Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader
24 SEPTEMBER 2014

Why Did PM And Solid Energy Abuse OIA And Pike River Victims?

The Prime Minister and Solid Energy’s refusal to provide accurate information on the Pike River mine re-entry is a clear abuse of the Official Information Act and the Prime Minister’s promise to the miners’ families and New Zealanders.

“It is appalling that the state-owned company and the Prime Minister withheld advice they had received in October last year from the Department of Labour that the mine tunnel was safe to enter despite repeated OIA requests,” says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Solid Energy has been propped up by the taxpayer - $100 million recently and $125 million last year - yet it at the same time it is content to manipulate the OIA, and prevent New Zealanders from finding out what is really happening.

“It took almost a year for the true situation to be revealed, but the information did not come from Solid Energy.

“Pike River families of the 29 men who were killed at the mine have reason to be furious. Mr Key had told them he was ‘committed to getting the boys out’ and he would do anything, but despite the mine being safe to enter he did nothing.

“The families were focused on gaining entry to the access tunnel leading into the mine, but Solid Energy backed off saying it was not safe. However, the company had already been advised by Work Safe NZ that it was feasible as there were no operational, technical or safety issues.

“The Prime Minister, Solid Energy, and anyone else who abuses the OIA, should be held to account. It is a cornerstone of our rights to freedom of information.”

ENDS

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