A sad day
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- Date published:
10:00 am, November 25th, 2010 - 10 comments
Categories: Mining -
Tags: Remembering the Pike River miners
It’s an incredibly sad day for NZ. Today the country mourns for the 29 miners who have lost their lives after a second explosion at the Pike River mine. Our thoughts are now with the families, the communities, and the people of the Coast. The Standard will keep its half mast headlined all day today. Anyone wishing to donate to help the families of the miners, the details are here.
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- NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in GazaNew Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...1 week ago
- Condolences on passing of Henry KissingerForeign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...1 week ago
- Backing our kids to learn the basicsEvery child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...1 week ago
- US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through tradeI would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber. I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...1 week ago
- Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, AucklandGood morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...1 week ago
- India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic PriorityGood morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...1 week ago
- Coalition Government unveils 100-day planPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...1 week ago
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- Week in Politics: New government survives first Question Time
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Well said Michael. . Keeping Stock also has the half-mast theme today. Blogging seems completely and utterly vacuous right now.
We will also be supporting the donation to the Grey District Mayoral Fund, and our business will donating a percentage of revenue over the next fortnight. We hope that other businesses might be in a position to do likewise.
Well said Michael, a day for quiet reflection and thoughts for the miners, their families and loved ones and the wider West Coast community.
Do not think of them in the dark.
Remember them in the light.
For these were New Zealand boys,
Born to sunlight and the Tasman’s thunder.
Do not think of the ancient trees
Pressed black in the earth’s embrace,
Whose richness these miners carved
Out of the mountain’s chest.
Remember them, instead, among green hills
Under a fleeting sun.
Rummaging in the fern with dog and gun
For the wild pig and the running deer.
Do not think of the tears.
The rictus of disbelief.
Of ragged breaths indrawn
Over jagged reefs of pain.
Remember, though the heart cracks,
Their laughter and fierce joy
At discovering along this smoky coast
First kisses, proud promises, wedding days.
Do not think this is the end.
That Death and Darkness
In the deep confer and grimly
Draw a line beneath our Twenty-Nine.
Though it took their lives,
Think of the coal they hewed
Burning white hot
In the world’s furnaces.
Think of the bright steel
Their labour forged.
Lift your faces to the sun
And know the quality of our loss.
Chris Trotter http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2010/11/pike-river-241110.html
Well said.
I have been sad since yesterday afternoon. It is such a heavy toll for these working people and people they are/were close to. But even the TV3 news has started by asking political questions, AND by focusing on the boss’s and mine company’s perspectives.
Well done to John Key, it can’t be easy for him right now, and he looks very tired. Sometimes being the PM must be really hard. A sad day, words are not enough. National are shining through though, I think its right Parliament was suspended for the day, as a mark of respect to the twenty nine men and their families.
Tanz some posts should be politics free and the decision to suspend Parliament was a unanimous one.
Half mast? – is when the flag is about 1 meter from the top of the pole …. but I guess for the uninformed it is the thought that counts.