New Zealand Disaster - Pike River Coal Mine

New Zealand grieves for the loss of 29 coal miners lost in the Pike River Coal Mine explosion on 19th November, 2010. Any hope of rescuing the miners evaporated when the mine exploded a second time....and now there have been 4 big explosions and a fire is burning fiercely.

Located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, Pike River mine disaster is not the first in an area where mining is one of the main industries.

The stories that unfolded about these wonderful men show a side of humanity we don't hear about often enough.

Mining tends to run in families where sometimes three generations are all working in the same industry.There were many father and sons, and/or brothers working together.

The youngest of the 29 men had just turned 17 the day before, starting his first day of work early because he was so excited to have this job. There were more young men...one about to be married, others with pregnant partners....family men with young children. And then there were the older fathers and grandfathers.... each with an interesting life story.Not all were miners.....ten were in the construction industry and contracted doing building work.

Hopefully the support of the country, and indeed from around the world, will help their families, friends and loved ones as they grieve and come to terms with their loss.

It will be hard for those miners left behind too. Their mates are gone, their work place closed and uncertainty as to whether their jobs will ever be there again makes it very difficult, especially in such a small community.

Coasters...as we call them, are a resilient, hardy bunch.They still have the old school ethos of helping others in need, willingly and selflessly.

As we watched the events unfold on the news and saw the contributions so many locals made to help where they could, I was reminded of the wonderful response to our personal need on a caravan trip a few years ago.Everyone offered help and some gave up quite a lot of their time to help us on our way.

There have been numerous volunteers working for days to prepare for the Memorial service tomorrow when around 7,000 are expected in Greymouth.One caterer has provided meals for families and site crews....and is organising the catering for this huge gathering. Everyone pitches in.

It is this wonderful community spirit that will get the miners families through the next weeks and months. Many lessons can be learned from this disaster. Not just about mining and mine safety....but about the human spirit and the importance of being there for each other.

Peter Whittall...the mine CEO who had worked in the mine until recently promoted to CEO working in Wellington, and Superintendent Gary Knowles for the police, have been responsible for some daunting decisions.....and had to front the large media mob. They have done and continue to do, an amazing job.