The Waitaki’s bid for Unesco global geopark status has its first major corporate backer.
The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust announced a two-year, $40,000 sponsorship agreement with OceanaGold at Macraes mine.
In September, the Waitaki District Council, in a 6-4 vote, approved up to $190,000 — to allow the trust to continue working towards Unesco accreditation and in a statement last week, geopark manager Gerard Quinn, who is also the council’s economic development manager, said the funding would help the trust "as it moves towards becoming financially independent".
OceanaGold Macraes operation environment and community manager Gavin Lee was excited to be part of the initiative.
"Here at Macraes we know what a spectacular landscape this is and the stories it has to tell. It’s great that these experiences will be shared with a wider audience, and that we can be part of that."
The funding would "primarily" be used to support community engagement and education.
