Waikato North Head Minesite NZ Steel is listed as a historic site at Otaua, in the Franklin district near the Waikato North Head. It has a 4.1 rating on Google.
The name points to an iron-sand mining site linked to New Zealand Steel, which draws iron from the black sands of the west coast. A good historic site helps you understand a place through what remains on the ground, often with signs or plaques to give context. Industrial sites can be working land, so the first thing to check is whether the public can enter at all, and whether access is by a marked path or an organised visit. Regulars know that a little reading beforehand makes a visit richer, that weather and wind on the coast can be harsh and that sturdy shoes and water are wise. Respect all signs, stay off private or working land, keep children close near any drops or water and take your rubbish home.
For anyone exploring Otaua and the Waikato North Head, this minesite is worth researching before you visit.