TERMS OF REFERENCE (DRAFT) – Royal Commission on Pike River Mine Tragedy

1. The Royal Commission will inquire into and report making any recommendations it thinks fit)on:

1.1 The cause of the explosion in the Pike River Coal Mine (the “mine”) on 19 November 2010 and the cause of the explosion on 24 November 2010;

1.2 The cause of the loss of life of the men working in the mine;

1.3 The general law (including any specific legislation and regulations), systems, processes, practices and procedures which govern health and safety in underground coal mining and related operations, and how these compare to relevant international jurisdictions;

1.4 The nature and effectiveness of the systems, processes, practices and procedures in place at the mine for or related to its operations, management, and safety;

1.5 The administration and implementation (including resourcing) of any relevant legislation, regulations and their associated systems and processes in relation to the mine and the land in which it is situated, including the interaction between other regulatory requirements (such as environmental and conservation) and health and safety, and how these compare to relevant international jurisdictions;

1.6 The systems, equipment, and other resources available for, and the conduct of, any search, rescue, and recovery operations (including preparedness therefore), undertaken after the explosion on 19 November 2010;

1.7 Any other matters arising out of, or relating to, the foregoing that come to the Commission’s notice in the course of its inquiries and which it considers it should investigate.

2. The Royal Commission may also make recommendations:

2.1 For the prevention, as far as possible, of similar disasters and for the safe working of this and other mines in the future;

2.2 If it is or seems unlikely that the mine will be re-opened, what ought to be done to ensure the safety of the mine and the surrounding area;

2.3 In relation to decision-making, systems and processes for search, rescue and recovery operations in similar disasters;

2.4 Whether any changes or additions should be made to relevant law, systems, processes, practices and procedures.

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