New Zealand-focused gold play MOD Resources has tapped former Western Areas boss Julian Janna to join its board and provide advice as a technical consultant.

MOD said the geologist with more than 35 years of mining industry experience would become a non-executive director and provide technical and managerial expertise as the company moves to step up its exploration programs at its Sams Creek project on the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island.

MOD said Sams Creek was New Zealand's biggest undeveloped gold project with a resource of 1.024 million ounces and significant scope for upgrade.

The company could earn up to 80 per cent from project owner OceanaGold by sole-funding staged exploration programs at Sams Creek.

MOD is planning to sell its Botswana copper project and use the funds to ramp-up exploration at Sams Creek.

The company also announced today the resignation of managing director Derek Byrne.