Phil Goff

Labour Party Leader

2 December 2010 Tribute

Phil Goff - Tribute to the Pike River Coal Miners lost on 19 November 2010

Today we remember the lives of 29 men lost in the disaster at Pike River Coal Mine on 19 November 2010.

And we offer our support, sympathy, love and prayers to those who lost loved ones – husbands, partners, sons and brothers who never returned from the mine on that fateful day.

For a century and a half, mining has been an integral part of life and livelihoods on the Coast. But with it has come tragedies – at Brunner, Strongman, Dobson and now Pike River.

Coasters have a reputation for strength, resilience and courage in the face of disaster. It has taken all of those qualities to come through the uncertainty, pain, grief and sense of loss over the last two weeks.

Today all of New Zealand shares with the families and the local communities your loss and offers our solidarity and support for those who are grieving.

In recent days, different groups across New Zealand have asked me to pass on their sympathy to the families. New Zealanders are united in their sense of loss.

Our priorities must be to do anything that can be done to recover the men, to understand what caused the explosion and to take every action necessary to prevent the recurrence of this tragedy and ensure that people can continue to earn their livelihoods safely in this industry on the Coast.

I offer thanks to the groups and individuals who have come together to assist in supporting the families and to work to recover those who have been lost.

I pay my respects to the 29 who meant so much to those they have left behind. We will long remember them and we offer all of the love and support we can to sustain the families who grieve for them.

ENDS

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