90-894: Leader of the Labour Party Leader of the Opposition Prime Minister General elections Ministerial career Leader of the Labour Party Prime Minister Leader of the Opposition General elections The Sixth Labour Government governed New Zealand from 26 October 2017 to 27 November 2023. It was headed first by Jacinda Ardern (October 2017–January 2023) and later by Chris Hipkins (January 2023–November 2023), as Labour Party leader and prime minister . On 1 August 2017, Ardern succeeded Andrew Little as both leader of
180-736: A Labour-led coalition government , the Minister for Pike Mine Re-entry Andrew Little announced the creation of a stand-alone government department called the Pike River Recovery Agency to facilitate efforts to re-enter the Pike River mine and recover the bodies of the deceased miners. On 19 April 2018, the Minister for Pike Mine Re-entry Little entered the Pike River Mine portal with Pike Family representatives Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse to demonstrate that
270-695: A Zoom call, 85% of the 150 Green Party delegates voted to accept this confidence and supply agreement with Labour. Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 195881395 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:41:52 GMT Pike River Mine The Pike River Mine
360-419: A slurry pipeline (with a 35% solids share). Another major feature of the underground works is a 110-metre (360 ft)-deep ventilation shaft. After local ground conditions were found to be worse than expected, it was excavated with a raise-bore system excavating the 4.25 m (13.9 ft) ventilation shaft from a 0.35 m (1.1 ft) pilot drill shaft. Access to the top of the ventilation shaft
450-671: A 'donor, recipient relationship' with Pacific Islands nations in favour of forming bilateral partnerships in March 2018. The Government also ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (an amended version of the TPP) in March 2018 and endorsed the UN's Global Compact for Migration in December 2018. In April 2018, Attorney General David Parker announced
540-608: A NZ$ 3.2 billion wage subsidy scheme. Following the discovery of four community COVID-19 cases in Auckland on 11 August, the Government reintroduced national lockdown restrictions, with heightened restrictions for epicentre Auckland. Due to the outbreak, Ardern also delayed the 2020 New Zealand general election from 19 September until 17 October in response to the recent outbreak in COVID-19 community transmissions. In addition,
630-459: A NZ$ 66.3 million fund to support COVID-19 immunisation programme. In terms of education, the Government announced the introduction of climate change education into the school curriculum and gave parents the ability to consent to their children receiving religious instruction in schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a NZ$ 87.7 million distance learning package, a NZ$ 130 million tertiary students' support package, and extending
720-489: A blast furnace level of heat could have occurred within the mine, reaching over 1,200 °C (2,190 °F). A collapse of any part of the mine was however considered unlikely because of the strength of the construction. On 10 November 2011 charges were laid against 3 parties in the Greymouth District Court. The charges relate to alleged Health & Safety failings at the mine. At the time of writing
810-455: A coalition government with Labour. That same day, Green Party leader James Shaw announced that his party would give confidence and supply support to the 55-seat Labour–NZ First government. The Greens' support, plus the coalition, resulted in 63 seats to National's 56—enough to ensure that Ardern maintained the confidence of the House. Three years later, Labour went on to a landslide victory in
900-653: A coalition or a confidence and supply agreement. Following prolonged negotiations, the Green Party formed a confidence and supply agreement with the Labour Party on 31 October. Under this governing arrangement, co-leader James Shaw would remain Minister for Climate Change and become Associate Environment Minister while fellow co-leader Marama Davidson would become Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Associate Minister of Housing. During
990-449: A former public service employee. Following his resignation, Kris Faafoi became Minister of Immigration while Andrew Little became Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety , and Carmel Sepuloni became Minister for ACC. On 17 October, Labour won the 2020 general election in a landslide, winning 50% of the vote and 65 seats in the House, the first time under the current MMP system that any party won enough seats to govern without
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#17327725124111080-661: A government inquiry into allegations that the New Zealand Special Air Service had committed war crimes against Afghan civilians during Operation Burnham while stationed in Afghanistan . Following the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March 2019, Ardern announced that the Government would be reforming New Zealand's gun laws . On 10 April, the Government passed legislation banning semi-automatic firearms, magazines, and parts. In addition,
