No matter how remote, a paper road is a road, says Appeal Court

Decision rules Hauraki District Council acted unlawfully in issuing 40-year licence in Coromandel forest to OceanaGold.

A surface vent like the ones proposed for construction on the paper road.

Tim Hunter Wed, 22 Apr 2026

In a decision rendered superfluous by a subsequent fast-track approval, the Appeal Court has ruled OceanaGold was unlawfully granted a licence to build mine ventilation structures on an unformed legal road in Coromandel Forest Park.

The ventilation shafts were part of OceanaGold’s design for the

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