Descent from Disaster - Strongman Mine Disaster

On 19 January 1967, an explosion rocked the Strongman coal mine on the West Coast, causing the deaths of 19 miners. This documentary, part of a series investigating NZ disasters, sees TV personality Leigh Hart examining what happened that day in Rūnanga, and how it affected the community. Interviewees include Hart’s own family: his Dad, who was in the mine at the time, his mother, and his Uncle Terry, who was part of the rescue team. This two-minute excerpt includes a reenactment of the disaster, and Leigh examining the outside of the old mine.

They all worked together, played together and in the end, died together, so I guess it was appropriate they were buried together. But when you think about the individual families it wasn't a community thing. It was something very personal.

– Leigh Hart, on the mass grave in which the miners were buried

Key Cast & Crew

Mary Durham

Research, Director

Rupert Mackenzie

Director - Dramatisations

Leigh Hart

Presenter

Ross Peebles

Producer

Gavin Stroud

Cinematographer

Roger Yeaxlee

Editor