1170-532: A minority coalition government with Labour. Confidence-and-supply support from the Greens, negotiated separately with Labour, enables the Government to have a majority in the House of Representatives. During the coalition-forming negotiations, Labour agreed to drop its proposed water tax on farmers as part of its agreement with New Zealand First. In return, NZ First agreed to drop their demand for referendums on overturning New Zealand's anti-smacking ban and abolishing
1260-534: A national Park is banned by the Crown Minerals Act. The Pike River mine reaches the Brunner coal seam at depths of 150 to 200 metres below ground level. This is deeper than other NZ open-cast coal mines and likely to be uneconomic. Following the liquidation of Pike River Coal , Solid Energy purchased the assets of the company. However, in 2014 Solid Energy decided that it was too risky to re-enter
1350-486: A period of six weeks. In June 2018, she temporarily relinquished her duties to Winston Peters , following the birth of her child, for a period of six weeks. Peters became Acting Prime Minister on 20 June 2018, when Ardern went into labour. Her six-week maternity leave concluded on 2 August 2018. On the domestic front, the Labour-led coalition government implemented several policies and new laws. In terms of education,
1440-427: A result of taxation. However, the total district health board deficit rose to NZ$ 1 billion. The net Crown debt rose by 0.2% from NZ$ 57.5 billion in the 2017-2018 financial year to NZ$ 57.7 billion in 2019. In response, National's Economic development spokesman Todd McClay claimed that the Government was not investing enough money in taxpayers and highlighted declining business confidence. In terms of health policies,
1530-532: A safe re-entry was possible. He reiterated the Coalition Government's promise to re-enter the drift in order to recover evidence and the remains of the deceased miners. Following delays, a recovery team led by Pike River Recovery Agency official Dinghy Pattinson entered the mine on 21 May 2019. Body recovery and forensic operations were expected to take several months. The occasion was marked by family members releasing 29 yellow balloons and calling out
1620-408: A second explosion occurred, which was so severe that later that afternoon Peter Whittall (CEO of Pike River Coal ) announced that it was extremely unlikely that any of the miners were still alive, as the magnitude of the second explosion and the high levels of toxic gases were too great for anyone to be able to survive. A third explosion occurred at 3:39 PM 26 November; it appeared to be smaller than
1710-591: A tributary of the Big River in a region that already has a long history of coal- and gold-mining activity. It is located on Crown land administered by the Department of Conservation , and adjacent to the Paparoa National Park . Because of the status of the land, Pike River Coal Ltd had to obtain the Minister of Conservation's agreement to an access arrangement for mining under Section 61(2) of
1800-592: Is a coal mine formerly operated by Pike River Coal 46 km (29 mi) north-northeast of Greymouth in the West Coast Region of New Zealand 's South Island. It is the site of the Pike River Mine disaster that occurred on 19 November 2010, leading to the deaths of 29 men whose remains have not been recovered. The mine and its assets are owned by the Department of Conservation , whom, on 1 July 2022, assumed ownership and management following
1890-470: Is by helicopter only, even during construction, as conservation restrictions do not allow roads to be built to reach this point. This shaft partially collapsed in 2008 causing further production delays. The mine also includes underground excavation for the coal slurry handling facility and mine water storage and pumping equipment, with several large galleries of up to 5.5 m (18 ft) width and 11 m (36 ft) height to be excavated. As of 2010,
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#17327725124111980-427: Is considered to be the most likely source of the 2010 explosion. In early June 2021, 22 victims' families filed for a judicial review challenging Minister for Pike Mine Re-entry Little's rejection of a proposal to recover the mine's ventilation fan. In early July 2021, a group representing 20 Pike River families blocked the mine access road in order to prevent the Pike River Recovery Agency from permanently sealing
2070-585: Is estimated to have generated about $ 80 million of economic benefits to the West Coast Region, about $ 13 million of that in wages. On 19 November 2010, an explosion in the mine left 29 people dead 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) from the mine's entrance. The mine is around 160 metres (520 ft) below ground, but is primarily accessed horizontally as it lies under the Paparoa Range . Two miners more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) from
2160-590: The 2018 New Zealand budget , allocating NZ$ 2.8 billion in operational funding and NZ$ 3.8 billion in capital funding. In October 2018, the Government formally established a new government department called the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to manage housing and urban development issues. The Government also passed legislation banning future oil and gas exploration , banning most non-residents from buying New Zealand homes and allowing terminally ill patients to use marijuana for palliative care . In June 2018,
