Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry
Pānui Pāpāho
Media Statement
2 May 2019
“Yesterday unexpected and unexplained readings were reported by the atmospheric monitoring systems in the Pike River
mine, leading to re-entry operations being suspended,” Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little has
confirmed today.
“Safety has always been our first priority, and will continue to be. In these circumstances the appropriate precaution
is to temporarily suspend operations.
“I back the Pike River Recovery Agency to take the time needed to fully understand the cause and significance of these
new readings.
“I have spoken with Anna Osborne from the Pike River Families Reference Group. The families will be disappointed at
another setback, but safety has always been their first priority too.
“The Prime Minister and I will join the families on the West Coast tonight, and families will receive a comprehensive
briefing from the Agency tomorrow,” Andrew Little said.
The Agency will know more after further testing and investigative work is completed over the next week. A meeting of
ventilation experts will then convene later in the month.
ends