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.

Pike River Mine families' spokesman Bernie Monk said he was gutted after the PM refused to help with a mine re-entry, after the mine's owners agreed to an attempt.

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.

A tiny King Country town which depends on tourism could go off the national grid because of crippling lines charges for power.

The soaring cost of freight and power in the Chatham Islands will be at the top of the agenda when islanders meet Prime Minister John Key today.

A public relations push to get New Zealanders on board with oil exploration is being signalled by the public and private sectors at the Petroleum Summit in Wellington today.

New Zealand should be "very worried" about the stability of the country's financial system and active government support is required, says a top financial strategist.