Puhipuhi Mercury Mine: history and site description
Published:
August 2010
At Puhipuhi, during the first half of the 20th century, a succession of businessmen attempted to make a profit by producing mercury. They all failed, but not due to a lack of effort and investment.
The site today is testimony to that; there remains an opencast quarry, an extensive railway system, a dam, and the impressive remains of the WWII-era plant where mercury was extracted from its ore.
The site, to the north-east of Whakapara, is administered from the Whangarei Area Office. The historic fabric occupies an area of about 5 ha within the 32.5 ha which comprise the Waikiore Conservation Area. The mercury mine is not, at present, a visitor site.
Publication cover
Summary
The report includes the following chapters:
- Site overview
- History description
- Fabric description
- Assessment of completeness
- National context
- Significance
- Puhipuhi's potential
- Sources consulted
- Appendices: Contemporary plans of the mine workings
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Publication information
Maria Butcher
Published by Department of Conservation