A Needless Waste
Andrew Little-brain has thrown in the towel. Even he has got to the point where he cannot justify more taxpayers' money in the febrile attempt to unearth what went down in that fateful day at Pike River Mine.
When the grand show of mine re-entry kicked off it had secured a budget from the Labour Party: $23 million. But, this was a state project with a commercially ignorant politician at its head. Despite numerous warnings that the funds would be wasted, Mr Little put in ear plugs and set about finding out how 29 men died.
But, as was always likely to be the case, the budget of $23 million rapidly expanded to a total spend of $35m to date. But the final spend is likely to go to $50m-double the original budget. Minister Little is now claiming that "in terms of recovery of human remains, Little said he has always maintained there is a very low probability of recovery. I would put it as more than remote – but it is very low." [NZ Herald]
When Minister Little was championing mine re-entry for political purposes there was not a hint of what he is now alleging to be the case: that there was a very low probability of recovery of bodies.
Showing posts with label Pike River. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pike River. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 June 2020
Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Socialists' Generosity With Other People's Money
Pike River a Black Hole for Public Money
Martin van Beynen
Stuff
Pike River families have stood for the first time at the wall that separates them from the men they lost in the coal mine nine years ago.
OPINION: Any discussion of the effort to re-enter the Pike River Mine, where 29 miners lost their lives on November 19, 2010, is going to be fraught.
Who could quibble with the wishes of the families of those killed to retrieve the remains of their loved ones and get answers to some of the pressing questions about the accident?
Perhaps the prospect of accountability is now a forlorn hope but who knows what will be found in the depths of the mine. No-one would want to deprive the families of the finality they seek except for one thing.
That is, of course, cost and the opportunities and benefits lost by spending large amounts of taxpayer money on Pike River rather than something else. Many good reasons, apart from the obvious benefits to the families connected to the mine, can be cited for spending the money.
Although blame goes far and wide, in many ways the state failed to monitor the mine properly and allowed dodgy practices to continue unheeded.
Martin van Beynen
Stuff
Pike River families have stood for the first time at the wall that separates them from the men they lost in the coal mine nine years ago.
OPINION: Any discussion of the effort to re-enter the Pike River Mine, where 29 miners lost their lives on November 19, 2010, is going to be fraught.
Who could quibble with the wishes of the families of those killed to retrieve the remains of their loved ones and get answers to some of the pressing questions about the accident?
Perhaps the prospect of accountability is now a forlorn hope but who knows what will be found in the depths of the mine. No-one would want to deprive the families of the finality they seek except for one thing.
That is, of course, cost and the opportunities and benefits lost by spending large amounts of taxpayer money on Pike River rather than something else. Many good reasons, apart from the obvious benefits to the families connected to the mine, can be cited for spending the money.
Although blame goes far and wide, in many ways the state failed to monitor the mine properly and allowed dodgy practices to continue unheeded.
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Taxpayers' Money is Always Cheap
Pike River Re-entry Plan Now Costs $36 Million
A $7 Million Plan's Costs Explode
John Roughan
Editorial writer and columnist, NZ Herald
Andrew Little used to be secretary of the union that included journalists and though I wasn't a member I happened to see him holding meetings in our newsroom sometimes and I was impressed. He didn't rant and rage, he was quietly firm and dogged and seemed above all, sensible. So I have been surprised at some of his decisions in politics.
The first was back when he was Leader of the Opposition and he stood down his social welfare spokeswoman because her mother was being prosecuted for continuing to draw a benefit after entering a de facto relationship.
Some time later a National minister was similarly embarrassed by a family member in some way and John Key was fielding questions in Parliament from the Opposition who thought the minister should be told to stand aside. Eventually someone on the Labour side invoked their leader's decision. Key looked at the questioner and gently replied, "I thought that was the wrong call".
The camera switched back to the Opposition benches and you could see in the faces of the members around Little, including the poor woman concerned, that they realised Key was right. Government is about hard calls. Often that means making the right decision knowing it will invite cheap shots from opponents, press and the public.
The decision to go back into Pike River mine was reportedly Little's alone.
A $7 Million Plan's Costs Explode
John Roughan
Editorial writer and columnist, NZ Herald
Andrew Little used to be secretary of the union that included journalists and though I wasn't a member I happened to see him holding meetings in our newsroom sometimes and I was impressed. He didn't rant and rage, he was quietly firm and dogged and seemed above all, sensible. So I have been surprised at some of his decisions in politics.
