The
New Zealand Mines Rescue Brigade was established as a result of the Dobson mine
disaster on 3rd
December 1926, when 9 men lost their lives. Prior to this, there
had been four major disasters in New Zealand
coalmines, with a total of 145 fatalities. Only large-scale events such as
explosions or major fires were considered reportable. Until and including the
Dobson disaster, no mine emergency response facilities or organisation was in
place.

Unfortunately, over the next five decades the establishment
of a Mines Rescue Service did not mean that disasters involving multiple
fatalities ceased. The coal mining industry continued to suffer the consequences
of poor mining practice, inadequate or inappropriate monitoring and management,
and sometimes complete disregard for the regulatory requirements current at the
time.

The
role of Mines Rescue has been defined in statute, and regulated by Coal Mines
(Mine Management and Safety) Regulations. Currently, the statutory obligations
have been under the Mines Rescue Trust Act 1992.

The
Mines Rescue Brigade historically, has primarily been a reactive service, with
stations and facilities established to train brigadesmen in emergency response
procedures, specifically to mobilise in the event of a call-out at any one of
the many coalmines operating within each station's area of jurisdiction.

Over the last ten years, this role has changed. The service
has adopted a proactive approach to emergency response, and has established a
close liaison with all mining and tunnelling operations throughout industry,
both underground and surface. The objectives have become emergency prevention
focussed, and the service has incorporated a range of theoretical and practical
training, simulated exercises, more sophisticated equipment and techniques, and
a desire to ensure that emergency response capabilities are not needed, whilst
maintaining the traditional and statutory obligation to respond if they are
needed.