History – Kawau mining history

The earliest mine operating in New Zealand was at Kawau Island where a vein of manganese ore and a copper lode were opened in 1842.

Interest had been kindled by the blue-green staining of Kawau cliffs and negotiations to purchase the land began in 1840.

James Forbes Beattie was the Crown Grantee, and the company he formed brought Cornish miners to Kawau. Conditions were primitive until cottages were built at Momona Bay( now Mansion House bay).

Day and evening schools and a Sabbath school were established and a library was well used by the younger, more literate, generation. A Total Abstinence Society was formed, and after three years the resident lay preacher declared half the population sober. “The Sabbath which once dawned upon scenes of drunkenness, riots and debauchery is now respected, and holier kept.”

In 1846 a record 1202 tons of copper was exported. Friction between the two mining companies operating led to a long court battle and eventually the Kawau Company bought out Whittaker and Beale. Shipping the ore in its crude state proved dangerous and a smelter was built on the north side of Bon Accord Harbour. Welsh smelters were brought to work there.

With miners, labourers, smelters, and wood cutters and their families, some 400 people were on the island at one stage, but when the mine closed only four families remained. In 1857 the former mine manager, Captain James Ninnes, said he believed there were still vast quantities of copper at Kawau and it was regrettable the company allowed the machinery to be removed.