The first was back when he was Leader of the Opposition and he stood down his social welfare spokeswoman because her mother was being prosecuted for continuing to draw a benefit after entering a de facto relationship.
Some time later a National minister was similarly embarrassed by a family member in some way and John Key was fielding questions in Parliament from the Opposition who thought the minister should be told to stand aside. Eventually someone on the Labour side invoked their leader's decision. Key looked at the questioner and gently replied, "I thought that was the wrong call".
The camera switched back to the Opposition benches and you could see in the faces of the members around Little, including the poor woman concerned, that they realised Key was right. Government is about hard calls. Often that means making the right decision knowing it will invite cheap shots from opponents, press and the public.
The decision to go back into Pike River mine was reportedly Little's alone.
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
The Pike River Mine Divide
Facing Up To A Fool's Errand
What do we want? JUSTICE! When do we want it? NOW.
Such has been the litany of some people who have suffered as a result of miners being killed in the Pike River catastrophe on the west of the South Island. They want the remains of their loved ones disinterred and given back to them. The previous government took advice and decided not to attempt to re-enter the (now sealed) mine because the risks were too great. Most accepted that reality.
But some of those who were connected by blood and/or marriage to the dead miners have been pushing ever since to get the mine re-opened. They appear to have two objectives. The first was to be able to re-claim the earthly remains of the dead miners, still entombed within the sealed mine. They say they have wanted a place to bury their dead, so that they could pay their respects as and when they wanted.
We should say at this point that not all the families of the dead miners have agreed with this view. They have quietly accepted the death of their loved ones, grieved, and moved on. But others have not. They have made lack of funereal rites a cause, claiming permanent long-term residual affliction because they have been unable to hold a funeral for their dead family member. They also feel aggrieved because they have been prevented from having a grave site at which they could mourn for as long as they wanted.
The second objective of the re-openers is to gather forensic evidence of the cause of the deadly mine explosion and, therefore, be able to identify a soul to damn and a butt to kick.
We are told that the return of the bodies of the dead would likely be a misplaced pipe dream.
What do we want? JUSTICE! When do we want it? NOW.
Such has been the litany of some people who have suffered as a result of miners being killed in the Pike River catastrophe on the west of the South Island. They want the remains of their loved ones disinterred and given back to them. The previous government took advice and decided not to attempt to re-enter the (now sealed) mine because the risks were too great. Most accepted that reality.
But some of those who were connected by blood and/or marriage to the dead miners have been pushing ever since to get the mine re-opened. They appear to have two objectives. The first was to be able to re-claim the earthly remains of the dead miners, still entombed within the sealed mine. They say they have wanted a place to bury their dead, so that they could pay their respects as and when they wanted.
We should say at this point that not all the families of the dead miners have agreed with this view. They have quietly accepted the death of their loved ones, grieved, and moved on. But others have not. They have made lack of funereal rites a cause, claiming permanent long-term residual affliction because they have been unable to hold a funeral for their dead family member. They also feel aggrieved because they have been prevented from having a grave site at which they could mourn for as long as they wanted.
The second objective of the re-openers is to gather forensic evidence of the cause of the deadly mine explosion and, therefore, be able to identify a soul to damn and a butt to kick.
We are told that the return of the bodies of the dead would likely be a misplaced pipe dream.
Wednesday, 6 December 2017
One Way Or the Other . . .
May They Face Justice
This story has got to be one of the worst we have encountered over the past year. It is blood-boiling stuff. It involves liars, creeps, dissemblers, manipulators, and confidence tricksters. In other words, it involves the leaders of our present government.
At this point, most readers will turn the page, thinking "So, what else is new. Let's move along." But for our own sanity we feel compelled to write about this.
The issue involves the dreaded Pike River Mine, inside which the remains of 29 dead miners have been left. The mine is now sealed: flooded with methane, the risk of entry was assessed as too high. The previous government ruled that re-entry was too risky; it would endanger the safety of those entering. Therefore, the mine would be sealed. However, a small group of miner families, having lost loved ones, has pushed and pushed and pushed the government to re-enter the mine and retrieve the remains so that the families can put the tragedy to rest. The rest of the mining families have made the better decision, humbled themselves, accepted reality and moved on.
In the recent election campaign three people, who can only be described as amoral creeps, sought to exploit the situation for political gain: Winston Peters, Andrew Little, and Jacinda Ardern.
This story has got to be one of the worst we have encountered over the past year. It is blood-boiling stuff. It involves liars, creeps, dissemblers, manipulators, and confidence tricksters. In other words, it involves the leaders of our present government.
