Media releases

Links to up-to-date information about the Pike River mine operation on the West Coast. Police, other emergency services and specialist teams have been at the scene since the explosion on Friday 19 November.

2011 releases

Friday 13 May 2011

Police update families on Pike River mine images

Friday 29 April 2011

Man arrested for trespassing at Pike River coal mine

Thursday 28 April 2011

Image has located what may be body in mine

Thursday 10 March 2011

Pike River Coal to implement mine stabilisation plan

Monday 17 January 2011

Mine hand-over

Thursday 13 January 2011

Pike River statement from Commissioner Howard Broad

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Rocsil sealing completed

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Volatility of mine hampers sealing work

Sunday 9 January 2011

Preparation continues for sealing work at Pike River mine

Friday 7 January 2011

Sealing surface cracks around Slimline next crucial step at Pike River

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Pike River temperatures continue to fluctuate

2010 releases

Friday 24 December 2010

GAG undergoing maintenance

Thursday 23 December 2010

Police pay tribute to international support at Pike River mine
Advisory: Pike River mine police media enquiries during holiday period

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Commissioner receives draft plan from Pike River

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Torrential rain hampers work at Pike River

Monday 20 December 2010

GAG operating again at Pike River
Gas levels rise after gag shutdown at Pike River

Sunday 19 December 2010

New Floxal images available
Media advisory: Images of Nitrogen Generator arriving at Pike River
Nitrogen generator working well at Pike River

Saturday 18 December 2010

Nitrogen generator working well at Pike River
Nitrogen generator operating at Pike River
Nitrogen generator arrives at Pike River

Thursday 16 December 2010

Police recovery efforts continue at Pike River

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Police continue to meet commitments to Pike River recovery

Sunday 12 December 2010

Media advisory: Images of Pike River vent cap
Capping of Pike River ventilation shaft completed

Saturday 11 December 2010

Pike River shaft capping expected tomorrow

Friday 10 December 2010

Process underway to hand mine back to Pike River

Thursday 9 December 2010

Conditions at Pike River coal mine remain volatile

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Pike River Mine fire speculation “premature"
Greymouth Police Station blessed

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Media Advisory: Pike River mine vent shaft picture taken 7/12/2010
Flames gone at Pike River mine vent shaft

Sunday 5 December 2010

NZ Fire Service begins work to cool Pike Mine vent shaft
Temporary shutdown of GAG at Pike River mine

Saturday 4 December 2010

GAG engine continues operation at Pike River mine

Friday 3 December 2010

Media Advisory: weekend media re. Operation Pike
Media Advisory: Video footage of GAG available for download
Media briefing 4:15pm with Dr David Cliff and Gary Knowles
Gag engine to continue through weekend

Thursday 2 December 2010

Media Advisory: Images of GAG engine available for download
Media Advisory: Operation Pike media briefing 5pm at Greymouth Police Station
GAG working to extinguish fire in Pike River mine

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Urgent media advisory: Greymouth media briefing at 4pm
Media Advisory - video and still footage of the third and fourth explosions at Pike River Coal Mine available
Work continues to install GAG at mine portal

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Operation Pike: footage and photos available this afternoon 
Operation Pike media briefing CANCELLED
Fire at Pike River Coal mine portal stalls GAG deployment
Media briefing at Greymouth Police Station at 5:20pm Tuesday 20 November 2010

Sunday 28 November 2010

Fourth explosion impacts recovery plan
Media Advisory: Briefing outside Greymouth Police Station tonight at 7pm
Fourth explosion at Pike River mine

Friday 26 November 2010

Third blast at Pike River mine
Good progress on Pike River mine recovery planning
Media advisory: No Police news conference in Greymouth today

Thursday 25 November 2010

Operation Pike update
Commissioner Howard Broad's blog Sad outcome at Pike River
Media advisory re. press conference in Greymouth

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Second blast at Pike River mine
Media Advisory: Robot Footage
Commissioner Howard Broad's blog Pike River: a gut-wrenching operation
Operation Pike media advisory

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Police continue to plan for rescue of trapped miners but likelihood diminishing
Pike River coal mine media conference - 5:30pm today
Rescue teams plan for all eventualities
Community drop-in centre opens in Greymouth
Thank you for your messages of goodwill

Monday 22 November 2010

Overnight update - Pike River mine
Further photos of miners now available
New mobile phone number for Police media team working on Operation Pike
Photos of some miners now available
Operation Pike media conference - 5:30pm Monday 22 November
Photos of trapped miners will be available
Names and photos released of coal miners trapped in Pike River coal mine

Sunday 21 November 2010

Monitoring of mine gases to continue overnight as rescuers await go-ahead to move in 
Footage from 3pm news conference

Saturday 20 November 2010

Police release nationalities of trapped miners 
Safety paramount in mine rescue
Air test results still not received for West Coast coal mine rescue operation 
Corrected Police communications contact details for coal mine rescue operation
Rescuers determined to bring trapped coal miners home
Media conference: Pike River coal mine explosion

Friday 19 November 2010

Welfare centre set up for miners' families
Ventilation concerns at West Coast coal mine site
Two miners out of West Coast coal mine
Two miners out of Pike River coal mine near Greymouth 
Explosion at West Coast coalmine
Emergency services respond to explosion at West Coast coal mine

Police Spokespeople

The following is given for historical purposes only. The number included is no longer in use, and any queries should be directed through the Contact Us link at the top of the page.