Further funding for Pike memorial needed
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A memorial area at the Pike River Mine on the West Coast is expected to be built in about a year, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.
However, funding is yet to be confirmed for a planned visitor centre as part of the four-stage project marking the Pike River Mine disaster.
The Pike 29 Memorial Track formally opened on February 16, in conjunction with the Pike River families group, Te Rūnunga o Ngati Waewae, and DOC.
DOC Western South Island operations director Mark Davies briefed the West Coast Conservation Board on February 21, a few days after the track was formally opened.
Davies said a pavilion and memorial at the mine portal, the third stage, is funded and expected to be completed in about 12 months.
This included 1km of sealed pedestrian access along the existing road edge to the portal.
The track was the second stage of four, which are part of plans agreed with representatives of the victims' families and the Government in 2015.
It aimed to provide a permanent memorial to the 29 men who died, as well as providing local economic benefit to the community.
The fourth stage of the plans, to turn part of the former mine administration area into a visitor centre, was at the planning stage, with funding yet to be confirmed, Davies said.
"The families understand that, the ministers understand that. We will support the families through the process."
He did not specify the original budget, but said timing and inflation had impacted the original concept.
The Paparoa Track opened in late 2019, representing the first new 'great walk' built in decades.
The Pike 29 Memorial Track is an 11km side route off the Paparoa Track, providing a loop for walkers and mountain bikers. It begins and ends near Blackball which has reinvented itself as as a base for the track.
Davies said the original agreement was for the Pike 29 track to be where "the story is told" of the 2011 tragedy.
The track has a view of the mine shaft, but at this stage the portal area remains off-limits.
Significantly, he said the recent opening marked the formal return of some of the Pike River Valley to public access for the first time since 2006.
The valley had been added to the Paparoa National Park in 2016, but DOC had to pause opening it due to the 2017 decision to reenter the drift of the Pike Mine.
The department resumed its work after June 2022, including a significant upgrade of the access road and its bridges, Davies said.
Davies said keeping public vehicles out of the area was respectful to those who died - although the department will continue to use the road for gas monitoring purposes
"The road is quite steep and we don't want the public to take vehicles up to the portal."
Davies said it was an "absolute privilege to be leading" the second aspect of the project.
He paid tribute to the board for helping facilitate a quick review of the Paparoa National Park management plan in conjunction with Ngāti Waewae in 2017.
This enabled the concept including the great walk and memorial track.
The process at the time had become "an exemplar" around what can be done to adapt national park plans including "breathing life" into Te Tiriti partnerships, he said.
* LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.
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63.9% Yes
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33.6% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
What's your favourite recipe for gooseberry?
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