Central Otago Wine not Mine Fundraiser

Central Otago Wine not Mine Fundraiser

Plans to build an open-cast gold mine in Bendigo, Central Otago will affect not only this premium wine region but the local environment as they excavate 1000 tonnes of rock, dig up 200 million tonnes of earth and leave behind 18 million cubic metres of toxic tailings including arsenic and heavy metals that will be permanently stored behind a rock wall higher than the Clyde Dam in an earthquake prone area.

Sustainable Tarras is leading this campaign and held a fundraising lunch on Saturday with Sam Neill and Graham Sydney. Local celebrities attended along with long-term residents and local winemakers directly affected by this significant change.

View across to Lake Wanaka from Tarras Vineyards, Bendigo

Leading Bendigo winemakers Grant Taylor of Valli, Rudi Bauer of Quartz Reef with Lewis Ethapane of Latitude 45 Wine Tours.

Sam Neill, actor and owner of Two Paddocks Winery addresses the audience.

Sustainable Tarras is a local Central Otago community group that is putting together a campaign to stop the mine.

Marilyn Duxson of Maori Point Wines and Andy Wilkinson of Misha’s Vineyard.

Donald van der Westhuizen of Moko Hills pours Maori Point Pinot Gris and Folding Hill Chardonnay. 

Local Bendigo Wines were donated as part of the fundraiser.

Christopher Keys of Gibbston Valley addresses the guests.

Kim Crawford of Constellation Wines and Loveblock also make Pinot Noir from Bendigo vineyards.

Gibbston Valley Red Shed Pinot Blanc from Bendigo.

Other Bendigo wines poured at the luncheon were Nanny Goat Pinot Noir, Moko Hills Chardonnay, Valli Bendigo Pinot Noir.

Read what Sir Ian Taylor has to say.

NBR Story by Tim Hunter.

You can read more about the Sustainable Tarras campaign here.

 

Celia Hay

February 3 2026