<br/>(per km<sup>2</sup>) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median<br/>income
|-
| Waihī North || style="text-align:right;"|2.78 || style="text-align:right;"|1,866 || style="text-align:right;"|671 || style="text-align:right;"|771 || 51.8 years || $25,500<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.169401.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Waihī North}}</ref>
|-
| Waihī East || style="text-align:right;"|4.08 || style="text-align:right;"|1,476 || style="text-align:right;"|362 || style="text-align:right;"|606 || 48.2 years || $29,400<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.169500.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Waihī East}}</ref>
|-
| Waihī South || style="text-align:right;"|2.69 || style="text-align:right;"|2,340 || style="text-align:right;"|870 || style="text-align:right;"|1,005 || 51.1 years || $28,800<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.169600.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Waihī South}}</ref>
|-
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 38.1 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $41,500
|}

===Rural surrounds===
Waihī Rural statistical area, which includes [[Waikino]] and [[Whiritoa]], covers {{Convert|375.57|km2||abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=7 March 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waihi Rural|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waihi Rural|y}}|R}}/375.57|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|1,782|2013|1,803|2018|2,145|2023|2,424|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waihī Rural|source=<ref name="Census 2018 WR">{{NZ census 2018|Waihi Rural (169300)|waihi-rural|Waihi Rural}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023 WR"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a larger area of 375.75 km<sup>2</sup>.}}
Waihī Rural had a population of 2,424 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 279 people (13.0%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 621 people (34.4%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 1,233 males, 1,185 females and 6 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 888 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.169301.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 1.6% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 49.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 414 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 312 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,113 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 582 (24.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 WR"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 16.6% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 2.4% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 2.7% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023 WR"/>

Religious affiliations were 27.0% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.6% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.1% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 0.5% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 0.6% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.5% [[New Age]], and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 61.4%, and 8.8% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023 WR"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 297 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,161 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 546 (27.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 192 people (9.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 867 (43.1%) people were employed full-time, 369 (18.4%) were part-time, and 60 (3.0%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 WR">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.169301.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Waihī Rural (169301)}}</ref>

==History and culture==

===Mining township===
{{Main article|Martha Mine}}

Waihi is located in the Coromandel district, which was one of the great gold mining districts of the world. The township grew around the mining operations since the discovery of gold in 1878 by prospectors John McCombie and Robert Lee. The samples of rock they had sent to be assayed were not considered worthwhile, so they left the area.{{Citation needed|date=September 2007}}

Their claim was taken over by William Nicholl in 1879. He marked out {{convert|5|acre|m2}}, calling his claim 'Martha' after a family member.<ref name="FEVER"/> Several smaller claims were later merged to form the Martha Company. By 1882 the first battery to break gold-bearing rock was in operation. The [[Martha Mine]] eventually grew into one of the world's most important gold and silver mines, after industrial [[cyanide]] processes made recovering gold from the low-grade ores easier. Waihi prospered with the mine, by 1908 being the fastest-growing town in the Auckland Province, three times the size of [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]].<ref name="FEVER">[http://www.waihi.org.nz/main.aspx?topicID=2&parent=14 Gold Fever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904155744/http://www.waihi.org.nz/main.aspx?topicID=2&parent=14 |date=4 September 2007 }} (from the 'History & Heritage' section of the 'Waihi.org' website)</ref>

Waihi was also a major centre of union unrest in New Zealand during the early years of the 20th century. The [[Waihi miners' strike|1912 miners' strike]] led to violence, including the death of unionist [[Fred Evans (union worker)|Fred Evans]] in an incident which still causes some resentment in the town.

[[File:Martha Mine in Waihi.jpg|thumb|[[Martha Mine]], Waihi]]
By 1952, when the mighty Martha Mine closed, around 5.6 million ounces (174,160&nbsp;kg) of gold and 38.4 million ounces (1,193,180&nbsp;kg) of silver had been produced from 11,932,000 tonnes of ore.<ref>"Waihi's Gold",NEWMONT, The Gold Company</ref> Mining stopped in 1952 after a total of 160&nbsp;km of tunnels had been driven into the quartz of Martha Hill,<ref name="To1990">''Engineering to 1990'' – [[Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand|IPENZ]], Engineering Publications Co Ltd, Page 15</ref> not because the Martha had run out of gold, but rather because of fixed gold prices, lack of manpower, and increasing costs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} Mining in the [[Coromandel Peninsula]] had otherwise ceased by the 1980s.<ref name="MINE">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10612000 |title=Conservation land could be mined – Govt |date=27 November 2009 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=30 November 2011}}</ref>

