Latest from Minerals

Beefed-up Crown Minerals to chase deepsea gas
NZ oil and gas exploration will get a substantial boost in government resources, including funding to chase deep-sea methane hydrates that have yet to be commercially exploited anywhere in the world.

Metal workers get 3 per cent pay rise
Nearly 2000 engineering and manufacturing workers have agreed to accept a 3 per cent pay rise this year and the same again next year.

<i>John Armstrong:</i> Better to bury failure than risk defeat
Better an utter, total if humiliating backdown than a messy compromise that keeps the mining issue alive into election year.

Continued mining will boost jobs - local MPs
Despite environmental concerns persisting, local MPs are hopeful mining in Northland and on the West Coast will boost jobs.

Brownlee mining dream in tatters
The Govt this morning withdrew its proposal to open up more than 7000ha of conservation land to prospecting and mining.

People power forces Govt u-turn on mining
The Govt will today scrap hugely controversial plans to mine some of the country's most pristine conservation land.

Nightmare vision sparks rush for gold
Investors have piled into gold on fears that capitalism is about to crumble, sending the gold price soaring to record levels.

Australia drops mining tax
A compromise deal over the taxation of Australian mining companies has been announced by new PM Julia Gillard.