2250-432: The 2020 general election with 50% of the vote and 65 seats, an outright majority of the 120 seats in the House. On 19 January 2023, Ardern announced her resignation and that she would not stand for re-election in the 2023 general election . Hipkins succeeded her as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party on 25 January 2023. Labour lost its majority to the opposition National Party following 2023 general election that
2340-571: The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 which empowered Police to enter homes to enforce lockdown restrictions without a warrant. On 20 May, the Government released a COVID-19 contact tracing app called the NZ COVID Tracer . By 3 June, the Government had eliminated social distancing restrictions at businesses, public transportation and all public gatherings. To address the economic impact of COVID-19,
2430-654: The End of Life Choice Act 2019 subject to a referendum at the next election and passing the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act . Other notable Government actions in 2019 have included re-entering Pike River Mine , upgrading the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement , and apologizing to the victims of the Erebus air disaster . The global Covid-19 pandemic dominated
2520-618: The Midland Line between Greymouth and Christchurch , which since upgrading by ONTRACK has a total capacity of four million tonnes per annum. The mine was to have about 150 full-time staff, though in 2007–2008, there were problems filling all positions, partly because of high demand for the same occupations in the Australian and international job markets. In February 2010, Pike River Mine made its first export shipment of 20,000 tonnes of premium hard coking coal to India. The mine
2610-488: The Māori electorates . The Greens consented to a confidence and supply agreement with Labour and New Zealand First in return for several concessions, including: a referendum on legalising cannabis , treating alcohol and drugs as a health issue, net zero emissions by 2050 and requiring a climate impact assessment analysis for all legislation The Government made several policy announcements in late 2017. In terms of domestic policies,
2700-518: The New Zealand Treasury and Finance Minister Grant Robertson released a report stating that the Government's surplus had increased from NZ$ 2 billion to NZ$ 7.5 billion. The net Government debt had also fallen to 19.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is still short of its self-imposed Budget Responsibility Rules to keep debt at less than 20% of GDP. The total government revenue also increased from NZ$ 6.2 billion to NZ$ 86.5 billion as
2790-591: The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 in favour of tenants' rights. In terms of immigration policies, the Government scrapped the requirement for African and Middle Eastern refugee applicants to have relatives who were residing in New Zealand and ending a partnership visa policy that discriminated against Indian arranged marriages. Other notable miscellaneous legislation in 2019 have included overturning "blasphemous libel" legislation, passing
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2880-962: The Auckland CBD with Auckland Airport in Manukau due to disagreements between Labour and NZ First. On 9 March, Ardern appointed Andrew Coster as the new Commissioner of Police , replacing Mike Bush who resigned in April 2020. Two high profile ministerial resignations also occurred that year. On 2 July, Health Minister David Clark resigned from his portfolio after breaching COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Following Clark's resignation, Ardern appointed Chris Hipkins as interim Health Minister. On 22 July, Ardern dismissed Iain Lees-Galloway from his Immigration, Workplace Relations and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) ministerial portfolios after he admitted having an inappropriate relationship with
2970-423: The Brunner coal seam. The coal is taken from the mine via a 'drift', a gently sloping 5-degree tunnel 2.3 km (1.4 mi) long. This tunnel has taken large amounts of dynamite to create, as the rock is described as being up to four times harder than concrete. Since the coal face will be located higher than the tunnel entrance, removal of material to a processing plant 10.6 km (6.6 mi) away will be via
3060-436: The Crown Minerals Act 2001. On 12 March 2004, Minister of Conservation Chris Carter approved the access arrangement for Pike River Coal Ltd. The arrangement included four 1.5-metre (4.9 ft)-wide emergency escape shafts within the boundaries of Paparoa National Park and a requirement for Pike River Coal Ltd to spend NZ$ 70,000 annually on conservation projects. Carter stated that the "safeguards and compensation" outweighed
3150-482: The Government abandoned efforts to repeal the Sentencing and Parole Reform Act 2010 (the so-called three-strikes law ) due to opposition from NZ First. In December 2018, the Government announced that it would be holding a binding referendum on legalising the personal use of cannabis during the 2020 general election . On the foreign policy front, Ardern stated that New Zealand would be seeking to shift away from
