Pike River; Victory For the Families, Victory for Us

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, November 14th, 2018 - 121 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, capitalism, disaster, Economy, health and safety, john key, Mining, Unions, workers' rights - Tags: ,

The Minister responsible for  Pike River, Andrew Little, has announced that there will be a manned re-entry to the mine early next year.

This is a very welcome step and is the culmination of an 8 year battle to get truth and justice for the 29 dead miners.

It’s fitting that it is Andrew Little who has the final say; as the former head of the miners union, the EPMU (now E Tu), Little stood with the bereaved from day one. Unlike former Prime Minister John Key, who lied to the families about re-entry, fought to have union members’ voices shut out of the memorial service, and whose natural instinct was to side with the owners, Little has been a battler for the battlers.

Alongside the late Helen Kelly, Andrew Little has been with the families from the start.

But even with this victory today, the fight for worker safety goes on. As Anna Osborne made it clear this morning, on average we kill a kiwi worker every week. That’s 400 workplace deaths since Pike River.

The legislation has changed, the culture has not.

So, lets celebrate this win for the little guy, and remember the 29, but the struggle goes on.

 

121 comments on “Pike River; Victory For the Families, Victory for Us ”

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  1. Ad 1
    14 November 2018 at 8:25 am

    Top work Minister.

    Will make for a better Monday anniversary than they’ve had for a while.

    Some parts of the safety culture have changed, but totally get your point on the deaths.

  2. Chris T 2
    14 November 2018 at 8:31 am

    Whilst I personally see little value coming from going into the remaining 400 meters of the outer drift, I hope that the families of those miners that died find some sort of closer in the decision to do it, and that I end up being proven wrong.

  3. Antoine 3
    14 November 2018 at 8:34 am

    If this is victory it feels pretty hollow

    Just hope no one gets hurt in the reentry process

    A.

    • Nick 3.1
      14 November 2018 at 9:02 am

      Antoine, imagine losing your child in an accident. Then having to fight the bullshit of the natz government.

      • Antoine 3.1.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:05 am

        (I was going to reply but I have nothing of value to add)

      • Steve Wrathall 3.1.2
        14 November 2018 at 9:22 am

        Some of the families who lost loved ones do not support this decision. That $38 M (assuming it doesn’t balloon) could be spent in so many other says to benefit the living or save lives.

        • Cinny 3.1.2.1
          14 November 2018 at 9:24 am

          But Steve, if the prior government had done the right thing in the first place, it would have cost much much much less.

          • Antoine 3.1.2.1.1
            14 November 2018 at 9:34 am

            It is what it is, it’s committed now, the money is effectively gone, let’s hope some good comes of it and no harm.

            A.

            • Cinny 3.1.2.1.1.1
              14 November 2018 at 9:36 am

              Amen to that Antoine.

              • In Vino …
                14 November 2018 at 8:51 pm

                No, I am calling Ant out. He makes these transparently over-earnest prayers that nobody will be harmed, etc, but he is actually preparing the ground for future recriminations if anyone should be harmed. I think Antoine a right-wing hypocrite, who comes here to delude. I don’t believe him. I believe he is now secretly hoping that his concern trolling will pay off. Of course, he will express horror at the very thought..

                • Antoine …
                  15 November 2018 at 7:21 am

                  I’m not that bad. I am kinda happy to see Shane Jones’ pork barrel projects fail embarrassingly so I can laugh at him. But I don’t want the ceiling to collapse on the rescue team or something, just to score political points. That would be awful.

                  I would rather they had not decided to go into the mine, I see it much as you probably see Key’s flag referendum, a $30m waste with really no enduring benefits. But here we are.

                  A.

        • Muttonbird 3.1.2.2
          14 November 2018 at 9:26 am

          Steve, what are the numbers among the families for and against re-entry?

        • ianmac 3.1.2.3
          14 November 2018 at 9:49 am

          Just 3 of the families do not support entry.

        • McFlock 3.1.2.4
          14 November 2018 at 11:52 am

          Personally, sparing no expense to find evidence will probably make some negligent employers a little more concerned about workplace safety. That will save lives.

