gold mining around waikino has a history dating back to early colonisation of new zealand. waikino was the focal point of gold mining in the waikato-bay of plenty district with the 1897 construction of the victoria battery on the edge of what was a busy town supporting the extensive local mining industry. waikino's victoria battery processed ore from the large martha mine in waihi. the victoria battery was then new zealand's largest industrial complex. besides processing ore, it supported carpenters' shops, a sawmill and a foundry. with 200 stamps, the battery was the largest quartz crushing plant for gold extraction in australasia, and was capable of crushing over 812 tonnes of ore each day to the consistency of sand. the loud thumping sounds of crushing rock could be heard 10 kilometres away.