3240-540: The Government announced plans to merge TVNZ and Radio New Zealand into a new public broadcasting service , invested NZ$ 12 billion transport infrastructural New Zealand Upgrade Programme , NZ$ 300 million into the Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan, and NZ$ 1.9 million into acquiring fog cannons for dairies following a spate of robberies. In late June, the Government abandoned plans to build light rail connecting
3330-569: The Government announced various relief measures including a NZ$ 12.1 billion business package, a NZ$ 56.4 million Māori communities and businesses assistance package, NZ$ 27 million to support social service providers such as the Salvation Army and Women's Refuge, a NZ$ 1.5 billion wage subsidy scheme, a NZ$ 50 million media support package, a NZ$ 23 billion omnibus business support package, and a NZ$ 1.2 billion unemployment relief package. In late March 2020, Finance Minister Grant Robertson confirmed
3420-525: The Government dispatched firefighters, medical personnel, and elements of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army to assist with firefighting efforts during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season . In late February, Ardern allocated NZ$ 2 million to Fiji's climate change relocation fund. In early May, Ardern met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and several Australian state and territorial leaders to discuss
3510-857: The Government imposed isolation requirements on foreign travellers, which was followed by a strict border closure on 19 March. On 21 March, Ardern introduced a COVID-19 alert level system after COVID-19 cases rose to 52. On 25 March, the COVID-19 alert system was raised to Level 4, leading to the closure of schools and most businesses with the exception of essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations and health providers. To comply with lockdown policies, Parliament adjourned for five weeks commencing 27 March. Prior to Parliament's closure, it passed three bills with cross-party support dealing with emergency spending, remitting interest on tax owed after 14 February, allowing local authorities to meet remotely, governments to take over schools, and suspending no-cause evictions and rent increases for six months. On 25 March, it
3600-781: The Government introduced legislation restoring the voting rights of prisoners serving less than three years imprisonment and banning foreign donations over NZ$ 50. In terms of fiscal policies, the Government ruled out a capital gains tax . Key priorities of the 2019 New Zealand budget included creating a new frontline mental health service, investing $ 40 million in suicide prevention services, stationing nurses at secondary schools, building 1,044 new homes, investing $ 320 million into specialist services to address family and sexual violence, investing $ 200 million into apprenticeships and vocational training programs, investing $ 1 billion into KiwiRail , and investing $ 1.7 billion and $ 1.2 billion into repairing hospitals and schools respectively. In October 2019
3690-451: The Government introduced legislation to stop the creation of new charter schools while allowing allowing the 11 existing schools to transition to "special character" schools. The Government also launched several transportation, homelessness, family relief, emergency response and health plans and programmes with the aim of improving infrastructure, services, and social and health outcomes. On 17 May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson released
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3780-490: The Government ordered 12 new radiation machines, invested NZ$ 60 million into Pharmac as part of a ten-year cancer action plan and created a Cancer Control Agency and Suicide Prevention Office . The Government also responded to a national measles outbreak by creating a National Health Coordination Centre. In terms of housing policies, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Phil Twyford admitted in January 2019 that
3870-445: The Government passed legislation which eliminated rental bidding and "no-cause" evictions, raised the period of rent increases to 12 months and allowed victims of domestic violence to end a tenancy within two days' notice. In terms of immigration policies, the Government extended temporary work visas due to travel restrictions and introduced fees for travellers quarantining at managed isolation and quarantine facilities. In other areas,
3960-591: The Government reaffirmed its commitment to re-entering Pike River Mine by March 2019, scrapped National Standards in schools, released a mini-budget funded by cancelling National's tax cuts and created a Tax Working Group to reform New Zealand's taxation system and alleviate the country's housing crisis. In terms of foreign policies, the Government continued New Zealand's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, opposed US President Donald Trump 's move to recognise Jerusalem as
