It’s not surprising to hear that there are safety concerns over the planned re-entry of the Pike River mine. Police will not be in the initial re-entry, limiting the chances of finding forensic evidence about the cause of the explosions and the fate of the 29 miners who were killed there in November 2010.
Police will not send staff in with the first Pike River mine re-entry team following a risk assessment.
The Government gave re-entry plans the all-clear in November. Minister Andrew Little said at the time a number of dangers still remained, but extensive advice had shown re-entry to the drift using the existing access tunnel of the mine would be “by far the safest option”.
Police said in September they would enter the tunnel only if the mine re-entry plan was approved by both the Police Commissioner and an independent review.
The police spokesman they were continuing to discuss the re-entry plan with the Pike River Recovery Agency, mine experts and Worksafe. The most recent discussion with experts took place on Friday, and discussions were “ongoing”.
“Police will go into the mine when we know it is safe and we know that there is no risk to our staff, or any others who are in the mine with us.
There will always be some risks going back into the mine. The police will presumably have to assess whether the potential benefits of investigating inside the mine justify the risks.
“This is a complex, technical process and we are absolutely committed to supporting the work to re-enter the mine, just as we are to ensuring safety of our staff. We are currently developing training to be given to staff, and have established a dedicated team to support the police role in the re-entry operation. This work will continue in the coming weeks.”
Christchurch Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Collins has been seconded to represent police in the Pike River Recover Agency. He could not be contacted for comment on Tuesday.
He said in September if re-entry was achieved, police would complete a scene examination, recover any bodies, and complete any other processes required on behalf of the coroner.
Police decided in 2013 to leave the criminal investigation open until the scene could be examined.
Any new evidence they found would be used to determine whether charges could be laid.
I really doubt whether evidence can be found that would support charges being laid. I don’t know what they expect to find in there.
artcroft
/ 23rd January 2019I’m hoping they’ll find the end of Winston and Andrew’s careers. What is the point of all this bulls**t.
Duker
/ 23rd January 2019The point ?
To follow up on Keys ironclad assurance, that the bodies would be recovered ‘no matter what’
with extra emphasis on no matter what.
Do you remember how much it cost to recover the Erebus air crash bodies?
artcroft
/ 23rd January 2019I remember there were bodies to recover, black boxes to be retrieved and the airline was govt owned. Very different scenario.
PDB
/ 23rd January 2019You’re lying again Duker, Key actually said: “The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance, we’re committed to getting the boys out”.
Being absolutely ‘committed’ to getting the boys out is far different than ‘we will get the boys out regardless of safety expert opinion and the possible loss of further lives’. Your ‘no matter what’ was never mentioned by him in the statement captured by 3 news.
Duker
/ 23rd January 2019No matter what!
Plus for extra effect, he doubled down and said ‘ don’t let others say different ‘hard
It’s all on YouTube….it was played by Campell live before his show was cancelled
Gezza
/ 23rd January 2019What is the point of all this bulls**t.
Votes.
Strong For Life
/ 23rd January 2019Votes and to appease Mr Little’s guilty conscience.
Gezza
/ 23rd January 2019Nup. I don’t reckon, Lifer. Look at how often he’s hedged and hedged. Just votes.
Strong For Life
/ 23rd January 2019On reflection, yes, you are right. Little is a bitter incompetent buffoon. His treasonous performance at the UN proves that. Here is an idiot that spouts “we are failing NZ women” at the U.N. Meanwhile, his own government, which has a female leader, granted political asylum to a wife-beating drug dealer. Hilarious!
PDB
/ 23rd January 2019There is the element of Little being the ‘great union leader’ and hence some saving of face with that group is a part of it – vote winning and doing something National wouldn’t the bigger part of the equation.
Kitty Catkin
/ 23rd January 2019Do we know that he was a wife beater ? I don’t think that he was granted political asylum, and while I think that he’s a villain and not someone whom we want here, I must say that that conversation sounded as if it had been carefully edited.
Duker
/ 23rd January 2019Not political asylum. He already had permanent residency, just got a waiver on deportation after he was jailed.
Duker
/ 23rd January 2019Key promised to bring the bodies out….a year after the explosion.
More interesting on why he reneged on his absolute assurance
It’s all on YouTube……
Strong For Life
/ 24th January 2019The reason he was granted permanent residency by Minister Lees-Galloway was because Sroubek claimed a number of things… his life was in danger if he returned to his homeland, both the police and vicious gang members were after him and he would be killed if he returned. The Minister felt sorry for him and lapped up the sob story, granting residency. That, of course, was bullshit as it was later found that Sroubek had already returned to his homeland, twice. Mr Lees-Galloway.
Kitty, Sroubek’s wife was also in a police safety plan to protect her from her estranged husband.