Mining
Govt moves to diversify West Coast away from coal
The West Coast will get a new mining research institute and improved roads under the Government's regional action plan. Audio
'Special economic zone' idea gets local government backing
The idea of special economic zones - which could suspend rules for the environment, overseas investment and possibly immigration - is getting strong support from local government.
Australian miner halts exploration plans in Northland
The Australian mining firm Evolution has called a halt to its exploration programme in the hills north of Whangārei.
Why is DoC "neutral" on a new coal mine in a nature reserve?
Environmental groups says the Department of Conservation is being forced to take a neutral stance on projects which could damage to the environment by lumping its concern together with other… Audio
Company denies seabed mining would wreck environment
A company wanting to mine iron sand off the South Taranaki coast has rejected accusations its proposal would wreck the marine environment.
Solomons' mining protestors furious at outsider label
Residents of Santa Cruz in Solomon Islands Temotu province are furious at the remarks by a provincial MP and former premier saying only outsiders were opposed to mining in the province. Audio
New mine safety recommendations after worker's death
WorkSafe has issued strong recommendations on mine safety after an accident killed a migrant mine worker in November 2015.
Fate of NZ-bound phosphate goes to court
Two Western Saharan independence movements have claimed ownership of the 54,000 tonne shipment.
Toby & Toby on... re-entering the Pike River mine
Opinion - The issues surrounding the deadly disaster refuse to be buried, and footage leaked this week has brought tensions back to the surface, explain Toby Manhire and Toby Morris.
What other political parties think of the Pike mine re-entry
Political parties talk to RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson about what they think about the safety around re-entering the Pike River mine's drift. Audio
Winston Peters promises to release more Pike River documents
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has tabled two Mine Rescue reports as he continues to argue that re-entry into the Pike River mine is possible. Audio
New novel set in the slums of gold rush Dunedin
At the start of Jude Thomas' debut novel Southern Gold, we meet the daughter of a privileged girl, estranged from her family. She chooses to live in a seedy part of 1850s Dunedin to raise her… Audio, Gallery
PNG locals pray for ombudsman to monitor Canadian miners
Human rights campaigners in Papua New Guinea are praying that Canada's PM appoints an ombudsman who can monitor PNG's mining sector. Audio
Our submissions were ignored - mining protesters
Thousands of submissions against a proposed seabed mining project in Taranaki are being ignored, opponents say.
Quarry supervisors failing industry exam
More than half of quarry managers sitting a crucial exam are failing, and have missed a deadline to prove they are fit to run a quarry safely.
Regional Snapshot - Westport
A South Island regional spotlight, and we're checking in with Lee Scanlon who is Chief Reporter at the Westport News. It's a balance sheet of gains and losses at the top of the West Coast. Audio
New Zealand's biggest gold miner to expand
Oceana Gold has been given consent to expand its operations in the South Island.
Freeport's new boss pushes Papua expansion deal
Chappy Hakim, a retired Indonesian air force chief who says he knows next to nothing about mining, now heads the local unit of mining giant Freeport-McMoRan.
Chan calls for changes to PNG Mining Act before polls
The Governor of Papua New Guinea's New Ireland province has come out in support of calls for changes to the Mining Act before next year's elections.
Scientists discover world's oldest water
The world's oldest water, which is locked deep within the Earth's crust, just got even older.
