Oceana Gold

Oceana Gold makes regular contributions to local schools, including Waihi College.  They also operate a community investment programme that provides support for organisations, groups and projects in the Waihi region providing financial assistance for projects and activities.  The Gold Company Trust gift our Waihi College students who have achieved outstanding results in NCEA Level 3 with Gold Company Trust scholarships each year.   We would particularly like to mention Kathy Mason, Bernie O’Leary and Doreen McLeod who have been welcomed visitors at the school for quite some time, to present the scholarships and keep informed with how our students are doing. 

The Waihi Gold Mining Education Trust was established in March 1992, and was created to improve the educational opportunities for the youth of Waihi.  On 16 November 2016, a Deed of Covenant assigned the Assignor’s interest as Settlor under the Trust Deed, between Oceana Gold (Waihi) Limited and Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited – replacing Waihi Gold Mining Company Limited as the Settlor.

The Trustees have always comprised of two representatives from Waihi College (one of which is a student representative), along with one independent Trustee who represents the Waihi community and one to two Trustees from Waihi Gold Mine (now Oceana Gold).   The original Trustees were Harry Shepherd and Louisa Krebs for Waihi College, Doreen McLeod and Peter Carter for Waihi Gold Mine and Owen Morgan as the Community Trustee. Doreen McLeod still serves as a Trustee to this day, now in the capacity of Community Trustee, and we are privileged to have her ongoing support and visits to the school.

When the Trust was first established, the Waihi Gold Mine donated $25,000.00 every year to be spent on facilities that support all Waihi College students’ learning and enhance the educational opportunities offered at the school.   Out of that $25,000.00, it was agreed to set aside $5,000.00, which was awarded equally to the top five Year 13 students to give financial support toward their tertiary studies.  From 2005 however, the donation amount per year increased to $40,000.00, with $10,000.00 of that going to the top five Year 13 students.  Over the last 27 years, Oceana Gold has helped approximately 135 individual top achieving students and donated just under $900,000.00 to the benefit of all Waihi College students.  As of 2023, Oceana Gold will give $4,000 each to the five top Year 13 students and $38,000.00 to the school; an incredible gift to our whole community.

100% Electrical

Pravin at 100% Electrical helps keep the school going with his generous supply of electrical equipment at great prices.  He is always quick to help and deliver what we need whenever he can.  Every year he also donates a voucher for our Junior and Senior achievers which is a real hit with the students.

One Foundation

One Foundation (formerly First Sovereign Trust Limited) is based in Rotorua and was established in 2004 to distribute grant funding from the proceeds of licensed gaming machines.  They have helped Waihi College in many ways over the years, including with our ICT infrastructure and school activities.