Hollywood money joins campaign against Central Otago gold mine

Summarised by Centrist

Sir Sam Neill’s death has delivered a fundraising boost to the campaign against Santana Minerals’ proposed Central Otago gold mine, including an undisclosed donation from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.

Spielberg directed Neill in the 1993 film Jurassic Park and donated to Sustainable Tarras after Neill’s family named the anti-mining group as one of four causes people could support in his memory.

A Sustainable Tarras spokesman said the donation came as an unexpected surprise.

“I think based on that, Spielberg reached out, quite humbly,” he said.

“It was his secretary, or the secretary of the company that he runs, that contacted us. [They] just asked us for bank details so that he could put the money across.”

The group declined to disclose the amount but said it would be used to continue its opposition to the planned gold mine.

Sustainable Tarras has also received an increase in donations since Neill died last month. Neill, who owned property and made wine in Central Otago, had publicly opposed the Santana Minerals project.

Spielberg paid tribute to Neill following his death, saying he “adored making all the Jurassic movies with him” and that the actor would not be forgotten by his colleagues or fans.

The Sustainable Tarras spokesman said the response reflected Neill’s standing both in New Zealand and overseas.

“Even though he was a global superstar, he was still a humble man who loved the country and loved to reach out to people.”

Read more at Otago Daily Times

Image: Gage Skidmore

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