          • KJT 3.1.2.4.1
            14 November 2018 at 8:56 pm

            So far, all that work place safety legislation has achieved, is to drown workers in micro managed paperwork does and don’ts, so that management cannot be held responsible.

            “Safety” is the new growth industry, just like HR. Chair polishers with degrees, who have never worn a hard hat, making work for themselves. While safety concerns from the operations staff are ignored, as usual.

            An obsession with hard hats, reams of impossible to follow instructions (which overworked staff have no time to read) and aspirational safety signs, cheap “seen to be doing something” fixes rather than addressing under-manning, commercial pressure and counter safety, ‘performance measurements”. (Like the bonus for Ports of Auckland straddle carrier drivers, who carted the most boxes, in a month).

            • McFlock 3.1.2.4.1.1
              15 November 2018 at 2:13 pm

              I think that’s beginning to change. There was a period where you could just hire a consultant to do the paperwork, say “they’re the experts”, tell everyone to follow unworkable procedures, and the company was largely absolved if something happened.

              Making senior managers personally liable was a good thing that made them more invested in outcomes. But there was also recent a case with a University where someone sued and got substantial damages for being the x-th person to slip and break a bone on a particularly dangerous set of tiles. Funny thing, straight after that non-slip paint and hand rails were being plastered all around town.

              The issues you outline still remain, but with my large employer the easiest way to get something done is to call it a safety issue. It’s not all bumf.

              • KJT …
                16 November 2018 at 8:54 pm

                In my industry, for those in my present position, it has always been “strict liability” under international and local law.

                I.E. If an accident happens while you are in charge, you have to prove it wasn’t your fault, or extenuating circumstances applied.

                It is the opposite for Managers/bosses ashore!

                My present company is rather good, on safety. Though the volume of paperwork could still be improved.
                Not the norm in the industry, however. Without the professionalism and effort, of often low paid, exploited and overworked staff, internationally, there would be a lot more serious accidents.

    • Cinny 3.2
      14 November 2018 at 9:06 am

      Closure is needed, this will bring that a step closer and also answers to the many many questions surrounding it all.

      Police have suggested manslaughter charges could go a head if warranted.

      Accountability will also bring closure.

      • Antoine 3.2.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:09 am

        Hey look, if we can jail someone out of all this, then perhaps it could be worthwhile, for the deterrent effect looking forwards.

        I suspect however that the Police (when asked) ‘were unable to rule out that a prosecution could come from this, while not thinking it particularly likely’

        But what do I know

        A.

        • Jum 3.2.1.1
          14 November 2018 at 5:20 pm

          Yeah Antoine, what do you actually know? I think a few people do know what happened 8 years ago and are keeping quiet about it and want it kept quiet.

    • reason 3.3
      15 November 2018 at 9:55 am

      Nz does not do ‘victory’ for workers ………. they are cheap to kill.

      “The owner of West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch coal mine where 29 men died in an explosion last year has agreed to a nearly $210 million settlement that will compensate the victims’ families, pay fines and fund upgrades in safety standards at its facilities, NPR’s Howard Berkes reports from Charleston, W. Va.

      That package includes about $46 million for the miners’ families.”

      https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/12/06/143191383/coal-company-reportedly-set-to-pay-200-million-in-w-va-disaster

  4. Sanctuary 4
    14 November 2018 at 8:36 am

    For all those right wing trolls who ask why this is being done, it is being done because 29 men paid with their lives for slack regulations, slack over-sight and slack management, all aided and abetted by the government(s) of the day who connived with management of these companies to allow unsafe practices.

    The least – the very least – the state can do to atone for it’s lethal errors is to return the bodies of these men to their families.

    This is about justice and doing the right thing.

    • gsays 4.1
      15 November 2018 at 9:50 am

      To be fair to those right wingers, they don’t have any experience of integrity occurring in the wake of corporate manslaughter.
      It is new ground for all of us.

  5. marty mars 5
    14 November 2018 at 8:40 am

    Good news. Will be a great day if the families can be reunited.

