The Department of Labour has closed down a Coromandel Peninsula gold mine for failing to comply with mining regulations.
Broken Hills, a small underground gold mine operating on conservation land near Puketui, was closed yesterday.
Acting Chief Inspector Mines, Gavin Taylor said the mine has been closed for failing to comply with section 53 of the Health and Safety in Employment (Mining - Underground) Regulations 1999.
An improvement notice had previously been issued to the mine outlining the area of non-compliance and as this was not remedied the mine has been closed following an inspection in last month.
Mr Taylor said the mine may open to bring its operations into compliance, but cannot open for any other purpose.
