Latest from Mining

Mining jobs promised with two new start ups
Up to 60 mining jobs have been promised with the start up of two new goldmining operations near Hokitika and Kumara.

Miner cuts value with drilling on hold
The owner of the Sams Creek Gold Project, which sits atop what could be New Zealand's biggest undeveloped gold deposit, has slashed the value of the resource.

Decade-long fight to save rare snails to wrap up
A decade-long project to save endangered giant snails from a West Coast coal mine will finish next year.

Rio Tinto pulls mine expansion support
Mining giant Rio Tinto has pulled its support for any expansion of Kakadu's Ranger uranium mine after its operator put the project on ice.

Family to farewell digger driver
The digger driver killed in a quarry landslide will be farewelled on Monday.

Illegal quarrying: watchdog in dark
The full extent of illegal quarrying is not known after it was revealed the latest person to be killed was operating without a safety certificate.

Quarry tragedy: Police work to clear rocks
The former boss of the North Canterbury limestone quarry where a landslip is feared to have killed a digger operator yesterday has spoken of previous brushes with death and bemoaned the lack of regulation in the industry. Murray Taylor, the owner of Heathstock Haulage that operates the limestone mine, is believed to have died after he was buried under a rockfall yesterday.

Quarry work 'always a dangerous game'
The former boss of the quarry where a landslip is feared to have killed a digger operator yesterday has spoken of previous brushes with death.

Digger driver a 'hard-working bloke'
The digger driver buried under 1000 tonnes of rubble has been named as Murray Taylor.

Niesche: Rich Listers spur awe, not envy
The annual BRW Rich List has published, showing Australia's 200 richest citizens ...

Aussie's commodity spending boom over
Australia is forecasting a staggering 90 per cent plunge in spending on projects, calling time on its biggest resources bonanza since the 1850s gold rush.

Mining company try for new permit
A company which spent up to $65 million in a failed bid to mine ironsands from the South Taranaki seabed, has applied for a prospecting permit covering a huge swathe of seabed north of Ross.

Pike River compo offer defended
It was right to consider a compensation offer when deciding to drop charges against former Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall, WorkSafe NZ says.

Pike River survivor awarded for bravery
Pike River Mine survivor Daniel Rockhouse says he was humbled to accept an award for bravery at an investiture ceremony at Government House this morning.

Debt warning for Oz borrowers
The Reserve Bank of Australia is warning borrowers against taking on too much debt as concerns grow about a potential housing bubble in Sydney and Melbourne.

Solid Energy did all it could to avoid job cuts: English
Solid Energy did all it could to avoid job cuts on the West Coast but the coal market made it too difficult, Bill English says.

Solid Energy's decision on future of West Coast mines
The mood was grim as Solid Energy employees filed out of the NBS Theatre in Westport today, just minutes after finding out the company was cutting 151 jobs, plus up to 15 contracting jobs - from its Stockton mine. The company is cutting 151 jobs, but some of the losses will be made up of unfilled vacancies, meaning 113 current staff will lose their jobs. This cuts the number of staff at the mine from 397 to 246. It follows Solid's decision to cut 185 jobs a year ago.

Stockton mine job losses: 'A painful situation'
The West Coast mining industry has been dealt a heavy blow today, with 113 jobs to go at Solid Energy's Stockton mine.

West Coast miners prepare for big job losses
Job losses on the West Coast have been foreshadowed ahead of meeting between Solid Energy managers and workers at the Stockton Mine tomorrow.

Aussie treasurer wants NZ tax regime
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey has hailed New Zealand's tax system as a potential model for Australia’s economic growth.

Mergers and acquisitions 'back on radar'
With the mining sector seen nearing the bottom of the cycle, Rio Tinto Group signalled to analysts it's ready to resume mergers and acquisitions.

OceanaGold to buy Waihi Gold Mine for US$101m
OceanaGold has announced plans to buy Newmont Mining Corp's Waihi operation for cash, plus adjustments.

Kiwi shareholders face 'unfair' BHP tax
Kiwi shareholders in Australian mining giant BHP face paying an unfair tax as the company proceeds with a "demerger" plan.

Zinc becomes suddenly hard to find
From Africa to Ireland, mines that have produced zinc for decades are now tapped out.

Oz tipped to suffer in China slowdown
China's worst economic slowdown in 25 years will hit Australia as iron ore prices tumble, says the World Bank.

Stokes jnr takes helm at Seven
New Seven Group Holdings chief executive Ryan Stokes says he is confident he can navigate the tough media and mining environment he is walking into.

Oz mining firm suspends production
Atlas Iron, Australia's fourth-largest iron ore supplier, will suspend all operations this month in response to a slump in prices to their lowest in a decade.