Hauraki District Council and the mining company embroiled in a public stoush over mining in the Karangahake Gorge say it's purely exploratory.

New Talisman Gold has been granted permission to start test-mining in the gorge in what the company says is a step on the way to renewed production from the historic mining area.

Photos of New talisman Gold Mines moving ore stockpiled at the existing Talisman mine.

The announcement outraged anti-mining advocates who say it shouldn't be happening in such a sensitive area.

New Talisman chief executive Matthew Hill says exploratory underground drilling and blasting at the Talisman Gold Mine is being undertaken to get a better metallurgical understanding of the mine.

He says no exploratory work has begun at this stage.

Instead the company has removed about 50 tonnes of ore stockpiled on the Talisman mine pad to an external storage facility in the last 10 days.

Matthew also says claims regarding a lack of public consultation in gaining permission for the exploratory work are unjustified.

'There was certainly significant consultation with all the community and we worked closely with the Department of Conservation and Hauraki District Council. We also worked closely with iwi and we did consult them.

'Some of those parties were philosophically opposed to mining and we respect that but as the process we did consult.”

Hauraki District Council chief executive Langley Cavers says the exploration activity is limited to a maximum of 20,000m3 of metallurgical samples per year.

It is expected to take up to two years to complete.

New Talisman is permitted in their bulk sampling to undertake one blast per day.

Langley says the exploration will use the existing underground mine and portal and portal pad – about 800m from the nearest dwelling.

'Access to walking tracks within the area will be maintained and are well separated from the proposed exploration activity.

'The proposed activity will not disturb existing areas of the native bush or existing habitats of flora and fauna.”

A small team of up to 10 people will be employed initially for exploration work, with the company looking to source all employees from within the region, says Matthew.

'This is the start of us potentially being a significant employer in the area.”

A social media and mass emailing campaign is asking candidates standing for the Coromandel Electorate to take a stance on mining in the Karangahake Gorge.

There is a protest planned for Sunday, September 14 at 3pm and public meeting for September 16 at 6pm in the Paeroa War Memorial Hall.