  6. Cinny 6
    14 November 2018 at 9:03 am

    Families have fought so very hard, they were fobbed off and lied to by the previous government. A new government that cares about people has made a massive difference, if it weren’t for the new government those families would still be fighting,

    This is justice for them, much respect for never giving up and kudos to Andrew Little.

    Meanwhile on the AM show this morning mark richardson had a big moan about it, he’s angry about people blaming national for not allowing re-entry to the mine. Calm down mark, it’s about the families, it always has been, families that mark richardsons preferred national government neglected.

    • Jimmy 6.1
      16 November 2018 at 1:56 pm

      Don’t get too worked up about Mark…..I don’t believe many people actually take him seriously anyway.
      Can only hope that this entry brings some sort of closure for the families.

    • Bg 6.2
      16 November 2018 at 6:44 pm

      They (who ever they are) are going into the drift, not the mine. No police, no ESR so who is going to gather the evidence?

      • McFlock 6.2.1
        16 November 2018 at 7:00 pm

        Just to clarify your question, you don’t know who will go into the mine but you do know that no police or ESR will be involved, so you want to know who will collect evidence?

        How do you know the middle bit?

  7. Muttonbird 7
    14 November 2018 at 9:15 am

    Aww. I was just about to reply to a comment by BM but he appears to have got cold feet and deleted it.

    Seems to be a few RWNJs now treading carefully around this topic. Better late than never.

    • BM 7.1
      14 November 2018 at 9:18 am

      I was replying to Cinnys comment but she deleted it, so I deleted mine.

      • Muttonbird 7.1.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:22 am

        Yours looked like a comment on the OP to me and it wasn’t indented.

        You said it wasn’t a win because they are ‘only going into the drift’ not the mine so no bodies will be found.

        The you deleted it, wisely.

        • xanthe 7.1.1.1
          14 November 2018 at 9:28 am

          well I also strongly think that ‘only going into the drift’ is a cop out, If they really want “answers” (and or bodies) they will need to enter the mine itself.
          I actually would not be surprised to find that thats what they do in the end.

          • Antoine 7.1.1.1.1
            14 November 2018 at 9:31 am

            It’s too dangerous and not rewarding enough IMO, I don’t think they will do it

            A.

          • Muttonbird 7.1.1.1.2
            14 November 2018 at 9:32 am

            Perhaps. I suspect they are taking it in stages. Get in there, find out what is possible, and make any further decisions down the track.

            You have to understand BM’s viewpoint though, which is to do nothing because it’s too hard, no-one cares, and because doing something shows up Key and National as being gutless.

            • McFlock 7.1.1.1.2.1
              16 November 2018 at 7:08 pm

              Yeah.

              They know there are large voids in the actual mine, and that you can get a fair way down the drift before the rockfall. If it’s a localised fall, they might be able to get through it safely, but tunnelling any great length in a heat-damaged area might be a hazard too great.

      • Cinny 7.1.2
        14 November 2018 at 9:22 am

        Didn’t delete as such, just moved it above as a reply to Antoine, I put it in the wrong box.

        It’s at 3.2

  8. Fireblade 8
    14 November 2018 at 9:17 am

    Don’t forget Winston Peters helped the families stop the National Party bastards filling the entrance with concrete.

    John Key is a two faced lying cunt. Words are cheap John, action takes character and guts.

    • Cinny 8.1
      14 November 2018 at 9:21 am

      And the locals who also helped stop the concrete 🙂 Yes praise for Winston too.

      BTW, Cunts are useful.

      Meanwhile will the dirty pony tail puller who did a runner be approached for comment?

    • Muttonbird 8.2
      14 November 2018 at 9:24 am

      Yep. Andrew Little has shown Key what guts is. Ironic when you recall pony-boy’s rant in parliament.

      • Cinny 8.2.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:26 am

        Gosh yes key and english would get so angry when questioned in parliament about it. Mouth frothing anger was on show for all to see.

