Coal was first mined in New Zealand in the [?] coast of the South Island in the 1880s. In those days the [?] for coal was high as it was the main [?] source. It was used to drive ships and [?], to heat [?] and boilers in industry.Its use on a large scale did cause problems of [?] pollution especially in flat regions such as [?] where [?] often settled for days.

Following World War 2 the demand for coal dropped as people turned to [?] instead, which was much [?]. However in the 1970s the price of this [?] dramatically as a result of war in the [?] and energy planners again looked to coal. In 1975 a survey was conducted that discovered many new [?] of coal. New mines were opened such as the Rotowaro mine near [?].

More recently the demand has again fallen as [?] sources of energy become more efficient. Research is being done to try to make coal less [?] to the environment. Therefore, although New Zealand has many coal [?] future mining remains uncertain.