At this point, most readers will turn the page, thinking "So, what else is new. Let's move along." But for our own sanity we feel compelled to write about this.
The issue involves the dreaded Pike River Mine, inside which the remains of 29 dead miners have been left. The mine is now sealed: flooded with methane, the risk of entry was assessed as too high. The previous government ruled that re-entry was too risky; it would endanger the safety of those entering. Therefore, the mine would be sealed. However, a small group of miner families, having lost loved ones, has pushed and pushed and pushed the government to re-enter the mine and retrieve the remains so that the families can put the tragedy to rest. The rest of the mining families have made the better decision, humbled themselves, accepted reality and moved on.
In the recent election campaign three people, who can only be described as amoral creeps, sought to exploit the situation for political gain: Winston Peters, Andrew Little, and Jacinda Ardern.
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Pike River Re-Entry is Madness on Methamphetamines
Appeals to Pity Don't Cut It
In New Zealand we have the sad spectacle of some ex-mining families on the West Coast of the South Island pressuring the government to allow a recovery party to enter the deadly Pike River mine, which killed 29 miners. The mine is now sealed up. The disaster happened in November 2010. Only a few hard-core families are still insisting that society owes them the right of re-entry into the mine to recover the remains of their loved ones.
In New Zealand we have the sad spectacle of some ex-mining families on the West Coast of the South Island pressuring the government to allow a recovery party to enter the deadly Pike River mine, which killed 29 miners. The mine is now sealed up. The disaster happened in November 2010. Only a few hard-core families are still insisting that society owes them the right of re-entry into the mine to recover the remains of their loved ones.
The matter has been taken up by a few despicable politicians. They are despicable because they profess all care for the families of the lost miners, but carry no responsibility if new entrants to the mine were to die in the attempt. Political hack, Winston Peters--always the child who lacked attention--is stirring things up, insisting that the family's demands be met, and that people be sent down the mine.
The leader of the Labour Party, Andrew Little has joined Peters on this issue. Both want a law change that would require Solid Energy to re-enter the mine. Both want to make it an issue in the forthcoming election. Bon chance to both of them. It will entomb their electoral chances more tightly than the Pike River mine.
A more knowledgeable scribe has written a piece in the NZ Herald exposing the hard realities.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Environmentalism is Deadly
The Duck Won
It is beyond dispute that coal mines can be deadly places. But it is also apparent that mines hobbled by the religion of environmentalism are likely to have a far higher mortality quotient. This is what is now emerging in the aftermath of the Pike River mine disaster. Here is a quotation from MacDoctor:
But it gets worse.
It is beyond dispute that coal mines can be deadly places. But it is also apparent that mines hobbled by the religion of environmentalism are likely to have a far higher mortality quotient. This is what is now emerging in the aftermath of the Pike River mine disaster. Here is a quotation from MacDoctor:
Finally, I have to agree with Mark Hubbard (also cross-posted to NotPC) who is of the opinion that environmentalism has a large part to play in the deaths of these men. Much of the coal at Pike River is superficial enough to remove by open cast mine, a far safer proposition for methane-rich coal like this. It is only the fact that this was conservation land that lead to Pike River being an underground mine (although I expect the owners of Pike River to be coy about this, because it does not reflect particularly well on them, either). DOC even scotched the insertion of a second ventilation shaft in order to preserve the habitat of a duck. Yes, a duck.Should we arrest the duck and execute it for criminal negligence or manslaughter? How about the responsible bureaucrats at the Department of Conservation? Well, execution may be a bit extreme--but imprisonment must surely be on the cards. Ok--so they were just carrying out government policy, and, as we know, greenism is an essential oil of the established religion of the age--a religion established by government and foisted upon us by laws and hosts of regulations innumerable.
But it gets worse.
But it is more than mere environmentalism that is going on here. As I commented at NotPC:
“Unfortunately, Mark, it is much worse than you portray. While an open-cast mine is undoubtably uglier than a side-shaft mine, it does not require a great deal of extra effort to restore the damaged environment. The cost difference between the two mines would have been more than enough to cover the extra cost involved. Most modern open-cast mines have a detailed plan to restore the environment and the eventual impact is minimal.There was nothing unique in that environment that could not have been either transferred somewhere else or restored when the mine was decommissioned. Therefore one must conclude that a sensible open cast mine was not approved because it was ugly, not because of irreversible environmental damage.
“I therefore come to the sad conclusion that 29 miners have just died, not for the sake of the environment, but because of aesthetics”
And that is beyond sad…
Nail on the head, bro.
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