Pike River Mining Tragedy
Audio from The Pike River National Memorial Service
- 13:30 Coverage leading up to The Pike River National Memorial Service
- Our coverage starts of the service for the 29 men who lost their lives at the Pike River mine. (duration: 30′16″)
- 14:00 The Pike River National Memorial Service
- Wayne Mowat and Gay Cavill are presenting the coverage from the Omoto Racecourse in Greymouth. (duration: 1h 28′42″)
Messages of condolence to the people of the West Coast from Radio New Zealand listeners
- The hearts of the nation are weeping in Greymouth today. Peace be to you, and strength, and a brighter tomorrow. Mandy
- Please pass on my deepest sorrow to the families of the miners. My heart goes out to them and their relatives. My family would also like to offer their heartfelt condolences. Mehdi-Max, University Student; from Tehran, Iran.
- While sitting in a research lab in Sweden working on life saving heart transplant equipment, I can't help looking out the window to the snow covered fields with a tear in eye listening to reports from home about this terrible tragedy on National Radio. My heart goes out to all the families and friends!
- To the families, the friends, the colleagues of all those lost in the Pike River mine, what a tragic loss this is for you all. It is a loss for your families, your communities and our nation. We can do nothing to ease your pain but stand alongside you and grieve with you. May you draw strength and courage and love from all. King Family, Wellington.
- In Memoriam by Joe Bell
Our hearts go out to families and friends
as a nation in mourning sympathy sends
hard working men don’t deserve to die
as they toil below a tunnel sky. - Our family asks u to convey our love and deepest sympathy to the Pike River community their loss is a national tragedy
- I woke up this morning (in the UK) to news of the second mine blast in New Zealand. It's such an awful tragedy. I'm in work at the moment and we are all thinking of the families of those poor miners. I have no way of getting in touch with the families. But I wanted to make contact. with someone in New Zealand to say that there are so may people over here thinking of them. I wish there is something more we could do. You are in our thoughts. With sympathy, Jenny Mc Ardle
- Dear Radio New Zealand, I am tuned in to you from St Andrews in Scotland, where one of the miners comes from. This is such a sad day but perhaps all the love and sympathy from so many good people from all around the world might give a wee bit of comfort. Our prayers are also for those 29 brave souls and they are in the Lords loving hands now From Gordon Rennie Stenton Farm nr St Andrews, Scotland
- Sendin love and strength 2all those who have lost loved ones
- We are crying with you. Mandy
- We are all mourning the probable pain & suffering of those departed & more especially for their loved ones who remain to grieve their passing. The West Coast tragedy is truly a very sad event for all concerned, david, orewa.
- My thanks to Mr Drew for sharing with us his concerns, his fears, and emotions. All of New Zealand cries along with the 29 families. God-bless you all.
- Love and awhi to the west coast. And thanx 4 playing music - we lack sufficient words at this time. Julie
- Thank god for your programme. Now i can mourn along w those who have lost loved ones as i did a few months ago. Now it is appropriate. I am so sorry greymouth.
- I took the miners to thier work on friday. I remember the fun we had on our way to the mine. 90 minutes or so later after saying goodbye to them I was so shocked I could not remember who was on the bus. Now I remember the faces of my friends. I am devastated as we all are. Tony Nicol
- to all the men who worked underground for us to enjoy the benefits of coal-may you rest peacefully&may yr dear ones be comforted.We hold u all in our hearts
- sincere condolences to all family & friends of all miners
- our thoughts are with all the people of the coast. Terry, Ashburton.
- How can there be words to describe the heartsick feelings across the country tonight? My heart goes out to the miners and their families, with such sorrow for lives cut short and missing fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, nephews and friends. Sorrow for the rescuers, trying so hard to engineer a miracle. Sorrow for the people of the West Coast, sorrow for the people across the country touched by this tragedy. Amy White, Wellington
- Just want to express my sorrow for family, friends, and a grieving West Coast following news of this tragic tragic event. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you struggle to come to terms with your loss. Standing quietly by your side. Victoria Barrell
- We in the South Island feel a special sense of loss at news of the deaths of so many fine hard-working, community members of the West Coast. Please let us stand together in their memory, be thankful of all those who came to try and help these men, and I hope and pray we can all find ways to support them and keep up the support for the miners' families in years to come. love, joseph
- As all New Zealanders my thoughts are with the families, friends and community of the West Coast. We all hoped that maybe they would be rescued but we also knew that other rescuers could not go down if it was dangerous but those thoughts would not have helped the families and friends of the miners. I never knew my great grandfather but he was a mining engineer and was killed in the Waihi mine back at the beginning of the last century.
- Over the week we have shed tears for the victims and those that survive them. My heart goes out to the people who have had to carry the enourmous burden of taking responsibility for the rescue/revcovery.I think Supt Gary Knowles has had the hardest job in the world this week, and all I can say is that he is the sort of guy I would want in charge of my rescue, Ralph Boardman, Christchurch,
- Please pass on my message of condolence and sorrow to the families of the miners, to their friends, to those who have been doing their best for a good outcome, and to all of the West Coast community. Calia
- Maybe it be a great show of support if we showed our support with yellow ribbons ... on fences, trees, bikes, heads ... pretty much anything you could tie a yellow ribbon to! What a sad sad day for Aotearoa. Ged
- We know there is so little we can do 2 help u bear the pain of loss u r feelng, & so little we cn say 2 help u thru the day. Bt may u no our deepest love, Pippa
- Tell the bereaved families all New Zealand and thousands round the world have now joined their families in love and sorrow. death shall not have the last word
- Like many people I am saddened by the death of the miners and I would like you to pass my thoughts and sympathies to the mining community. As we all sit in our homes with the comforts of modern technology powered by electricity we need to remember that very often our comforts are at the expense of other people's efforts. So before we rush to criticise or condemn we should remember them. Sue
- I have been editing photos from the Runanga rugby league juniors over the last couple of days. I look at the photo of one I call a friend and his wife smiling, proud with thier children. The devastation in a split second to a family, Community. I an looking at Dan's smiling face next to his wife's now
- After having lived on the West Coast in a small town and losing a young local in a explosion i can understand the the coast spirit the whole community pulls together even people who dont speak put that aside ihad a band and took a collection around my bar 4 the young lad left fatherless and $1000 was raised in a town of 300 people they are the most caring and giving people u could find in time of need.
- Your network interviewed me earlier this pm. I sit on the side line of the disaster but maybe personify the wide ranging implications of the events, for example my job was extinguished at that point. I had a phone interview with you, at present I am over the top with emotion. But as I stated, I was just the bus driver. Tony Nicol
The Pike River National Memorial Service
Radio New Zealand National will be posting full coverage of the Pike River National Memorial Service which began today at 2pm.
He roimata ua, he roimata tangata.
Our tears fall like the rain.
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Special coverage following the announcement that 29 miners have lost their lives in explosions at the Pike River Coal Mine.
Our special edition of Checkpoint on Wednesday 24 November.
Our special edition of Morning Report on Thursday 25 November.
A dedicated Pike River Mine Disaster news section.
In Memoriam by Joe Bell