The Govt has signalled it will push ahead with mining on conservation land, even if it backs down on plans to mine some of the most protected areas.

Metiria Turei's Member's Bill to protect schedule four land has been drawn out of the ballot.

OceanaGold Corp shares rose as much as 20c at $3.60 on good news emerging from its Reefton gold mine.

The New Zealand dollar dipped overnight against the major currencies but then regained the lost ground to be a little stronger at the local open than at the local close yesterday.

A Hong Kong listed company controlled by billionaire Li Ka-Shing is seeking damages from BlueScope Steel Ltd over a failed attempt to buy a New Zealand iron sands business.

It looks as if Rio Tinto knew six months ago there was evidence its staff in Beijing were guilty.

"Always a possibility" is fast becoming the Prime Minister's stock reply when confronted with tricky-to-answer questions, writes John Armstrong.

As the Government pushes ahead with plans to open up conservation land for mining, Isaac Davison finds the combination is already causing trouble in the Bay of Plenty.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye's stance against her party's proposed mining on Great Barrier Island is not just political it's heartfelt.

John Roughan writes that the Coromandel peninsula's beauty is not exceptional and doesn't warrant particular protection.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee accused the Labour Party of hypocrisy yesterday when he revealed the previous government approved 218 permits for mining on conservation land.