The mining industry involves the extraction, trade and sale of valuable minerals and other geological materials from the Earth. Australia as a continent is known for its abundance and plentiful supply of ore and minerals. New Zealand, however, has a limited range of minerals of economic value and mining has been principally restricted to just gold and coal. The early development of Australia as a colony was underpinned by mining practices in the early 1850s, particularly during the gold rush. The mining industry has continually been a key contributor to Australia’s economic prosperity, and today, Australia is one of the top five producers of key mineral commodities in the world. The mining industry in both Australia and New Zealand is one of the largest contributors to both countries’ economies, investments, high salary jobs, exports, and government revenues. Throughout the pandemic, Trans-Tasman mining was considered a pillar of stability when compared to the performance of other industries. Record export numbers for mineral commodities and high prices for iron ore and coal have contributed to the so-called “minerals boom” that Australia and New Zealand are currently experiencing.