Te Reo o Te Tai Tonga

Rāapa 24 o ngā rā o Whiringa ā Rangi 2010

Pike River Mine Disaster

Contrary to the hope expressed in my speech in the House on Tuesday, there is now a new date to add to the collective memory of the Coast: Friday 18 November 2010.

What a tragedy for the miners, their families, their colleagues and friends, the wider Te Tai Poutini community, the company and the country. For five days we all waited, hoped and prayed for a successful outcome. Unfortunately, that hope has been snuffed out by a second explosion. I want to reiterate my aroha to the miners and their whānau.

I was fortunate to meet many of the whānau, colleagues, community, company management and the mayor shortly after the initial explosion. The whanaungatanga and manaakitanga within the community was overwhelming. I expect they will need a lot more of that now. On behalf of the people of Te Tai Tonga I wish to express our deepest sympathies to the people of Te Tai Poutini at this time. Ngā manaakitanga o Te Runga Rawa ki runga ki ā kōutou katoa

A lot will be said, written, investigated, examined and re-examined in the coming days, months and years, but for now it is appropriate to allow the whānau time to grieve.

Our jobs now are to ensure no more lives are lost, no more husbands, sons, fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles or cousins are killed in New Zealand coal mines.

Nō reira e ngā kaimahi waro kua mate nei I te kōpū o te whenua, moe mai moe mai. Moe ana te huia, tangi ana te kotuku. Mā te Atua tātou katoa e manaaki, e tiaki.

Rāhui Kātene MP

ENDS

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