Pike Rover re-entry liability

The chief executive of the Pike River Recovery Agency could face millions in fines or jail time if something went wrong with the re-entry. The chief executive of the agency would be held legally liable if anything went wrong and Andrew Little, the minister in charge, said under health and safety laws, someone could be fined up to $50,000 for failing to comply with duties, or be imprisoned for up to five years, or fined up to $3m, for reckless conduct exposing someone in their care to risk.

Firefighters burnt

Two firefighters remain in hospital with burns and staff have been told to stay home after a massive blaze ripped through a Mid-canterbury factory. About 50 firefighters from 19 crews from as far away as Timaru and Christchurch spent hours containing the blaze at Sealeswinslow’s factory on the Hinds Highway, near Ashburton, on Monday night. Half of the 5000-square-metre building was ablaze when firefighters arrived at the scene about 7.45pm. The fire was under control by about 10pm on Monday, but 12 hours later deep burning fires were still causing issues and smoke continued to billow from the site. A third firefighter who suffered burns has been discharged.

Adventure park reopens

The Christchurch Adventure Park has reopened, 10 months after it was forced to close after sustaining extensive damage in the Port Hills fires. Gates opened at 11am yesterday at the mountainbiking park. The fire damage forced the $24 million attraction to close just eight weeks after opening.

Shots fired at house

Police cordoned off a Christchurch street where shots were fired at a house in Golf Links Rd, Shirley. Officers in police tracksuits used metal detectors to search properties and house roof guttering. Police were using mirrors to look under cars. Detective Sergeant Mike Freeman said police were called to the incident about 10.30pm on Monday. One person at the house sustained minor injuries, he said.

Ranges stay open

Auckland Council has voted against closing the Waita¯kere Ranges to counter the spread of kauri dieback disease. Council was in a meeting for much of yesterday to consider five options ranging from not doing anything, continuing with the status quo or closing the Waita¯kere Ranges entirely to stop the spread of the disease. Councillors voted down the option to close the Waita¯kere ranges. They will now vote on whether to reduce the spread of disease by improving track surfaces, installing hygiene stations, closing medium to high risk tracks, and through increased investment. A recent report showed nearly a quarter of the trees in the park’s 2571 hectares of kauri forest were either infected or possibly infected with dieback disease.