CTU Media Release

19 November 2012

We remember and honour the Pike River Miners

Helen Kelly, Council of Trade Unions President says “today marks two years from the Pike River tragedy where 29 men lost their lives at work. Today we remember and honour the men, the terrifying ordeal that they went through, and stand alongside their families, workmates and community.”

“We need urgent priority in implementing the findings of the review. All aspects of the report and implementation of the recommendations must be done immediately and unions must be involved in the development of these regulations and in the implementation.”

“The Review into this disaster has shown that is that this awful accident was preventable and should never have happened. It shows the inherent danger of a profit driven company, weak health and safety regulation and a government which hasn’t listened to calls to strengthen the law. We need to make sure this kind of disaster doesn’t happen again,” said Helen Kelly.

“We also need to support these families, and do everything we can to facilitate bringing the bodies of these men home if the experts can develop a plan.”

Helen Kelly says “these families have been through hell and unions will continue to stick by these families and continue the fight for safer workplaces.”

ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>