NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 5 — 20 JANUARY 2015

The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

The Queen has been pleased, on the celebration of the New Year, to make the following awards of The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration:

New Zealand Defence Force

DSD

Warrant Officer David Tale Hamill, of Auckland. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Captain Andrew Ross McKinlay, of Wellington. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Serviceman B. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Major Michael Nochete, of Christchurch. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Flight Sergeant Murray John Thomson, of Auckland. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Dated at Wellington this 31st day of December 2014.

MICHAEL WEBSTER, Clerk of the Executive Council.

NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY AWARDS

The Governor-General, under authority delegated by The Queen, has been pleased to approve the following New Zealand Bravery Award:

THE NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY MEDAL (NZBM)

Mr Daniel James ROCKHOUSE

Citation

On 19 November 2010 a methane explosion occurred at Pike River Coal Mine, killing 29 miners working deep in the mine. The explosion cut the electricity supply to the mine, shutting off lighting and ventilation systems. The mine began to fill with smoke and carbon monoxide.

Daniel Rockhouse was driving a loader approximately 1,700 metres into the main drive of the mine when the explosion occurred and he was thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness Mr Rockhouse put on his self-rescuer (breathing apparatus) and dragged himself to a nearby telephone. He rang Service Control and spoke to the mine manager, who told him to make his way to the fresh air base (FAB) near the mine portal, and contact him again. Mr Rockhouse started making his way to the FAB, following water pipes along the wall. He came across another miner, lying on the ground semi-conscious and disoriented. He attempted to give the miner his self-rescuer, but he could not close his mouth around the unit. Mr Rockhouse dragged him to the FAB, where they found the door open and the FAB full of carbon monoxide. Mr Rockhouse continued to drag the miner towards the mine portal. They were able to breathe some fresh air from compressed air lines along the way, and eventually the miner’s condition improved enough to walk. They then supported each other and hobbled out of the mine. The rescue of the other man had taken Mr Rockhouse approximately two hours. By the time he reached the mine exit, Mr Rockhouse was disoriented, and was suffering from the effects of smoke and gas inhalation. Both men were taken to Greymouth Hospital where Mr Rockhouse was treated for smoke and gas inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Without Mr Rockhouse’s assistance, the other miner would have remained lying in the mine. It is highly unlikely that he would have been able to rescue himself. Mr Rockhouse’s determination to rescue him slowed down his own escape from the mine, through poisonous gas and smoke and constantly fearing further explosions.

Dated at Wellington this 31st day of December 2014.

MICHAEL WEBSTER, Clerk of the Executive Council.

2015-vr227

PUBLISHED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

newzealand.govt.nz

PRINTED BY BLUE STAR GROUP

ISSN 0111-5650 (PRINT)
ISSN 1177-8415 (ONLINE)