Response to Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy

There will be major change to the health and safety regulatory system as a response of the government’s response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

MBIE Chief Executive David Smol says the report tells a grim story as it sets out how a number of organisations, including both the company and the former Department of Labour, failed to keep the workers in Pike River mine safe. It also criticised the former Ministry of Economic Development’s approach to issuing Pike’s mining permit.

The Royal Commission says there was “inadequate oversight of the mine by a health and safety regulator that lacked focus, resourcing and inspection capacity”.

“On behalf of MBIE, I accept the Royal Commission’s finding and acknowledge that we should have done better. I apologise to the families, friends and loved ones of the 29 men who died for the failure to be more effective as a regulator, and the insufficient focus on health and safety in the Department of Labour,” says Mr Smol.

“I will shortly commission an independent investigation to look at the implications of the report for me as an employer, and whether there is any need to take further steps in relation to employment matters,” says Mr Smol.

“I understand there is a need to provide the public with assurance that I am taking appropriate action.”

The terms of reference and timeframe for that investigation will be released as soon as they are finalised.

The former Department of Labour, now the MBIE Labour Group, is working on a number of fronts to improve delivery of health and safety regulation.

All plans and activities will be reviewed in the light of the Royal Commission recommendations.

MBIE will work closely with the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety and other interested parties including worker representatives.