      • Bg 8.2.2
        16 November 2018 at 6:47 pm

        Perhaps Little’s guilty conscience is too much for him to bare

        • Muttonbird 8.2.2.1
          16 November 2018 at 6:57 pm

          Oh right. The, ‘it’s all Andrew Little’s fault because he was head of the union’, meme.

          That has been done before by several hundred RWNJs. You are just the latest ignoramus.

          Also, it’s a massive call from you for union access to workplaces to be enshrined in law at any site, whenever they see fit, at any time, unannounced. See how that goes down with your mates in the office.

          By the way, ‘too much to bear’ is the correct spelling. But as I have said you are a worthless RW idiot so no surprise there.

    • Fireblade 8.3
      14 November 2018 at 11:45 am

      National Party Lies
      November 2016

  9. adam 9
    14 November 2018 at 9:30 am

    Good.

    The games the last Tory government played with this were bloody disgusting, and should never be forgotten. The chief ponytail puller in particular spent a hell of lot of time talking from both sides of his mouth.

    And secondly we should not forget 400+ people have died from just going to work since. The dominant ideology does not give a rats about you or your family – it only cares to enrich the rich. We keep paying in bloody for them to line their pockets.

  10. Puckish Rogue 10
    14 November 2018 at 9:43 am

    Personally speaking I just want the people going back into the mine to be safe first and then the politicking can come afterwards

    • mauī 10.1
      14 November 2018 at 11:09 am

      There’s always a first time for the right wing to show some compassion and care for workers I assume this is it when there is culpability on the line.

      (Edit – I think PR is a compassionate man, but your argument certainly is not).

      • I feel love 10.1.1
        14 November 2018 at 11:20 am

        lol maui, also they suddenly care about kids when teachers strike or housing shortage when its to kick Labour or free for all immigration all of a sudden. Do you think they can see their own shallowness? Do they really think they are kidding anybody? “I just want the people going into the mine to be safe” well duh, that’s what this is about, workers safety, that shouldn’t be political, but the right wing make it so (safety costs money, needs to be regulated (why does it need regulation? Think about that), things the right wing abhor).

        • Puckish Rogue 10.1.1.1
          14 November 2018 at 11:25 am

          Sorry to break it to you but we arn’t actually a hive mind, in tnat we can and o have differences of opinions

          Kind of like saying all left wing voters think and act the same

      • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2
        14 November 2018 at 11:22 am

        Well take it for what its worth but I hope the workers get in and out safely, that everyone gets the closure they want including the families that didn’t want the mine re-opened and whatever questions people want answered are answered

      • Ed 10.1.3
        14 November 2018 at 8:00 pm

        Mark Richardson was saying exactly the same as pr.
        We’ll just ignore the politicking by Key and cronies over 7 years.
        Tory scum.

        This whole crime and its cover up reminds me of Hillsborough.

        • te reo putake 10.1.3.1
          15 November 2018 at 9:45 am

          That’s a pretty apt comparison, Ed. As in Hillsborough, there were early attempts to blame the dead. At Pike River, it was claimed that workers covered up gas level readers so that they could keep extracting coal in order to make a bonus. While that may have happened, it was merely a detail in the wider problem of a poorly constructed, over budget and unprofitable mine.

    • ankerawshark 10.2
      14 November 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Pr Watched part of the announcement this morning and Andrew Little was very clear safety would be paramount……….and the widows there were nodding in agreement.

      Good on Winnie, good on Andrew and good to see the women acknowledge Helen Kelly’s work on this………………………

      Its heartbreaking to see the young mans picture on this post.

      • mauī 10.2.1
        15 November 2018 at 6:06 am

        Yeah that front page photo by itself does all the necessary explaining on why they must go back in and find answers and find closure.

  11. SaveNZ 11
    14 November 2018 at 10:44 am

    It’s a bitter victory. But at least hopefully some answers.

  12. Philj 12
    14 November 2018 at 11:59 am

    And the Guardian reports, ” …. Bodies of 29 dead will be recovered….”
    https://criticalpolitics.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c73e3fe9e4a0d897f8fa2746e&id=d249b38400&e=5992ed99a1
    And they have the gall to ask for financial support to support ‘quality’ journalism.

