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The Guardian World1 min read
Sam Neill says New Zealand goldmine supporters have threatened him with violence
TL;DR
Sam Neill has received violent threats from supporters of a proposed goldmine near his farm in New Zealand after opposing the government's fast-tracking of the project. The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, pushed by Santana Minerals, has sparked significant environmental concerns.
Key points
- Sam Neill received threats from goldmine supporters
- Bendigo-Ophir goldmine is near Neill's farm
- Santana Minerals is pushing to fast-track the mine
- The area is recognized for its outstanding natural landscape
- Opposition includes environmental concerns and tourism threats
Mentioned in this story
Sam NeillSantana MineralsCentral Otago
Bendigo-Ophir goldmine
The actor Sam Neill says he has received threats of violence from supporters of a controversial goldmine that could be opened several kilometres away from his farm in New Zealand’s Central Otago district, after he publicly objected to the New Zealand government’s plans to fast-track the mine.
The Australian mining company Santana Minerals is pushing to expedite a 85-hectare (210-acre) open-cast goldmine, called Bendigo-Ophir in the Dunstan mountains, an area dubbed “outstanding natural landscape” by the Central Otago district council.
The mine has been dubbed by Santana as the country’s most significant gold discovery in 40 years, but it has sparked fierce opposition, including from Neill, who has joined forces with the environmental group Sustainable Tarras.
They say the mine could be a fast track to environmental destruction and a threat to tourism in one of New Zealand’s best wine-producing regions.
“I stand by those views, and I’m glad I voiced them. What I wasn’t prepared for was the personal abuse I would come in for,” Neill said in a now viral video posted to his Instagram account.
Sustainable Tarras confirmed that members of the group had also received threats – some of which have been reported to the police.
In March, Neill told the Guardian about how he believed “one of the most beautiful and remote places in the world” would be destroyed if Bendigo-Ophir wins fast-track approval.
The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine is among hundreds of applications being considered under the coalition government’s controversial fast-track law which ignited protests in 2024 and nearly 30,000 public submissions on the bill.
Speaking to the Guardian, Neill said: “When I started to express misgivings about this mine and the potential damage it could do, I was completely blown away by the toxicity of the opposition that I met.”
Some of those personal attacks came from the resources minister Shane Jones – a self-avowed disciple of the Trumpian “drill, baby, drill” mantra, who described Neill in an interview last year with New Zealand’s the Post as “anti-Kiwi”.
Q&A
What threats did Sam Neill receive regarding the goldmine?
Sam Neill received threats of violence from supporters of the Bendigo-Ophir goldmine after he publicly opposed the project.
What is the Bendigo-Ophir goldmine controversy about?
The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, proposed by Santana Minerals, is controversial due to concerns over environmental destruction and its impact on tourism in Central Otago.
Why is the Bendigo-Ophir goldmine considered significant?
The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine is considered significant as it has been described as New Zealand's most important gold discovery in 40 years, despite facing opposition.
