Ann: Exploration to Recommence - Lac des Montagnes Project, page-32

Yep, Geo40 got underway about 2018 from memory. I think they only recover a small amount but they get it without huge on going cost. And all because silica was a nuisance lol.
I suspect there is a bit of lithium right down in the ppm around Charleston on the westcoast, theres some anecdotal evidence but its certainly not been intentially explored. I know a place inland by a small town called Dobson where crude is seeping out of a mountain terrace, it's a locally known oddity that has never had a single hole put in it to see what's there. This planet mate, we've barely scratched the surface.
The north island seems to have all of the requirements for lithium, a volcanic past and the green granites, mica etc. Could be we've been tossing it aside for years in the quest for coal and gold.