Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Mine rival criticises Pike River safety

11 Jul, 2011 05:30 PM3 minutes to read
Families of the dead miners say they want to find out the story behind the deadly explosions at Pike River. Photo / Simon Baker

Families of the dead miners say they want to find out the story behind the deadly explosions at Pike River. Photo / Simon Baker

NZ Herald
By Jarrod Booker

Incidents such as the explosion which ripped through Pike River mine killing 29 men should not happen in modern mining, the chief executive of Solid Energy told the royal commission of inquiry in Greymouth yesterday.

Don Elder said Pike River Coal always had a high chance of financial failure and that "prolonged production and financial under-performance" had the potential to create safety risks at the mine.

The inquiry is looking into what caused the deaths of 29 workers in explosions at the West Coast coal mine last November, and Dr Elder - whose company is now seeking to buy the Pike River mine - was the first person to give evidence.

This first phase of the inquiry is intended only to provide context for the commission, but tensions soon arose as Dr Elder gave his blunt assessment of the mine and its management.

"Incidences like this, with catastrophic consequences, shouldn't be able to occur in modern mining," Dr Elder said.

"I didn't believe it remotely likely that this event could have occurred ... if all practicable steps had been taken."

Dr Elder's claims drew a sharp response from a lawyer for Pike River directors, officers and managers, Stacey Shortall, who put it to him that he was speculating.

Asked by Ms Shortall if the Pike River mine would have been a competitor to Solid Energy's Spring Creek mine on the West Coast, Dr Elder said: "I don't believe Pike River was ever a competitor to Solid Energy."

Dr Elder agreed with Ms Shortall that his company had pleaded guilty on three occasions to breaches of health and safety legislation.

He also agreed he had not contacted Pike River Coal's last chief executive, Peter Whittall, or operations manager Doug White, to discuss with them financial under-performance and links to safety.

Earlier, commission lawyer James Wilding told the inquiry many issues would be considered, including whether financial pressures had affected health and safety at the Pike River mine.

Some relatives of the 29 dead workers - whose remains are still trapped in the mine - were in the public gallery at Greymouth courthouse for the first day of the inquiry yesterday. Some wiped away tears as support from around the world was mentioned.

Mr Wilding said the families' patience since November had been extraordinary. The inquiry over the coming months would test their patience further "and for that we are sorry".

Families' spokesman Bernie Monk said: "This is the start of a big journey."

The families' lawyer, Nicholas Davidson, QC, said the families wanted to get to the truth "irrespective of the consequences".

Related articles

New Zealand

Rescue team put message in mine

08 Jul 08:53 PM
New Zealand

Pike River: How did they die?

10 Jul 02:27 AM
Sport|Rugby

Rugby: Carter expresses Crusaders devastation

10 Jul 05:03 AM
New Zealand

LIVE: Pike River Royal Commission

11 Jul 04:31 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Driver charged after crash kills off-duty St John officer

17 Aug 03:15 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Live: Evacuations in Nelson after river breaches banks; weather warnings upgraded for Auckland

17 Aug 03:14 AM
New Zealand

Herald afternoon quiz: August 17

17 Aug 03:00 AM
New Zealand

Heavy rain slams the Nelson region

New Zealand|Politics

Ardern and Sharma haven't spoken since suspension

17 Aug 02:10 AM

Most Popular

Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp
BusinessUpdated

Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp

17 Aug 02:00 AM
'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery
New Zealand|Crime

'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery

17 Aug 01:32 AM
Premium
NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m
Business

NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m

17 Aug 01:04 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP