A fire broke out today in Newmont Waihi Gold's Trio underground mine, trapping 28 miners. The company operates a huge mining development in Waihi, employing 350 people. The Trio underground mine is about halfway between the Martha open pit mine and the Favona underground mine in Waihi.

Kiwis who have registered to work across the Tasman have been told to wait because of the "massive response" to WA mining jobs.