Pike River inquiry under way
The first phase of the inquiry into the tragedy at Pike River coal mine is underway in Greymouth.
The first phase of the inquiry into the tragedy at Pike River coal mine began in Greymouth at 11.30am today.
The inquiry into the underground explosions that resulted in the death of 29 men in November is being held at the Greymouth District Court and will be run in four phases
Phase one of the inquiry, to run from July 11 to July 22, will look at the context in which the accident occurred.
Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder is the first of 12 people scheduled to give evidence as part of phase one.
He will be followed by followed by energy researcher Jane Newman and former chief inspector of coal mines Harry Bell.
Former Pike River coal mine chief executive Peter Whittall is due to give evidence as part of phase one on July 18.
Phase two of the inquiry, scheduled for September 5 to September 23, will look at the search and rescue operation that followed the explosions.
There are no dates scheduled for phases three and four, which will examine what happened at Pike River and the policy aspects surrounding the tragedy respectively.
The inquiry is not a court case as the commission is not able to determine legal rights and liabilities.
Its function is to investigate the tragedy and provide a report to the governor general by March 31, 2012.
The commissioners are senior Christchurch High Court judge Graham Panckhurst, former commissioner of the Electoral Commission and former commissioner of Inland Revenue David Henry and commissioner for mine safety and health for Queensland and deputy director-general of the safety and health division of the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Stewart Bell.
Colin Williscroft
Mon, 11 Jul 2011
Mon, 11 Jul 2011
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Pike River inquiry under way
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