THE PRESS, Christchurch Friday, December 9, 2011 NEWS A3

■ PIKE RIVER INQUIRY IN BRIEF

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Mini-buses used ❯❯ Two new mini-bus services will begin in eastern Christchurch from Monday. The Mine safety boss ‘gutted’ at lapses 511 Avonside-Dallington link and the 512 Avondale-Aranui Deidre Mussen believing the explosion was ing poring over lists of safety brought an issue to me, I tems but they were ‘‘just March last year when Whit- link will each provide four [email protected] ‘‘right out of the box’’. incidents he knew nothing jumped on it,’’ he said. ‘‘The words’’ because they put tall yelled at him and slapped services a day, Monday to However, he later heard about before the explosion, rules of mining are written in inadequate resources in place, the wall during a Powerpoint Saturday, connecting the Safety failings exposed after about serious problems un- such as dangerous levels of blood.’’ despite him pleading for presentation by him and a Palms and Eastgate shopping the Pike River coalmine ex- derground, much of it from methane gas. Rockhouse, who has about more, he said. work colleague. centres. The services will be ploded have devastated its his son Daniel, 25, who Another issue he was 25 years’ experience in min- Rockhouse was critical of ‘‘Mr Whittall ripped our provided by 10-seater buses former safety and training survived and dragged col- ‘‘gobsmacked’’ to discover ing and a master’s degree in Pike River Coal’s former chief presentation to pieces and because of the bad road and manager, an inquiry has league Russell Smith to safety. was people putting plastic occupational health and executive, Peter Whittall, say- humiliated me in front of my bridge conditions, the result of heard. Another of Rockhouse’s bags over gas sensors – an safety, said he spent too little ing his ‘‘autocratic’’ manage- peers.’’ earthquake damage. Pike River’s former safety sons, Ben, 21, was killed in the offence that deserved immedi- time underground, but ment style caused a high Whittall later mocked and Environment Canterbury and training manager, Neville explosion, and Rockhouse’s ate dismissal. blamed work pressures. turnover of managers, includ- mimicked Rockhouse over the commissioner Rex Williams Rockhouse, yesterday told the father died suddenly that ‘‘My understanding is that ‘‘Based on what I know ing six or seven underground presentation, then ‘‘melted said lighter buses could be royal commission of inquiry night. this was due to peer pressure now, I would have camped mine managers in the two down’’ in front of the man- used elsewhere. Normal into the deaths of 29 men that ‘‘I’ve been to hell and back and born from continuous underground.’’ years before the explosion. agers. faresapply, but the buses will he was ‘‘absolutely gutted’’ to three times in this last year,’’ production delays within He went underground ‘‘The commonly used term Later that day, all the other not take wheelchair users. learn about safety lapses and Rockhouse said. some of the underground about once a month and was around the mine was that is department managers had unsafe practices before the Other ‘‘gut-wrenching and Neville Rockhouse crews.’’ Those who wrote up scheduled to give a safety talk was Mr Whittall’s way or the checked on Rockhouse and Killer convicted tragedy in November last horrifying’’ stories of prob- various incidents but never to Daniel’s crew on the day of highway,’’ Rockhouse wrote told him they were appalled year. lems at the mine came from Rockhouse said he was raised them with him must the explosion but was held up in his written evidence. by Whittall’s behaviour. ❯❯ A High Court jury in Soon after the blast, he the victims’ families talking reduced to tears while spend- have known their serious- in a meeting. He detailed the bitter Rockhouse is expected to has found James publicly stated that the West about their loved ones, he ing three days with com- ness, he said. Pike River’s managers breakdown in their relation- finish giving his evidence Allan Hemana guilty of the Coast mine had been safe, said. mission lawyer James Wild- ‘‘Any time any miner wanted world-class safety sys- ship, describing an incident in today. murder of six-month-old Cezar Taylor. Cezar died from severe head injuries in Starship Children’s Hospital, in ■ EDUCATION Auckland, on July 28 last year. Police said his injuries were consistent with shaking and a blow to the head. Hemana will be sentenced on March 8 next Testing time for young teachers in fight for vacancies year. Show confirmed Georgina Stylianou [email protected] ❯❯ Stills and Nash will kick off their 2012 world tour in New More teachers are applying Zealand next March. More than for fewer jobs as the effects of four decades since they joined the February earthquake musical forces, the masters of squeeze Christchurch’s edu- harmony are set to play cation sector. Auckland’s Trust Stadium on Kaiapoi High School March 24 next year. The show received about 300 applica- will then cross the ditch to tions for eight teaching headline Australia’s Byron Bay positions recently, and five BluesFest on April 6 after jobs at Rolleston’s Clearview playing shows in Wollongong, Primary School attracted 150 Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. applicants. The super group were last in Kaiapoi High principal New Zealand in 2007. Bruce Kearney said he had not expected so many appli- PM visits cants, but he noted that none were from outside Christ- ❯❯ The Norwegian Prime church. Minister will make a flying ‘‘In the past, we would visit to Christchurch before have had people from over- going to Antarctica. Jens seas apply and people from Stoltenberg will visit around the country.’’ Antarctica as a guest of the Kearney said the job mar- United States as part of the ket had already reached sat- centenary celebrations of the uration before the February first successful expedition to earthquake. the South Pole by Norwegian Clearview principal James Roald Amundsen. He arrives in Petronelli said most of the Christchurch on Sunday before applicants were graduates or flying to Antarctica. He will fly inexperienced teachers. back through Auckland on ‘‘The pool of fully regis- Friday and have talks with tered teachers wasn’t as big as Prime Minister . I hoped it would be,’’ he said. The New Zealand Edu- Rena’s free offer cational Institute (NZEI) fore- casts a drop in the number of Do the maths: Anna King and her year six class at Banks Avenue School, which expects to lose another 100 pupils next year. Photo: DON SCOTT/FAIRFAX NZ ❯❯ People with personal goods relief teaching positions and on board the grounded graduate positions available. number of roles, and when students graduated from the middle management. Canterbury Primary Prin- red zones taking effect.’’ there would be fewer teaching container ship Rena will get NZEI field officer Graham those positions do come up, College of Education in College of Education pro- cipals’ Association president Banks Avenue School in positions in Christchurch,’’ them back without having to Jones said graduates would there will be a lot of experi- Christchurch this year. vice-chancellor Gail Gillon John Bangma said the effect Shirley has lost 100 pupils this Edlin said. pay, salvage company Svitzer miss out. enced people who will apply. The New Zealand Edu- said the job market would of the earthquake was only year because of the quakes, ‘‘It’s really sad. I think that said yesterday. Its pledge ‘‘There will be a greater We’ve got young, vibrant cation Gazette listed 68 vacan- ‘‘definitely be tighter’’ over just starting to be seen. and principal Murray Edlin these graduates from univer- came after reports Svitzer number of people applying for teachers with massive student cies in Canterbury this week. the next year or so. ‘‘It’s going to get harder expects another 100 to go next sity won’t have the same would be charging owners 80 a smaller number of jobs,’’ he loans who will struggle to find More than half were fixed- ‘‘However, our graduates because next year we will year. opportunities and will prob- per cent of their property’s said. jobs.’’ term positions and many were do not all look for jobs in have more kids who will leave ‘‘The big picture [after the ably have to look for positions value. ‘‘There will be a smaller A total of 404 teaching aimed at senior teachers or Christchurch.’’ because of the [residential] earthquakes] was always that outside the region.’’ RSA chief barred ❯❯ Otaki RSA’s executive has ■ POLITICS voted to suspend president Don Moselen in the wake of accusations he has been wearing Vietnam war medals illegitimately. The executive Christchurch MPs quiet on leadership voted at a special meeting to suspend Moselen as president Sam Sachdeva first great blush of enthusi- party a new direction. He and welfare officer pending [email protected] asm for a new face, but people played down his status as the further investigations that are now asking some serious front-runner. ‘‘They say a could lead to a disciplinary The two contenders for the questions about who’s got the week’s a long time in politics, hearing. Vietnam War veterans Labour Party leadership goods to lead in the House, and I’ve still got five days to complained to the RSA’s talked themselves up but lead in the media and lead the go, so that makes it a long national headquarters that refrained from taking pot- rebuilding of the party.’’ time.’’ Moselen wore medals he was shots ahead of a meeting in He would not be drawn on Two Christchurch MPs not entitled to at Anzac Day Christchurch to discuss the whether he meant Shearer who could play a crucial role parades and memorial services party’s future. was not ready to lead Labour. in the leadership vote were over the past four years. New direction: More than 150 party ‘‘I never comment about also present, but staying David Shearer members gathered in Brom- the other candidate and he silent on their preference. Keno numbers says he offers ley last night to hear from Mt isn’t commenting about me: (Port Hills) experience in Albert MP David Shearer and what we are both talking and (Wigram) ❯❯ Yesterday’s Keno numbers: leadership and New Lynn MP , about is what we can bring to are believed to be among a Draw 8158: 1 3 15 16 19 25 28 team-building. the two candidates to replace the party, and that’s a good group of about eight unde- 33 36 42 46 48 49 50 54 57 70 Photos: DON SCOTT/ outgoing leader . Confident: David Cunliffe ahead of last night’s meeting in Bromley. thing.’’ cided MPs in the caucus of 34. 71 72 80. FAIRFAX NZ The meeting was the fourth Shearer said his experi- Woods was still undecided, Draw 8159: 34910141820 in a series held around the Cunliffe appeared bullish close to tied’’ ahead of ence in leadership and team- and Dyson said she was not 22 35 41 47 54 57 62 63 67 74 country following Labour’s about his chances, and Tuesday’s vote. building would benefit prepared to discuss her 77 79 80. election defeat. believed the caucus was ‘‘very ‘‘I would say there was a Labour, and he could offer the thoughts in public. Agencies and Press reporters

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