However, mining later resumed, with some protests against it during the 1987 consent process.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Plans to stop operations in the 2000s were eventually shelved as well, and the mines new owner [[OceanaGold]] is investing in extending the further economic life of the mine and the underground operations. As of 2009, the mine constituted 25–30% of the local economy.<ref>''Martha mine may test goodwill, says report'' – ''[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]'', Saturday 14 March 2009, Page C7</ref>

The Golden Cross mine was a gold and silver mine in the neighbouring Waitekauri Valley. It first operated as an underground gold mine from 1895 to 1920. Gold and silver was mined by underground and open pit methods from 1991 to 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minerals.co.nz/html/green_from_gold/gx.html |title=Green from gold: The rehabilitation of Golden Cross |first=Kit |last=Wilson |author2=Richard Barker |publisher=New Zealand Minerals Industry Association |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=Bruce|last2=Brathwaite|first2=Bob|last3=Christie|first3=Tony|title=Mineral Wealth of New Zealand|year=1995|publisher=Institute of Geological & Nuclear Science|location=NZ|isbn=0-478-08835-3}}</ref><ref name="goldenminerals">{{cite web |title=Golden Cross mine |url=http://www.minerals.co.nz/pdf/nzmiafaqs310801.pdf |website=minerals.co.nz |publisher=New Zealand Minerals Industry Association |access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref>

=== Railways ===

In November 1905, a [[branch line]] [[railway]] was opened to Waihi from [[Paeroa]]; this eventually evolved into the [[East Coast Main Trunk Railway]], which reached [[Taneatua]] in 1928. By the 1960s, traffic volumes for the port of [[Tauranga]] had outgrown the capacity of the circuitous line through Waihi and a deviation to the south was built, including the [[Kaimai Tunnel]]. It opened in 1978, making the line through Waihi redundant, but the [[Goldfields Railway]] was established to save the six kilometres of railway between Waihi and [[Waikino]]. The railway continues to operate today as [[Goldfields Railway]] and is a popular tourist attraction.

===Counterculture era===
[[File:1979 Festival Aerial Image.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Nambassa]] festival in 1979.|261x261px]]
In the 1970s Waihi saw a large influx of [[hippies]] in search of [[environmentally friendly]] [[alternative lifestyle]]s settle there and around the [[Waikino]] area. These young [[Counterculture of the 1960s|counterculture]] proponents brought with them numerous [[cottage industries]] which helped supplement Waihi's economy. The [[Nambassa]] rock and alternative festivals were held around Waihi and [[Waikino]] between 1975 and 1982, increasing the population by around 10,000–75,000 for a few days each year and bringing revenue to the town. Temporary tent cities were established on the Northern end of Waihi on farms up Landlyst Rd at Golden Valley, to accommodate festival goers.

=== Recent history ===
In the late 1980s a new open pit started operations over the top of the old underground mine. This operation is nearing its completion, however recent plans to cutback the pit wall and recent underground mining have postponed the promised lake and recreational area. A new underground mine called Favona is in operation near the processing plant to the east of Waihi. The mining company have stated that it is impossible to create the lake while underground operations are occurring near the site because the low-level water table connects with the underground mine which has to be de-watered.

In the late 1990s several properties had to be condemned and roads such as Brickfield Road, Pipe Lane, Junction Road and parts of Bulltown Road, Hobson Street, Grey Street, Slevin Street, Newman Street, Barry Road, and main road Seddon Avenue permanently closed after the land under them subsided as a result of the collapse of old underground mine workings, with visible holes and cracks on the surface.  In December 2001, a home adjacent to Martha Pit collapsed into historical workings, 14 neighbouring homes were affected, some never able to return to get personal belongings.  Another 31 homes were also bought once more areas were identified  to be at high, medium or low risk of collapse into historical workings adjacent to the pit.  Today the mine's [[smoko]] room sits near this site. Noise, dust, blasting vibrations continue to cause stress for some residents as operations in the pit continue. The iconic Pumphouse has  been moved to ensure its safety which also allows for the mine pit to be widened and more gold retrieved from the site the pumphouse was originally housed.