4050-565: The Government would be raising the minimum wage to NZ$ 18.90 an hour from April 2020, a $ 1.20 increase from $ 17.70. In terms of education policies, the Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced plans to merge the country's sixteen polytechnics into a " NZ Institute of Skills and Technology " by April 2020 in response to deficits and falling domestic enrolments. In May 2019, the Government invested NZ$ 95 million into teacher training programmes and scholarships over
4140-403: The Government's attention and priorities for much of 2020. In late January, the Government chartered an Air New Zealand aircraft to assist in evacuating New Zealand, Australian, and Pacific Island nationals from Wuhan . On 2 February, temporary travel bans were imposed on COVID-hit countries like China and Iran. New Zealand's first COVID-19 case was confirmed on 28 February 2020. On 14 March,
4230-786: The Government's $ 20 billion Defence Capability Plan 2019, which aimed to boost the Defence Force's capabilities, equipment and manpower over the next 11 years. In terms of economic development, the Government allocated NZ$ 100 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to supporting Māori economic development, NZ$ 27 million to improving transportation and the horticulture sector around Kaipara District and NZ$ 20 million to rebuding Hillside Engineering in South Dunedin . In terms of employment policy, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announced that
4320-608: The Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition . Following the 2017 general election held on 23 September, the New Zealand First party held the balance of power between the sitting centre-right National Party government, and the left bloc of the Labour and Green parties. Following negotiations with the two major parties, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced on 19 October 2017 that his party would form
4410-601: The Pit Bottom in the Stone area required for the New Zealand Police investigation. On 23 March 2021, the Minister responsible for Pike River Re-entry, Andrew Little, stated that it was too hard and too expensive to go any further into the mine. In mid-May 2021, the Government began reviewing an NZ$ 8 million plan submitted by a group representing 23 Pike River families to recover the mine's ventilation fan, which
4500-621: The capital of Israel and reiterated New Zealand's support for the Two State Solution . In November 2017, Prime Minister Ardern offered to resettle 150 of the asylum seekers from the former Manus Regional Processing Centre in New Zealand, but was rebuffed by Australia's Turnbull Government . On 19 January 2018, Ardern revealed that she was expecting her first child in June, and that Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters would serve as Acting Prime Minister while she took maternity leave for
4590-472: The coal is not intended for domestic use but simply a commercial operation, and thus should not have been allowed to go forward in a sensitive location. Forest & Bird also criticised the fact that the Minister of Conservation chose to ignore the report from the Department of Conservation stating that the mine would be damaging to the local environment. Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand also criticised
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#17327725124114680-424: The country. The estimate for production was reduced to between 320,000 and 360,000 tonnes for 2011. The coal of the mine is described as "New Zealand's largest known deposit of high fluidity and quality hard coking coal" (a type of coal in high demand for iron smelting ), and was expected to earn around NZ$ 170 million in export income annually. Various setbacks occurred during late 2007 and early 2008 delaying
4770-411: The delays, which also forced the company to ask for an extension from its financiers. In February 2010, the first export shipment of 20,000 tons of coal was delivered to India for use in steel production. An explosion on Friday 19 November 2010 trapped 29 workers inside the mine. Rescuers delayed entering the mine, due to the risk of another explosion. On 24 November, a second explosion occurred and it
4860-698: The development of a trans-Tasman COVID-safe travel zone. In late July, Ardern and Foreign Minister Peters announced that New Zealand would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to the Chinese Government's Hong Kong national security law introduced earlier that month. In terms of health policies, the Government passed legislation decriminalising abortion , allocated significant public funding to purchasing personal protective equipment, ventilators and respiratory equipment, and supporting drugs and medicines purchasing agency Pharmac , close contact tracing and immunisation. In terms of housing,
4950-474: The dissolution of Parliament was pushed back to 6 September. While the Government's second lockdowns were supported by Cabinet, NZ First leader Winston Peters and ACT leader David Seymour regarded them as unnecessary and economically damaging. Lockdown restrictions were eased on 21 September, with limits on public gatherings. On 12 October 2020, the Government signed an agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccines and established
