West Coast coal miner Allan Birchfield, who is also chairman of the West Coast Regional Council, said Kiwibank was trying to price coal off the market. Most of New Zealand’s milk powder is produced by coal so what they are doing is trying to destroy the economy,” he said. Minerals West Coast manager Patrick Phelps said he did not know of any mining companies that used Kiwibank. Development West Coast chief executive Heath Milne said a blanket ban on all mining companies was incredibly short-sighted and arbitrary. “Without exception, all New Zealand coal mining companies operate under strict environmental controls and are arguably more scrutinised than just about any other industry.

Source: Stuff July 23, 2020 04:41 UTC