Mine management has received positive responses for its rigorous environmental effects control procedures and its commitment to the local community in terms of consultation and financial assistance. This has, amongst other things, led to the mine management company, Newmont Waihi Gold, receiving the 'Advanced Sustainable Business Award' from [[Environment Waikato]], the Regional Council of the area.<ref>''Getting it right for the Waihi community'' – ''Business North'', July 2007, Page 19</ref>  Despite all these attempts some of the mine's neighbours do not qualify for compensation for the mine's impact.

[[File:Poppet Head.JPG|thumb|right|A replica of the famous Waihi Poppet Head, situated at the Northern End of Waihi Township.|240x240px]]

Mining remains the major employer in the area thanks to the company postponing the long promised mine closure and lake formation in 2007.  OceanaGold will   stay until 2017 when consents expire, unless they find more resources when they will apply to stay. 
Until the electrical appliance industry was [[Deregulation|deregulated]] in New Zealand in the 1980s, Waihi had a [[television]] assembly plant operated first by Akrad then by [[Philips]] which employed 400 locally and 1500 nationwide.

===Marae===

Waihi has one marae, Waihi Community Marae.

*Waihi Marae, with Tapeka meeting house, is near Tokaanu, and not affiliated nor even close, being down by Turangi, near Taupo..and is Tuwharetoa.

Waihi Town is part of Pare Hauraki area.

== Current mining ==

OceanaGold currently operates the Favona, Trio and Correnso underground gold and silver mines under the eastern end of the Waihi township.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCulloch |first1=Alison |title=Mining Below The Floorboards |url=http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/06/mining-below-the-floorboards/ |website=Werewolf |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref> The Correnso underground mine is the current active operation and is producing approximately 100,000 ounces of gold each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceanagold.com/our-business/new-zealand/waihi/|title=Waihi – OceanaGold|website=www.oceanagold.com|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>

The Martha open pit is not currently active due to a slip on the north wall in April 2016,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11629064|title=Rocks the size of houses fall at mine|date=2016-04-26|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref> but continues to draw large tourist numbers visiting the pit and nearby Pumphouse at the top of Waihi's main street.

== Education ==

[[Waihi College]] is a Year 7–13 secondary school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|114|y}}.{{NZ school roll data||||y}} The college was established as a District High School in 1932 and became a Forms 3–7 College in 1954. It moved to its current site in 1959. In 1976 it extended its roll to cover forms 1 and 2. Forms 1–7 are now known as years 7–13.

Waihi Central School is a contributing Year 1–6 primary school,<ref name=system>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/education/school-system|title=New Zealand School System New Zealand Now|website=www.newzealandnow.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref> school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2050|y}}.{{NZ school roll data||||y}}

Waihi East Primary School is a contributing Year 1–6 primary school,<ref name=system /> established in 1907, with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2049|y}}.{{NZ school roll data||||y}}

St Joseph's Catholic School is a full Year 1–8 primary state integrated school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1954|y}}.{{NZ school roll data||||y}}

All these schools are coeducational. The roll numbers are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

== Renumbering project ==
In March 2016 a renumbering project was put into place by Hauraki District Council halving Waihi streets such as Union Street, Rosemont Road, Seddon Avenue and Toomey Street in order to meet demands by the NZ Post office making it easier to find addresses. New street names include Amaranth Street, Montrose Road and Park Lane. Parry Palm Avenue which begins at the entrance from Paeroa now expands to the Martin Road and Baber Street intersection while Kenny Street becomes Waihi's longest road beginning at the infamous 'Rocket Park' (Victoria Park) expanding to the Waihi/Whangamata road. The renumbering project affected 143 Waihi properties and 650 Waihi residents. Montrose Road was originally going to be named Nicholl Street in honour of William Nicholl who developed the Martha Mine, but was at fault due to a last minute change.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11547890|title=New street names and numbers for Waihi|first=Melanie|last=Camoin|date=19 November 2015|newspaper=Bay of Plenty Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/renumbering/|title=Waihi – Your Street Changes|publisher=Hauraki District Council|access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Pumphouse during Beach Hop Warm Up Party.jpg|alt=Cornish Pumphouse (1903)|thumb|Cornish Pumphouse (1903) in its current location during the annual Waihi Beach Hop Warm Up Party.]]

