A leaked report recommends setting aside up to a fifth of Mount Aspiring National Park's 350,000ha for possible mining and exploration.

Newmont Gold has won the right to explore for gold and silver in the Coromandel.

Brownlee says 'degree of panic' over review not warranted.

A leap of almost 26 per cent in wholemilk powder prices on Fonterra's latest online global auction underlines the volatility of commodity prices, economist say.