Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy
NEWS UPDATE

~ July 4, 2011 ~
12 Witnesses to Give Oral Evidence at July Hearings

The Commission is calling 12 witnesses to provide oral evidence at the public hearings into its Phase One: Context inquiries.

The hearings at the Greymouth District Court start on Monday 11 July and will run into the following week (starting 18 July). The timetable for the hearings is:

Week One

Monday 11 July Counsel Assisting the Commission (Opening Statement)

Dr Don Elder- CEO Solid Energy NZ Ltd

Tuesday 12 July Dr Jane Newman – Newman Energy Research

Harry Bell – Former Chief Inspector of Coal Mines

Weds 13 July Robin Hughes – Former Chief Inspector of Coal Mines

Ministry of Economic Development (2 witnesses)

West Coast Regional Council (1 witness)

Thursday 14 July Department of Conservation (2 witnesses)

Friday 15 July Department of Labour (2 witnesses)

Week Two

Monday 18 July Peter Whittall – CEO Pike River Coal Ltd (in Receivership)

(NB timetabling may change as the hearings progress)

For more information about the hearing plan visit the Commission’s website.

Five Chronologies Produced

The Commission has produced five chronologies to provide background and context for the oral evidence being considered at the hearings.

The chronologies are a distillation of key information and evidence received for the Phase One: Context. They may be expanded over time.

They are available from http:pikeriver.royalcommission.govt.nz and cover:

1. New Zealand Mining and Coal Production Profile

2. Pike River Coal: Permits, Access Arrangements and Resource Consents Mine development

3. Pike River Coal: Financial/Company

4. Pike River Coal: Board, Management and Workforce

5. Pike River Coal: Mine Development

Keep up with the Hearings

The hearings will run each day as follows:

Monday 11.30am - 5.00pm

Tuesday-Thursday 10.00am - 5.00pm

Friday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Hearings will adjourn for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

Transcripts

Hearing transcripts will be available from our website on a daily basis.

The Commission aims to have the transcripts online at its website by 6.00pm on each hearing day.

Living Streaming of the Hearings

TVNZ and TV3 news have approval to stream the hearings live on their websites.

Live streaming means people can watch the hearings via the internet as they are happening, regardless of where viewers may be located.

There will be a link to the live streaming from http://pikeriver.royalcommission.govt.nz or visit www.tvnz.co.nz or www.tv3.co.nz.

Updated Lists of Participants and Counsel Appearing

Since the Preliminary Hearing in April the Commission has granted participant status to a number of additional people and organisations. The updated list of Participants is available here.

The list of Counsel appearing has also been updated.

~ Key Dates ~

Hearings
• 11 July to 22 July, Greymouth District Court

• 5 September to 23 September, Greymouth District Court

• Future hearings to be scheduled

© Scoop Media