5040-409: The dissolution of the Pike River Recovery Agency . The former mine site and its surrounding land are a part of Paparoa National Park . The mine was to begin production in early 2008, and was initially expected to produce around one million tonnes of coal per year for around 20 years, making the mine the second-largest coal export mine in the country, as well as the largest underground coal mine of
5130-418: The first two. On Sunday, 28 November at 1:55 PM NZDT , a fourth explosion occurred. Flames and smoke poured out of the mine causing nearby scrub to catch fire. Whittall stated there was now a coal fire burning in the mine rather than a gas fire. It is unknown at this time if the actual coal seam is on fire or if it is "rubbish" coal that has been dislodged from previous explosions. A mine expert theorised that
5220-555: The government announced an amnesty and buy-back scheme for prohibited firearms and components. Ardern also proposed legislation creating a national firearms register, tighter firearms restrictions and a ban on overseas visitors buying firearms in New Zealand. On 27 June 2019, Ardern announced a cabinet reshuffle . She split the housing portfolio into three positions; appointing Megan Woods as Minister of Housing, Kris Faafoi as Associate Minister of Housing, and Phil Twyford as Minister of Urban Development. In addition, Grant Robertson
5310-451: The government was negotiating with banks to ensure that nobody would lose their homes as a result of defaulting on mortgage payments during the pandemic. In mid-April, Ardern and National Party leader Simon Bridges confirmed that several ministers and MPs would take a 20 percent pay cut. The 2020 budget released on 18 June had a large focus on COVID-19 relief, with key provisions including a NZ$ 50 billion COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and
5400-446: The government would be unable to meet its target of building 1,000 KiwiBuild homes by 1 July, with only 33 homes being built as of 23 January. The minister estimated that the government would be able to build only 300 houses by the 1 July deadline. In early September, Housing Minister Megan Woods announced that the Government would be revising its KiwiBuild programme, including scrapping its initial target of building 100,000 houses over
5490-496: The inconsistencies with objectives of the Conservation Act 1987 and the relevant management plans. Due to the location, the conditions of the access arrangement included special considerations for the environment, such as minimising tree felling and a requirement to reinstate all above-ground areas after the cessation of mining. Opponents of the mine strongly criticised the approval of the access agreement, noting that
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#17327725124115580-546: The land is to be added to the Paparoa National Park , and a new track is to be constructed through the park as a memorial to the 29 miners lost in the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster . The Paparoa Track is a 55 km walking and mountain biking track that runs from Blackball to the east of the Paparoa Range north and west to Punakaiki on the West Coast. The track is New Zealand's latest "Great Walk". At about
5670-563: The mid-way point on the track, a branch known as the Pike29 Memorial Track descends to the site of the Pike River mine. During the 2017 general election , the-then Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern pledged that if elected a Labour Government would support a manned re-entry of the mine with the goals of recovering bodies and investigating the cause of the explosion. Following the formation of
5760-426: The mine entrance received moderate injuries after being knocked over by the blast. It was predicted it could be several days before the mine was safe enough for rescue workers to enter, as the gases inside were feared to still be explosive. When a borehole was drilled into the area where the miners were thought to be, a level of 95% methane gas was found with the remainder primarily carbon monoxide and it appeared there
5850-525: The mine has three main "drives" (shafts). Originally, once at the processing plant, coal was to be trucked to Greymouth for reshipment at the local port. On 27 November 2007, it was announced that the coal from the mine would be transported to Lyttelton for export rather than the previously proposed shipment via the Port of Taranaki . The company has reserved under contract with Toll Rail (now KiwiRail ) 1.3 million tonnes of capacity for their coal on
5940-475: The mine to recover any remains from the mine. In August 2011, KiwiRail blamed the Canterbury Earthquakes and "loss of Pike River Mine volumes" for its poor end-of-year result in 2010 – 2011. Following the liquidation of Pike River Coal , the government purchased 3580 ha of land around the Pike River Mine. Environment minister Nick Smith announced on 15 November 2015 that
6030-462: The mine, hopefully before the completion of the inquiry. There is also some concern about the direct economic consequences of the current mine closure , as contracts for work related to the mine have been cancelled or are stalled. The mine remains closed as of the end of 2017, with no indications when or if it would reopen. Most staff have been made redundant, and many contractors are also unemployed or remain unpaid for earlier work. In early 2011, it
