Pike River Families Media Release

Further to the story in today's Sunday Star Times and on behalf of the Pike River Families Group, I am forwarding the following media release.

A Sunday Star Times report today is misleading and needs correction. There are no “shock revelations” as the article suggests. Mr Bernie Monk is quoted as saying that “photographs show some Pike River workers survived the first explosion at the mine and had opened self-rescue kits”. This refers to evidence which has been fully developed in the Royal Commission hearings over many months. Whether men survived the first explosion and the possibility of self-rescuers being accessed has been considered in evidence before the Chief Coroner and again in the Royal Commission and it is up to the Royal Commission to address these issues.

The article refers to bodies being “positively” identified. Again, this is not correct. Many of the Families have viewed the images, as has the Royal Commission who ordered that they be suppressed from publication. There has been no application to lift that suppression order, although there has been discussion to that end. This is a deeply personal and sensitive issue where all Families will have their views. The areas where the men were last known to be working have been identified so some inferences may be drawn as to identity but that is as far as this can be taken without better images or entry into the mine.

The article also refers to the fact that no one is coming to the Families with a “proper” recovery plan. This is true in the sense that Recovery has always been an incident of potential sale only. The overly optimistic timelines for reclaiming the drift and the fact that there has not been a credible recovery plan has forced the Families to secure a factual and technical understanding of what is involved through the assistance of Mr Bruce McLean, a professional project engineer.

The Families have endorsed and actively promoted the sale process and have publicly thanked and backed the Prime Minister in his stated support. However a letter has been sent to Mr Chis Auchinvole MP, in his capacity as conduit to the Prime Minister, asking that they be fully updated of discussions held between the Greymouth Mayor, the Receivers and the Prime Minister.

It is also relevant to say that there have been some Family members who have not sought recovery and their views are to be respected and brought to account by those that do.

The issue of Recovery is currently before the Royal Commission, including the entire sequence of events to date.

Yours sincerely

Nicholas Davidson QC

Counsel for the Pike River Families Group

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