  13. Brutus Iscariot 13
    14 November 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Waste of time and money, and a risk to human life.

    • adam 13.1
      14 November 2018 at 6:29 pm

      Yeah it was, hopefully this will prove how much of a waste it was – especially to the families of the young men who never had a chance.

      • Muttonbird 13.1.1
        14 November 2018 at 8:15 pm

        Those who were concerned about safety were pressured to stay silent.

        This sum pales in comparison to the 1.4 Billion Bingles paid out to his farmer mates in the dead of the night and still the mean bastards of the RW would begrudge the families of closure, and they’d ignore the opportunity to make sure this kind of negligence didn’t happen again.

        Farrer hasn’t hissed his disapproval of this yet but just yesterday he was complaining about the cost of the state abuse enquiry as if studying what went wrong there has absolutely no value whatsoever in healing and in prevention.

        Farrar and co would rather continue to brush this and child abuse further under the carpet. He and his followers are utter scumbags.

  14. Jum 14
    14 November 2018 at 5:16 pm

    Once they open that mine, they need a trusted 24/7 guard on it, until the people actually enter. I don’t trust anybody, including the suddenly interested police.

    I want answers as to why it happened and 29 people did not return to their lives.

  15. Jum 15
    14 November 2018 at 5:39 pm

    In fact, put a guard on it now. It’s an isolated area.

  16. Matthew Whitehead 16
    14 November 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Andrew Little continues to be the standout Labour minister in this government. It’s not unqualified good news, (whether there will be professional investigators going in will make a huge difference to the prospect of holding anyone criminally liable if fault is identified, for instance, and police haven’t committed to be part of the re-entry yet) but it’s good that there’ll be a chance at closure for the families devastated by this disaster.

    And I can’t fucking believe how many people are splitting hairs about what this will cost. Some things you do regardless of the bill.

    • Fireblade 16.1
      14 November 2018 at 8:31 pm

      Yes Matthew, some things you do regardless of the bill.

      Like Nationals $21.8 million flag referendum.

      When Key retired he said his biggest regret was not changing the NZ flag. John Key is an asshole.

    • WILD KATIPO 16.2
      14 November 2018 at 9:25 pm

      It shouldn’t be ‘up to the Police to commit to it or not ‘.

      They take orders from the govt that represents the population and if told they are ‘going’ to commit they should damn well get off their arse and do as their told.

      They ARE NOT a private Police force and they will do exactly as they are directed. What they and their heads think about that is none of their concern.

      • Ad 16.2.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:34 pm

        Police give effect to the law not the government.

        • WILD KATIPO 16.2.1.1
          14 November 2018 at 9:52 pm

          When it is pertaining to the public interest and the magnitude of multiple workplace deaths they do as they are told.

          Would you expect them to not investigate a homicide scene, do nothing about the Aramoana incident simply because they were deciding ‘whether to commit or not ? ‘…

          They serve us the people and the govt we elect to represent us, as such they are nothing more than a public service that is to be directed if needs be to ‘ commit’ to a certain course of action , – whether they like it or not.

          • Antoine 16.2.1.1.1
            15 November 2018 at 7:23 am

            Ad has it right and you are wrong. The police do not ‘do as they told’. Bad things lie down that route.

            A.

            • WeTheBleeple 16.2.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2018 at 8:05 am

              Fuck off you know nothing. My brother died in a coal mine accident age four. I was in charge aged seven. The police tried to pin me with murder to avoid upgrading safety in the factory.

              Fact; they tried to destroy my life to save them money. Fact: they did all manner of illegal things including lie to my parents that I didn’t need supervision, put me in a cell and said I wasn’t ever getting out, told me they had signed confessions of others that I’d pushed him, told me what the adults would do to little boys when I went to jail, and more.

              You wanna wake up and smell the coffee you are fucking deluded.

              • Antoine …
                15 November 2018 at 8:32 am

                Name the mine, or I would settle for the country and decade where this occurred?

                A.