6120-427: The mine. A representative of the Pike River families also sought a court injunction to prevent the Pike River mine from being permanently sealed. In mid November 2021, New Zealand Police announced that the remains of at least two men had been found within the alpine bolter section of the mine. They also confirmed the possible discovery of a third body. This discovery came following the recent drilling of boreholes and
6210-470: The minister responsible for Pike River Re-entry, Andrew Little , stated that it would be too difficult and expensive to go any further into the mine. The mine has a development and consenting history going back to the 1970s, with the first geologists and surveyors having explored the area in the 1940s. The mine is located approximately halfway between Greymouth and Reefton , close to the Pike Stream,
6300-439: The names of those who died. Re-entry and recovery operations was to consist of three phases. The first team of miners would re-enter to assess hazards and establish supporting infrastructure. A second forensically-focused mining team would then enter the mine to examine and remove any evidential material. A third team would provide mining services including gas monitoring, communications lines and ventilation bags. Once completed,
6390-539: The next four years in order to address the teacher shortage. In August 2019, the Government proceeded to replace 11 industrial training organisations with several workforce development councils. Other notable education policies have included launching a trial free lunch programme, expanding the teaching of New Zealand history (particularly the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori history) in schools, and investing NZ$ 400 million in school property upgrades. In terms of electoral law,
6480-623: The next years. In mid August 2019, the Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced that the Government would be launching a NZ$ 54 million program to tackle homelessness in New Zealand by hiring more staff to work with homeless people and investing $ 16 million in the Sustaining Tenancies Programme. In November 2019, Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi confirmed plans to amend
6570-493: The parties against whom the charges have been laid have been withheld. In December 2012, Prime Minister John Key said he would apologise in person to the families of the deceased, for the Government's weak regulations and inadequate inspection regime. The Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson resigned her portfolio on 5 November 2012 following the Royal Commission's criticism of her department. Pike River Coal Ltd
6660-563: The project for furthering the use of fossil fuels instead of developing sustainable alternatives. In October 2008, coal production started and in November 2008, Gerry Brownlee , the Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister for Economic Development, formally opened the mine. However, production was slow initially, and took until 2009/2010 to reach significant levels. The coal is mined 200 m (660 ft) underground, at 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level, quarrying coal from
6750-508: The recovery team had penetrated over 1.4 km into the mine and recovered four original rescue robots previously lost. On 17 February 2021, the Pike River Recovery Agency reported that it had reached a point 2.2 km up the mine access tunnel to the site of a rockfall. This was the furthest point into the mine that the agency planned to go, and the work to this point had cost approximately $ 50 million. On 23 March 2021,
6840-484: The right to vote for prisoners serving sentences of less than three years and abolishing the Electoral Commission 's power to remove voters from the electoral roll. In terms of firearms policy, the Government passed legislation establishing a new firearms licensing entity and allowing farms and agrarian businesses to apply for firearms endorsements for pest control purposes. In terms of foreign policies,
6930-517: The school lunch programme. On 13 May, Education Minister Hipkins moved the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) high school exams from 6 November to 16 November. In June, the Government launched a NZ$ 2.6 million trial initiative to combat " period poverty " by distributing sanitary products in 15 Waikato high schools. In terms of electoral law, the Government coalition parties passed legislation in June 2020 restoring
7020-446: The site is expected to be refurbished and handed back to the Department of Conservation . On 17 February 2021, the Pike River Recovery Agency reported that it had reached a point 2.2 kilometres up the mine access tunnel to the site of a rockfall. This was the furthest point into the mine that the agency planned to go, and the work to this point had cost approximately $ 50 million. The Agency would now focus on conducting forensic work in
