16 February 2024

Five experienced industry figures have been selected to join the New Zealand Mining Board of Examiners.

WorkSafe has responsibility for setting competency standards in the extractives industry. The Board was established in response to the Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy. It advises WorkSafe on competencies, examines applicants, and issues and renews certificates of competence, among other functions.

The new appointees are Liz McKenzie, Andrew Weir, Andy Allen, Ed Ayre and Mathew Vandy. Fiona Bartier and Tim Kennedy have been reappointed, taking the full Board membership to 11 in total.

“All corners of the extractives sector are represented on the Board – we have representatives from the quarrying and mining industries alongside those with expertise in learning and development. There is a strong link to the industry’s training organisation, the Workforce Development Council,” says the Board’s chairperson, Paul Hunt.

“Above all, the Board members collectively bring a zest for getting health and safety right in the extractive sector. Improving the competence of the people in the industry is one of the most important aspects of improving health and safety performance,” says Paul Hunt.

Two inaugural members of the Board, Michelle Crompton and Steve Bell, are stepping down after more than a decade, having made significant contributions. Matt Mules and Garth Elliot have also stepped down, as has Dinghy Pattinson who has taken a new role as a WorkSafe inspector.

The Board of Examiners appointees begin their three-year terms this month.

Meet the NZ Mining Board of Examiners