As the country remains on edge over the fate of the trapped West Coast miners, Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says serious questions will have to be asked about how the explosion at the Pike River Coal mine could have happened.
Bathurst Resources, a more than $A300 million ($NZ385 million) coal-mining company, listed on the New Zealand stock exchange yesterday,The news lifted the mood at the New Zealand's annual mining conference in Auckland, which had been under a cloud of gloom in the wake of the Pike River Coal mining tragedy.
Southern mining companies have provided many of the industry highlights during the past year but, overall, the sector has seen a downturn in several critical areas.
Halting a cycle of multiple-fatality coal-mining disasters in this country will be difficult, given the inherent dangers of such mining, University of Otago geologist Dr Mike Palin says.
A diverse range of subjects was introduced at the annual New Zealand branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) conference yesterday, as a geoscience conference finished and the mining sector stepped in.
This year's annual New Zealand branch conference of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) will be overshadowed by the unfolding disaster at the Pike River Coal mine on the West Coast.
After a year that has tested South Islanders to the core, 2011 probably cannot come fast enough.
New Zealand's two largest gold miners - both with underground operations - have offered rescue teams to assist Pike River Coal, if required.
The former University of Otago School of Mines should be re-established and other steps taken to further improve safety in the mining industry, after miners were trapped underground in the Pike River Coal mine, Dunedin mining consultant Ron King says.
No New Zealander will be untouched by the unfolding mining drama on the West Coast.
Calls to ban coal and lignite mining are irresponsible, and dodge the real issues concerning climate change, writes Chris Baker.
Interest remains high in the South Island's deposits of high-grade specialist hard-coking coal for export, and its poor cousin, low-grade lignite - southern resources long measured in billions of tonnes.
The Central Otago Environmental Society is surprised and disappointed by the Department of Conservation's agreement to withdraw its opposition to Golden Bush Mining Ltd's Lower Nevis Valley gold-mining application.
The Department of Conservation has withdrawn its opposition to Golden Bush Mining Ltd's gold-mining application in the Lower Nevis Valley.
Oceana Gold has completed a long-awaited study into its mothballed gold and copper development mine at Didipio, in the northern Philippines, which has been mothballed for almost two years after a massive cost blowout.
Pike River Coal is having to look for more money to pay for the development of its West Coast coal mine.
Shares in Oceana Gold passed the $5 mark for the first time yesterday after being added to three more Standard and Poor's rating agency indexes, including the influential ASX 200 Index on the Australian stock exchange.
A survey of Otago and Southland people on the future of lignite mining in Southland has revealed a balance between interest in jobs versus environmental concerns.
An Alexandra gold-miner is urging the Central Otago District Council to ignore a request by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) to list in its district plan mining sites in the Lower Nevis Valley as sites of significant historic merit.
Many of those asking questions at an Otago Energy Research Centre forum on lignite mining in the southern region may have left feeling none the wiser last night.