7110-460: The start of coal production. While mine operators were originally confident that production would still start in 2008 (having reached within 400 m (1,300 ft) of the coal seam in early 2008), in mid-2009 the mine was still not producing at expected levels, with the target of the first 60,000 tons of coal to be shipped having slipped to early 2010. The mine operators noted that technical difficulties with several mining machines were to blame for
7200-616: The two latter companies intending to buy about half the running production of the mine's coal. After the IPO , the ownership percentages changed to NZ Oil and Gas 31%, Gujarat NRE Coke 10%, Saurashtra Fuels 8.5%, with private minority shareholders holding 7.9% and the remaining 42.5% having been sold to the general public. On 13 December 2010, Pike River Coal Ltd was put into receivership, with three partners in PricewaterhouseCoopers appointed as receivers. On 15 December 2010, it
7290-542: The withdrawal of New Zealand forces in Iraq by June 2020. The New Zealand Defence Force 's non-combat Building Partner Capacity (BPC) training mission had been training Iraqi Security Forces in support of the US-led coalition efforts to combat Islamic State forces in Iraq . In June 2019, the New Zealand military deployment in Afghanistan was extended for another 18 months. In June 2019, Defence Minister Ron Mark unveiled
7380-558: Was announced that Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges would chair a cross-party committee called the Epidemic Response Committee to scrutinise the government's response to COVID-19. Due to declining transmission rates, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were eased between 28 April and 25 May, allowing more businesses, schools and public gatherings to reopen. On 13 May, the Government passed
7470-461: Was announced that about 114 of 157 staff in the company would be made redundant immediately, with some severance benefits paid out of the remaining company funds. It was also announced that it would be unlikely that the further numbers of contracting staff also unemployed or unpaid due to the mine accident would receive any money, as they legally ranked low in the order of creditors. Pike River Coal originally stated that they hoped to be able to reopen
7560-484: Was appointed as Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission; Jenny Salesa as Minister of Customs ; and Peeni Henare became Minister of Civil Defence . In addition, several Labour Members of Parliament were appointed to various parliamentary positions including assistant speaker, senior government whip, and parliamentary private secretaries. In terms of defence policy, the Government announced
7650-543: Was held on 14 October 2023. The Government remained in a caretaker capacity until the new National–led coalition government was sworn in on 27 November 2023. The general election on 23 September 2017 saw the New Zealand First party hold the balance of power between National and the centre-left bloc of Labour and the Green Party . Following several weeks of negotiations with both National and Labour, New Zealand First announced on 19 October 2017 it would form
7740-575: Was listed on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges. It raised NZ$ 85 million in additional capital for expanding the mine in 2007. As of August 2007, over NZ$ 100 million had already been invested into developing the mine. The development was valued at NZ$ 2.3 billion and was initially held by New Zealand Oil & Gas (29% stake plus options and bonds ) as well as the two Indian companies, Gujarat NRE Coke Limited (17% share), and Saurashtra Fuels Private Limited (15% share), with
7830-481: Was little chance of finding any of the miners alive. Although families had held out hope that some of the miners may have survived, it was believed by the rescue team that all had been killed by the initial explosion. The mine had not collapsed and air was blowing freely throughout the tunnels indicating that there were no obstructions to survivors leaving the mine or indicating their presence by tapping on pipes or calling for help. At 2:37 PM NZDT on 24 November,
7920-405: Was looking at purchasing the coal rights and access arrangements. The company said that any proposal to buy and reactivate the mine would include recovery of the dead miner's bodies, if feasible. They also noted that they saw the potential need to combine underground with opencast mining at the site. With the site sitting on conservation land, this is likely to be controversial. Open-cast mining in
8010-543: Was reported that the receiver was considering different ways of treating the remaining assets of the Pike River Mine Ltd company. While it was possible that the mine would be sold, the option of fencing the area and returning it to the Department of Conservation was a 'worst-case' possibility. On 9 March 2011, the receivers took over full control of the mine from the NZ Police. In March 2011, Solid Energy
8100-456: Was subsequently presumed that the workers could not have survived. A third explosion occurred at 3:39 pm 26 November; it appeared to be smaller than the first two. A fourth explosion occurred on 28 November at 1:55 pm. Initial recovery efforts were abandoned after rescue robots were lost and after insolvency the Pike River Recovery Agency was formed and re-entered the mine in May 2019. As of July 2020
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