Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy
NEWS UPDATE
~ February 7, 2012 ~
Revised reporting date
The Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy has received an extension to the date it must report to the
Governor General.
The Commission will now report by 28 September 2012 (the earlier date was 31 March 2012).
It is important that the Commission does a thorough investigative job and produces robust recommendations that are
appropriate, realistic and achievable. Accordingly the Commission sought and has now received an extension to 28
September to complete its inquiries and report to the Governor General.
The Commission’s timelines and management of evidence and hearings were complicated by the parallel inquiries being
conducted by the Police and the Department of Labour.
The Commission has made good progress and has held nine weeks of hearings so far. We are currently examining the health
and safety and mining systems at Pike River Coal Ltd and the cause of the explosion. Further hearings are being held
from 8 to17 February.
The Commission is also working on the policy aspects of its inquiries now. The inquiry process includes giving
participants the opportunity to make final submissions at hearings in April.
Following this the Commission will complete its inquiries and deliver its final report to the Governor General by 28
September this year.
~ Key Dates ~
Phase 3 (What happened at Pike River?) hearings
Final submissions hearings
ENDS