Pike River had raised concerns about shortage of inspectors

The Pike River mine entrance. Photo / Simon Baker

Concerns about a severe shortage of South Island mine inspectors were raised by Pike River Coal more than two years ago.

Pike River's submission to a 2008 Department of Labour mining review said there was only one full time mine inspector and a trainee inspector covering the South Island.

The company wanted funding for more inspectors to be given to the Department of Labour.

"The number of qualified mines inspectors has dramatically declined over the past decade or so in New Zealand," it said.

A spokesman for Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said no new mines safety inspector had been appointed since then.

However he said a new mines safety-focussed hazard specialist had been appointed in a consultative role.

A wide range of mines safety measures were discussed in the 2008 review, including the possibility of overhauling mining regulations and increasing third party monitoring of mines.

Pike River Coal backed reforming regulations and improving health and safety management systems.

But it was against an Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union-promoted move to introduce elected worker safety checkers in mines.

The EPMU argued the "simple" change could resolve problems such as managers prioritising production over safety.

Payment of production bonuses to managers created an "inherant conflict" with prioritising safety, it said.

In their submission on the report in 2008, Pike River Coal said check inspectors were "totally inappropriate and not required".

Trevor Mallard, who was Energy Minister at the time, last week said approving the safety checkers had been a "live option".

He said he did not have time to address it as the Labour Government was voted out in November that year.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said the idea of having check inspectors was discounted based on Department of Labour and international advice.

The main change decided was to increase the level of qualifications required by managers in small mines, she says.

That is expected to be in place by the new year.

There was no reason to believe New Zealand mines are any less safe than Australian ones, she said.

"My advice is they're generally of a similar nature but there's a long way to go yet. We'll just have to look at everything as it unfolds."