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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013
News
www.guardianONLINE.co.nz
Pike ruling ‘appropriate’ Pike River Coal’s landmark sentence of $4.17 million in fines and reparation has been welcomed by the miners’ union, but they say a law change is needed to fully hold those responsible to account. The company was yesterday sentenced in Greymouth District Court for health and safety failings that led to the deaths of 29 men. Judge Jane Farish ordered the company to pay reparation to the grieving families and two survivors of $110,000 each – a total of $3.41m. She also fined the company a total of $760,000 over nine charges. Judge Farish said she could not put a value on the loss of life or compensate for psychological harm.
Victim impact statements delivered to the court on Thursday by grieving families were harrowing, Judge Farish said, her voice cracking. It was clear emotional trauma had been suffered. She awarded the families and two survivors $110,000 each, and said she was satisfied there was the means for reparation to be paid. The company is in receivership and has indicated it has only enough money to pay $5000 to each family. Pike River Coal was found guilty in April on nine charges laid under the Health and Safety in Employment Act in relation to the November 19, 2010 explosions which killed 29 miners. The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which represents miners, said the sen-
tence was appropriate given the gravity of the offending. But union assistant national secretary Ged O’Connell said a law change was needed to ensure those responsible for workplace deaths could be held to account. The union has called for corporate manslaughter laws, personal liability for directors and stronger mine safety laws. “Given the gravity of the offence and the very real impact on families, a hefty penalty and reparations was the only appropriate sentence,” Mr O’Connell said. “However, there is little justice in sentencing a shell company that is now in receivership. Families of the men who died at Pike River have every right to demand those responsible for this tragedy are held to account.” West Coast-based Green Party
MP Kevin Hague said it was “a travesty of justice” that the families could end up with as little as $5000 each. He said Pike River’s $2m liability insurance cover was “totally inadequate” for a high-risk operation and the families had been left with “crumbs” after everyone else had been paid. “Pike River directors and shareholders have escaped completely unpunished. They should have to top up the gap between the compensation awarded and the amount the company has to pay. “This case highlights a gap in the law that means companies can limit their liability to such a degree that they pervert the law by not having sufficient funds to pay out in health and safety cases.” - apnz
Passing on bread making skills
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Curtis Bayston, 3 (right) hard at work rolling out some dough for Maori bread as part of Childs Play activities for Maori Language Week. The preschool organised a variety of activities this week including flax weaving, painting stones with Maori patterns and colours and bread making, along with hearing some Maori myths.
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PHOTO GALLERY Photo Kirsty Graham 050713-KC-045
Library meeting off The Methven Public Library and Methven Historical Society members will no longer hold a meeting to reveal the design of their new building. Auckland architect Ken Croffen, who is from the Methven area originally, has drawn up a concept plan combining the two facilities, destined for the site where the current library stands on Main Street. However, the meeting to reveal the plans, scheduled
for Thursday next week, has now been cancelled. Library chairperson Eleanor Marr said yesterday it had been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, and that the committee no longer wished to hold the meeting. She did not wish to comment further. The building planned for the site is more than twice the size of the current historic library, which is due for demolition this month.
Man shot in buttocks Armed police have failed to find an offender who shot a man in the buttocks in Christchurch yesterday, but are reassuring the public there is no threat after the “deliberate, one-off” incident. A 55-year old man was taken to Christchurch Hospital with injuries to his lower back and buttocks after the incident on Armagh St, Linwood, just after 11am. The man was in a serious but stable condition. The police armed offenders squad was called in to search for the offender yesterday morning, but was later stood
down. Detective Inspector Dave Long said police were yet to establish the circumstances of the shooting and were talking to a number of people. However, the shooting appeared to be “a deliberate, one-off incident” and police did not have concerns about any threat to the wider public. “Enquiries to date suggest the person responsible may be an associate of someone known to the victim, but at this stage we are not able to confirm that person’s identity or establish any connection to the victim.” - APNZ
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