Pike River advocates Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse say their meeting with Workplace Safety Minister Brooke van Velden on the disaster’s 15th anniversary left them deeply disappointed, accusing her of focusing on employers and offering no real assurances that workers would be safer under upcoming reforms.
The pair, who fear the changes weaken protections and risk another tragedy, told state-funded media the minister’s responses felt like “lip service” and lacked substance.
They are pushing for a corporate manslaughter charge, an idea now backed by opposition parties and New Zealand First, whose leader Winston Peters called the mine “a murder scene” and pledged to work with families on legislative change.
Van Velden rejected their concerns, defending her shift toward guidance over enforcement and saying accidents are inevitable, while Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the government has no plans for corporate manslaughter legislation.
Today marks 15 years since the Pike River mine disaster. Anna and Sonya are meeting with Brooke van Velden today to call for stronger health and safety protections in our country, taking time out of the most precious day of their year to fight for all New Zealanders. #nzpol pic.twitter.com/pCvQiWKaQI
— New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (@NZ_CTU) November 18, 2025
Enough , this is about chasing more money !!!!
It was a tragic accident . Miners know the risk and are paid accordingly
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This is the one occasion where the useless Brooke Van Velden is the right woman for the job
Move on Pike people, your loss was a tragic miscarriage of justice, but you’ve been paid out and taxpayers can’t afford to keep topping you up.
Yeah, fuck National, they wont be getting my vote, any more than Labour. Lack of substance and a corporate focus, sums them both up nicely. Genuine sympathy for these people too, they deserve a lot better. Hopefully other voters will come to feel the same way.
I understand that there used to be a number of government safety officers in each mine.
The government of the time reduced the number to one officer for several mines.
The previous manager was aware of dangers so resigned to get out of the country before anything happened. The new manager was getting the feal of things when it blew up in his face.
Government reduced its survayors on boats and left it to the industry. Again problems started
The millions spent by Jacinda was also a waste. I thought that money would have been better going to the families. How quick the corporate media forgot that promise from Jacinda.