== Cornish Pumphouse ==
The "Cornish Pumphouse" was originally built in a different location next to the Martha Mine in 1904 to accommodate a large [[Cornish engine|Cornish steam engine]] designed to pump water out of the mine. The building's design originated from one used in tin mines in Cornwall, England.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.waihi.org.nz/about-us/history-and-heritage/the-cornish-pumphouse/|title=The Cornish Pumphouse » Go Waihi|website=www.waihi.org.nz|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>

The horizontal Cornish pump was used up to 1913 to raise water from a depth of around 400 metres (1,300&nbsp;ft) via the adjacent No 5 shaft at a rate of over 400,000 litres per hour.<ref name=":0" /> After 1913, electric pumps were used to dewater the mine, but the pumphose was kept in working order until 1929 as a backup.

From the 1930s onwards, the building had been stripped of all machinery and left in an increasingly derelict state. In 1983, the building was registered as a Historic Place Category 1 with [[Heritage New Zealand]] due to its historical importance as one of the country's principal industrial monuments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/134|title=Search the List {{!}} Martha Mine No 5 Pumphouse {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|website=www.heritage.org.nz|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>

In 2001, the area surrounding the pumphouse was fenced off, following subsidence in nearby Barry Road. Investigations reached the conclusion that the only way to protect the building was to relocate it to a safer site. The operation to move the Cornish Pumphouse to a site 300 metres (980&nbsp;ft) away was started in 2006 with the installation of internal steel bracing and the building of a relocation causeway.

Later in the year, the building, weighing 1,840 tonnes, was moved over the course of three months along teflon-coated concrete beams to its present location, which is easily accessible via a footpath from Seddon Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waihigold.co.nz/about/history/the-cornish-pumphouse/|title=The Cornish Pumphouse – Waihi Gold|website=www.waihigold.co.nz|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>

Some internal steel bracing remains installed in the building and it is able to be viewed by the public during daylight hours.

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Waihi (1981–2010)
|Jan high C = 24.3
|Feb high C = 23.9
|Mar high C = 22.2
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 16.5
|Jun high C = 14.2
|Jul high C = 13.5
|Aug high C = 14.2
|Sep high C = 16.0
|Oct high C = 18.0
|Nov high C = 19.9
|Dec high C = 22.6
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 19.3
|Feb mean C = 19.3
|Mar mean C = 17.3
|Apr mean C = 14.5
|May mean C = 12.0
|Jun mean C = 9.9
|Jul mean C = 9.3
|Aug mean C = 10.0
|Sep mean C = 11.9
|Oct mean C = 13.7
|Nov mean C = 15.3
|Dec mean C = 17.7
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 14.3
|Feb low C = 14.8
|Mar low C = 12.5
|Apr low C = 9.9
|May low C = 7.5
|Jun low C = 5.5
|Jul low C = 5.0
|Aug low C = 5.7
|Sep low C = 7.8
|Oct low C = 9.3
|Nov low C = 10.7
|Dec low C = 12.9
| year low C = 
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 133
|Feb rain mm = 143
|Mar rain mm = 200
|Apr rain mm = 172
|May rain mm = 175
|Jun rain mm = 227
|Jul rain mm = 218
|Aug rain mm = 221
|Sep rain mm = 186
|Oct rain mm = 148
|Nov rain mm = 138
|Dec rain mm = 156
|year rain mm = 
|Jan sun = 218.0
|Feb sun = 170.7
|Mar sun = 144.4
|Apr sun = 152.2
|May sun = 115.0
|Jun sun = 86.5
|Jul sun = 120.7
|Aug sun = 116.5
|Sep sun = 119.8
|Oct sun = 171.6
|Nov sun = 166.5
|Dec sun = 180.1
|year sun = 
|source 1 = NIWA (rain 1961–1990)<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Waihi	
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.waihi.org.nz/ Waihi promotional website]
*[http://www.waihimuseum.co.nz/ The Waihi Museum]

{{Hauraki District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Waikato]]
[[Category:Hauraki District]]
[[Category:Mining communities in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Coromandel Peninsula]]