The Australian mining firm Evolution has called a halt to its exploration programme in the hills north of Whangārei.
Anti mining signs near Puhipuhi north of Whangarei. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
The company's been prospecting for gold at several sites in the Puhipuhi area for the past two years.
But it said it had done all the drilling it needed to for the time being.
Evolution's Whangārei-based geologist Jackie Hobbins said the results had been interesting, but it would take a lot more work to understand where the gold was and in what quantity.
Anti-mining group Minewatch Northland has said its protest actions had chased the company away, but Ms Hobbins said it was more a matter of economics.
She said Evolution was focusing for now on Australian sites which were much cheaper to explore.
