Having a middleman able to absorb the criticism and stay immune to the moral and emotional elements of the Pike tragedy makes sense politically, writes Gerard Morris.

The government's second round of tenders for oil and gas exploration blocks has yielded 10 new exploration licences, including two in the previously unexplored Pegasus Basin.

Oil and gas industry groups say they are not expecting a surge in fracking even though the process has been given a qualified tick by the government's environmental monitor.

Fracking has escaped the threat of a ban in New Zealand for now, but the days of industry self-regulation could be numbered after a report found large holes in oversight of unconventional mining by energy companies.

Fracking should not be banned in NZ, a report says. PM John Key said if NZ uses the procedure, it must use 'world class standards.'

Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder received $1.1 million for the year to June 30 - the same year Solid Energy lost $40m and axed a quarter of its staff.

Environment commissioner not expected to call for moratorium opponents want on gas extraction technique.

As Australia is renewing its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand has backed off, leaving Greenpeace to label the move embarrassing.

NZ Aluminium Smelters has today announced a $70m spending cut for the Tiwai Point plant in Bluff.

Dry weather and a sluggish economy are the biggest challenges for New Zealand's electricity companies right now.

The axe suspended for two months over Greymouth's Spring Creek Mine finally fell today, amputating more than 200 jobs.

The Government is set to put the emissions trading scheme into an induced coma - not dead, but not able to accomplish much, writes Brian Fallow.