Waihi - Mine town

Managed to get to the memeorial sevice for the Pike River disaster in Waihi yesterday. It was a very good reminder that Waihi is a sister type community to Greymouth as both communities are mining towns so Greymouth and the Pike River 29 were very much in the thoughts of those who attended.

The sevice had speakers including the Mayor of Hauraki John Tregider, General manager of Newmont Waihi Gold Glen Grindlay plus Mary Carmaine from the Hauraki District council who is from Waihi. Each spoke about different effects mining had on the local community and how much they related to Greymouth and how the miners who worked in Waihi related to Pike River. The empathy was there for all to see. Miners from one of the underground contractors performed a waiata - included amongst these were members of the Waihi mine rescue team - one of whom had just come back from Pike River.

It was quite telling to walk into the memorial hall in Waihi and see 29 miners hats with their helmet lights on and 29 Kowhai trees that will be planted somewhere around the pit rim and later a plaque will be added to remember the Pike River 29.

At the end of the memorial the community was told to take nothing for granted, love their families, hug their friends, partners, wives, husbands and families and have a beer/wine with their mates

Kia Kaha to the families of the Pike River 29

To see more about Waihi http://www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html