Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn is calling for Pike River to be made into an opencast coal mine, amid efforts to keep the 114 skilled miners made redundant today on the West Coast.

Many suppliers may never be paid back for giving to the recovery operation at Pike River Coal mine, the Grey District Mayor says.

Receivers for Pike River Coal are making 114 of its employees redundant immediately.

The families of the 29 workers who died in the Pike River mine are calling on the Govt to fund the recovery operation.

Herald deputy business editor Grant Bradley, who has visited the Pike River mine and covered the company for the Business Herald, on why today's receivership move by Pike River was inevitable.

Pike River Coal Ltd, the owner of Pike River mine, has been put into receivership.

New technology is lighting up cities and saving energy.

State-owned coal miner Solid Energy's plans to turn low-grade Southland lignite coal deposits into massive new industries make no sense and the coal should remain in the ground, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Some top SOEs have been overvalued by their boards - with one worth just half its estimate, two new Treasury report say.

Rio Tinto Group, the world's third-largest mining company, has made a A$3.5 billion ($4.53 billion) takeover proposal for Riversdale Mining, which is developing coal mines in Africa.

Lord Hunt writes on the need to understand the Chinese policy on climate change.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn wants the mining industry to learn from past mistakes and has called for a royal inquiry.

The riches of the Paparoa Range were enticing, but the cost of extracting them was greater than anyone imagined, writes Grant Bradley

As the West Coast struggles with the emotional cost of the Pike River tragedy, chairman John Dow has reassured the community there is still a future for the mine and the company.

The only sign that the Pike River boss is feeling the strain are the dark bags under his eyes which sag lower by the day.