West Coast New Zealand

Wealth from the ground

The minerals' industry is a dominant economic force on the West Coast. Increasing international demand for coal, high global commodity prices, record spending on exploration and technological advances are all boosting its growth. The sector is predicted to expand on the Coast by 50 to100 percent by 2010, and employ an extra 280 to 380 people in engineering, science, environmental management, machine operations and trades.  Mining also provides downstream opportunities for a range of contractors including transport operators, equipment fabricators and other suppliers relying on the extractive industry.

• The West Coast's recoverable coal resource is about 260 million tonnes
• Mining is worth more than $500 million a year to the regional economy
• 4 million tonnes of coal is mined annually in the region 
• The Stockton Open Cast Mine north of Westport is the largest coal mine in New Zealand, producing approximately two million tonnes of coal per year
• The West Coast produces all of New Zealand's export coal
• More than 850 people work full-time in the West Coast's coal mining industry

Key businesses in the extractive industry on the West Coast