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Elder's extra $250k slammed by Labour
Former Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder will pocket more than $250,000 from the indebted state-owned miner while he remains on its payroll for another four months.
Revealed: Solid Energy's $27b plan
Prime Minister John Key this morning released documents detailing Solid Energy's ambitious expansion plans.
Solid Energy: Don Elder 'I'm sorry'
Mr Palmer and former Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder made their highly anticipated appearance before Parliament's commerce committee this afternoon to answer questions about what led to the company's near collapse under $389 million in debt. Dr Elder told the packed committee room that the company's recent problems were down to a "perfect storm" of unprecedented coal price falls last year and the strong Kiwi dollar. He said it wasn't just New Zealand coal companies that were feeling the brunt of a drop in the price of coal, but US companies were also in serious trouble. He said the situation with Solid Energy needed to be looked at within an international context. Dr Elder offered an apology to workers on the West Coast who lost their jobs.
Solid Energy opposed debt plan
Former Solid Energy chairman John Palmer has told MPs he opposed the Government's 2009 direction that the state owned coal miner take on more debt.
Ex-Solid Energy boss agrees to grilling
Former Solid Energy boss Don Elder has confirmed he will go to Parliament to answer questions about the company's problems.
Key distances Govt from Telecom cuts
Prime Minister John Key has denied that the Solid Energy crisis and Telecom job cuts are a black mark against the Government's handling of the economy.
Solid Energy crisis: Govt vows to save it
Solid Energy is in crisis, with a Government bailout almost inevitable, mine closures possible and further job cuts likely in another restructure to try to salvage it.
Solid Energy: Hero to zero
Twice in the past decade, Solid Energy has enjoyed revenue close to $1 billion, and aside from last year has returned some healthy profits - and dividends for the Government.
Solid Energy in bank talks
Solid Energy, the state-owned coal miner whose chief executive quit this month, is in talks with its banks because of its deteriorating financial position.
Gerard Morris: Pike politics ignore families' heartbreak
Having a middleman able to absorb the criticism and stay immune to the moral and emotional elements of the Pike tragedy makes sense politically, writes Gerard Morris.
Mining standards 'dumbed down'
Solid Energy is largely to blame for the "dumbing down'' of mining industry standards that allowed the Pike River disaster to happen, MP Damien O'Connor says.
$46k fine for contractor
An Australian contractor which lost three staff members in the Pike River Mine disaster has been fined $46,800 after admitting breaches of the Health and Safety Act.
Pike River: Contractor to be sentenced
Pike River contractor Valley Longwall will be sentenced today for failing to ensure the safety of workers who died in explosions at the mine.
Axe falls on Spring Creek
The axe suspended for two months over Greymouth's Spring Creek Mine finally fell today, amputating more than 200 jobs.
Fonterra coal worries locals
North Waikato residents are calling for Fonterra to consider the effects on the wider community as it goes ahead with plans for a second open-cast coal mine.