Dirty mining business

"Apparently, the 78 mining companies using conservation land are together paying DOC less than a million dollars a year for the privilege."

Bryce Edwards at Liberation opens the debate on what the Government plans to do this year to achieve it's extractive plans and links to articles that explore the details of the dirty business that's already undermining the quality of our environment and democracy. 

Dave Kennedy at Local Bodies describes well the festival at Mataura and what's behind Solid Energy's behaviour there.