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 Valley Longwall will be sentenced today for failing to ensure the safety of workers who died in explosions at the mine.

The axe suspended for two months over Greymouth's Spring Creek Mine finally fell today, amputating more than 200 jobs.

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.

Close to 500 breadwinners will lose their jobs, and more than $50 million a year will be sucked out of the Greymouth economy, as Spring Creek Mine is moved into care and maintenance.

Australia's resource boom affecting exchange rate for other exporters.