                • WeTheBleeple …
                  15 November 2018 at 9:34 am

                  NZ, 1970’s. And fuck you.

                  • Antoine …
                    15 November 2018 at 10:37 am

                    Sorry to be offensive but I believe this incident never happened. Happy to be convinced otherwise – in which case I will obviously apologise profusely.

                    A.

                    • WeTheBleeple …
                      16 November 2018 at 6:33 am

                      Unless you are a lawyer willing to fight for my cause you can fuck off and you can shove your naive childish opinions too.

                      Way to help those with PTSD from state ‘care’.

                      Now fuck off.

                    • Cinny …
                      16 November 2018 at 7:25 am

                      Antoine, just because you don’t believe something happened, doesn’t mean it didn’t.

                      WeTheBleeple, same thing happened to my grandma and her brothers and sisters. Their mum died when the kids were young, no more school for the kids, off to work in the mine, their father was a freaking arsehole. Some of the kids ended up running away, Grandma was rescued by a couple up the road. Some of the kids ended up in foster care.

                      Due to Grandmas experiences, her and Grandpop ended up taking in many foster kids over their life time.

                      Takaka 1920’s.

                      It’s deeply troubling and saddening to learn that this type of thing was still going on in the 70’s in NZ.

              • te reo putake …
                15 November 2018 at 9:39 am

                Nice one, Bleeple! Reminds me of one of Peter Cook’s ‘Why Bother’ series, where, as Sir Arthur Streeb Greebling, he reminisces about his time in prison as a four year old.

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08sPtK9JKIE

                And, of course, Cookie was a miner, having passed the none too rigorous entrance exam:

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grg5tULy0tY

                The latter does make me wonder whether Peter Whittall got his job the same way, with the same qualifications.

                • WeTheBleeple …
                  15 November 2018 at 9:48 am

                  I’ve watched Police beating the shit out of anti-apartheid protestors, what was that if not obeying the Govt of the day. I’ve seen them beat down on all manner of protesters over the years. What about Kim Dotcom, was that not political?

                  I’ve better to do than write this list. It could go on and on.

                  People are well delusional.

            • gsays 16.2.1.1.1.2
              15 November 2018 at 9:56 am

              “The police do not ‘do as they told’.”

              You are wrong, Antoine.

              • Antoine …
                15 November 2018 at 10:36 am

                Give me an example of a case where core Government gave the Police a direction on whether they should, or should not, investigate a matter?

                A.

                • gsays …
                  15 November 2018 at 11:15 am

                  I am not going to be able to give you an answer that will satisfy you.
                  That is because of them needing to seem to be separate from each other.
                  There are cases were despite evidence to the contrary, a politically expedient conclusion has come from police enquiries.

                  I would start with pike river.
                  Add adolescent/teen pack rapists in Auckland (I refuse to use the name they call themselves).
                  Crewe murders enquiry.

                  • Antoine …
                    15 November 2018 at 11:22 am

                    To be honest, I do not know the facts of any of those cases.

                    I will note that you can get a politically expedient conclusion without any actual collusion.

                    A.

    • gsays 16.3
      15 November 2018 at 11:21 am

      Not wanting to derail but I have a concern with Minister Little and his desire to hand over even more power to the states spies.
      The spooks and cops stuffed up @Te Urewera, and are using that as an excuse for more power.
      When the spies wanted more power over the citizenry, back in the last regimes turn, I wanted to hear opposition to it from Labour.
      It didn’t happen and I seem to recall Little endorsing the idea back then.

      Who does he represent in this case?

  17. patricia bremner 17
    14 November 2018 at 8:06 pm

    Exactly. What has money got to do with it??
    Not enough was spent on Safety.
    So to begrudge it now is really mealy mouthed.

  18. WILD KATIPO 18
    14 November 2018 at 8:45 pm

    If its good enough for the Americans to have the balls to not only make a fuss and get justice done , it good enough for New Zealanders.

    I find it hypocritical to say the least that so many of these far right wing trolls extol American economics and worship apple pie, the land of the free etc, – but when it gets down to it , – are full of crap.

