Police have released the name of the man killed at the Waikaia mine in Southland yesterday.
Mario Lelina, 30, from the Philippines, was fatally injured while operating earth-moving machinery at the alluvial goldmine last night.
Waikaia Gold managing director Warren Batt said a fast response by mine staff, and the actions of first-aid responders and police, were regrettably not enough to save Mr Lelina.
It was the first death of an employee at the two-year-old goldmine and has shocked the close-knit community of Waikaia, north of Gore.
Emergency services were called to the mine at about 6.20pm yesterday.
The death is being investigated by WorkSafe, police and the mine company.
Waikaia Gold operations director Sam March said counsellors were talking to workers today and the earth-moving side of operations had been suspended.
The Waikaia mine is the country's largest alluvial goldmine and employs 35 staff and contractors.
