The Women of Pike River

On 19 November 2010, the first of a number of explosions occured at the Pike River coal mine. Twenty-nine men were trapped in the tunnel. Nominated for Best Documentary at the 2017 NZ Televison Awards, The Women of Pike River explores the lives of six of those left behind, who were wives and mothers of the miners. The disaster involved New Zealand's worst single loss of life since the 1979 Erebus crash — until the 2011 Christchurch quake four months later. Despite assurances survivors would be rescued and the dead retrieved, new owners Solid Energy said the mine was too dangerous to reenter. 

Twenty-nine men are laying down in a dirty, cold, wet hole, and nobody has been held accountable. They're not just a number.

– Pike River mother Sonya Rockhouse on the disaster

Key Cast & Crew

Vedat Kiyici

Sound Mix

Roger Yeaxlee

Editor

Alex Reed

Producer

Tash Christie

Producer

Peter Young

Cinematographer

Mary Durham

Director