    They only want all the dollars without the responsibility. Typical greedy sanctimonious pricks.

    Well , – heres how it SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT FROM THE START.

    Furthermore- those culpable need to be dragged back before our courts if criminal negligence is found. And that includes Whittal and possibly even Key and others for allowing inadequate Union mines inspectors .

    Remember WORM FARMS after the fact?

    That’s the ChinNational party for you.

    The Law Works Special – The Upper Big Branch Coal Mine Investigation
    https://youtu.be/GSE8hucqEz8

  19. Cinny 19
    14 November 2018 at 8:49 pm

    Have any of the nat MP’s commented about the Pike Re-entry today?

    I’ve looked and looked but it seems the silence is deafening. Not even a whisper from west coast local and simons favourite MP, maureen pugh.

  20. Ed 20
    14 November 2018 at 8:50 pm

    Some history on Pike River.

    John Key

    The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance, we’re committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So — when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing with your emotions.

    • Ed 20.1
      14 November 2018 at 8:52 pm

      2016.

      The families of the Pike River victims are pleading with Mr Key to stop the planned sealing of the mine before he hands over power.

      In a joint statement the families of the 29 men who died in the 2010 disaster say Mr Key can ‘either do the right thing or forever be the prime minister who turned his back’.

      John Key was the Prime Minister who ‘turned his back.’

      • Ed 20.1.1
        14 November 2018 at 8:56 pm

        2016

        Peter Whittall.
        Did he buy himself out of justice?

        • Ed 20.1.1.1
          14 November 2018 at 8:57 pm

          When did John Key resign?
          and why did he resign?

        • WILD KATIPO 20.1.1.2
          14 November 2018 at 9:20 pm

          Are those women still raw? – of course they are.

          Not only did they and others lose their loved ones ( including sons – one at 16 years of age ) , as events unfolded it was evident that skulduggery was afoot. And to make it worse?

          Massive efforts were made using NGO’s and govt depts to cover up negligence in workplace Heath and Safety . And that’s corruption.

          I had a 11 year old son who died not of the leukemia he had , – but of gross incompetence at Waikato hospital. He died from Pneumocystis Carinii . A totally preventable form of pneumonia that the apes at Waikato hospital continually fobbed off as ‘asthma’ a ‘viral cold’ – until it got so bad I damn well demanded he was taken that night to Starship. Six weeks later he was dead.

          That was 2005 and I’m still pissed off and upset about it. As is my surviving son.

          Why???

          Because of the lies , incompetence and bullshit that was handed out to me and mine.

          Magnify that 29 times and you can see what I’m saying.

          The only reason the Key govt fobbed those women off was because they damn well knew there is criminal negligence – and corruption of justice with regards Whittal and the Insurance pay outs.

          It is good Little has the balls and so does his govt.

          But then after that,… comes justice once all forensics have been carried out.

    • WILD KATIPO 20.2
      14 November 2018 at 8:56 pm

      Yes, and the late Penny Bright did an extensive article based on ‘Murder at Pike River’
      which clearly traces back to not only foreign multi nationals – and the individuals involved – but also guess who .

      Mr ‘ Get some guts ‘.

      It appears he had some vested interests in the mine as well.

      • Ed 20.2.1
        14 November 2018 at 9:01 pm

        Rebecca MacFie wrote an excellent book on the subject.

        Book Excerpt: Tragedy at Pike River Mine

        Pike River Coal was charged with nine offences under the Act. The failed company – still under the control of the receivers – did not put in an appearance at the Greymouth Court hearing, and did not present any evidence in defence or mitigation. Judge Jane Farish ruled against it in a decision that recorded “an accumulation of errors and omissions which transpired over a number of years”. She found “a systematic failure of the company to implement and audit its own (inadequate) safety plans and procedures”.

