Members at Pike memorial
This November marked 15 years since the Pike River disaster, when 29 men were killed and their families were left with heartbreak that continues today. It remains one of the darkest chapters in Aotearoa’s industrial history and a reminder of why strong health and safety protections matter.
Mark Anderson, Paul Johnstone, and Lester Udy from the E tū Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractives Industry Council travelled to the Coast for the anniversary, joined by E tū staff and former staff who have supported Pike River families from the earliest days. They first stopped at the memorial at the bottom of the road to the mine. Mark says the impact of being there was immediate. “We were all hit by the emotion of the place. Our visit was coincidentally at the exact same time of day as the accident.”
They then attended the community memorial in Blackball, where family members and speakers highlighted the lasting legacy of the Pike 29.
“We heard again that we cannot let this tragedy be forgotten. The legacy of the 29 is the Health and Safety at Work Act, and that legislation is written in their blood,” Mark says.
“Do not take the teeth out of our legislation or our inspectorate. We demand accountability.”
Name tags of the ‘Pike 29’