        When the judge came to impose sentence on the company, she sat at the bench struggling to control her tears. She had heard the statements of families still locked in despair more than two and a half years after the disaster. Anna Osborne spoke of her depression and inability to move on until the remains of her husband Milton were recovered. Willie Joynson’s widow Kim told of the suffering and ill-health of her children following their father’s death. Sam Mackie’s mother Beth described the horror of losing her only child. Kath Monk spoke of the pain at being robbed of her son Michael, and her disgust that no one from Pike River Coal had ever come to her and apologised for his death.

        Judge Farish described the Pike disaster as “the health and safety event of this generation . . . a worse case is hard to imagine.” But the futility of her task was palpable. The company she was about to punish had long since gone broke. The money gathered from the sale of the mine and a small stockpile of Pike coal, and from an $80 million insurance payout, had been distributed to creditors. There was only enough left in the pot to pay each family $5,000. She nevertheless ordered $3.41 million in reparation – $110,000 to each of the victims’ families and to Daniel Rockhouse and Russell Smith. She also imposed a fine of $760,000 on the company for its multiple breaches of the law.

        The company had demonstrated a total lack of remorse. “It is not often a company steps back and holds its hands up and says, ‘I have nothing.’ Even a company in a fragile state usually comes forward and offers reparation, but here nothing has been forthcoming.”

        I highly recommend you read the whole book.

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/west-coast/9407313/Book-Excerpt-Tragedy-at-Pike-River-Mine

  21. Ed 21
    14 November 2018 at 9:08 pm

    If you have time……

    Colin Smith, Chairman on the Pike River Families Group Committee and the Pike River 29 Legacy Trust, talks about the Pike River disaster and asks ‘how could this happen in this day and age’?
    I urge you to watch every minute of it..

    Why haven’t these managers and the company been held accountable?

    • Ed 21.1
      14 November 2018 at 9:40 pm

      The repeal of the Coal Mines Act in 1993 was the first step leading to the disaster. The Coal Mines Act was a piece of legislation that had been developed over 100 years.

      Neoliberalism kills.

      When are New Zealanders going to wake up?

  22. Jum 22
    14 November 2018 at 9:10 pm

    ‘The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance: we’re committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So, when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing — I hate to say it — but they’re playing with your emotions.’

    — New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, speaking to Pike River Coal family members in Greymouth, just before the 2011 general election.’

    And there you have the quality of the nats. It’s all about the end game and people are just collateral damage.

  23. Ed 23
    14 November 2018 at 10:25 pm

    Peter Whitall and John Key need to be brought to justice over this.

    • mosa 23.1
      14 November 2018 at 11:29 pm

      People like Key can buy justice so i wouldn’t hold my breath.
      Those who are complaining about the cost of re-entry must also be upset at the 1.7 billion dollars paid to bail out South Canterbury Finance.
      Bill English never hesitated on making that decision.

  24. Brutus Iscariot 24
    15 November 2018 at 9:05 am

    “I think the slain care little if they sleep or rise again” – Aeschylus

    Never understood how re-entry became such a left wing cause celebre.

    Looking at the option Little has chosen, they are only re-entering the mine drift. Further access deeper into the mine is blocked by a 30-50 metre rock fall, where most (if not all) the miners remains will be (if they’re even identifiable). The implication is that for all the hoo-ha, they’ll probably only recover a couple of bodies at most and learn nothing. The public will be disappointed, but i guess the important thing is that Little gets to show his solidarity with the working man.

    • gsays 24.1
      15 November 2018 at 10:08 am

      Is your last sentence sarcastic BI?

      I am picking it is because of your reference to a hoo ha.

      If you are genuine in your questions read a few of Eds links.

      Perhaps you should scuttle off to another site as you seem to lack a bigger picture view of what occurs to these 29 workers.

      .

  25. WeTheBleeple 25
    15 November 2018 at 9:39 am

    Nice. A play on a biblical name and surprise surprise, a dirtbag who has an opinion on the corpses opinions…

    But the families, nah, fuck em.

    Safety, not included, not important.

    Political points, yes, that must be it.

    Not everyone is a money oriented sack of shit.

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    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
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  • Flooding Housing Policy

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  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

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  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
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  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
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  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

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  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
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  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
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    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
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    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

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    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
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    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
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    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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