Safety Starts at the Top: Lessons from Pike River and Beyond

Everyone deserves to go home safe. As a leader, you have the power to make that certainty.

The Pike River disaster stands as a profound lesson for every business leader in Aotearoa: when safety culture isn't embedded at every level, the consequences can be devastating.

For the first time in 15 years, former Pike River Safety Manager Neville Rockhouse steps back into the public spotlight to share his deeply personal story. Neville fought to minimise risk and prevent disaster. When the explosion occurred, the tragedy became unbearably personal – his son Ben was among the 29 men who didn't come home.

Neville's story is about equipping you with the critical insights needed to build organisations where safety is woven into your company's DNA, and ensuring no other leader faces the same devastating loss.

Why safety culture is a strategic imperative

This is about more than regulatory compliance – it's about building trust, protecting your people, and strengthening your business:

• Talent attraction & retention: 86% of workers will leave a job they feel is unsafe. A proactive safety culture reduces turnover, boosts morale, and makes you an employer of choice.
• Enhanced productivity: Fewer injuries mean fewer disruptions. When people feel genuinely safe, they stay focused, show up consistently, and perform at their best.
• Reputation & trust: Demonstrating you truly care about workers' health and wellbeing builds trust with your team and respect in your industry.
• Simplified compliance: When safety becomes part of everyday behaviour and organisational identity, meeting legal requirements becomes second nature.

 

What you'll experience:

Opening conversation: Neville Rockhouse & Paul Jarvie

Hosted by Anthony Mitchell (Head of EHS, Fletcher Distribution), this powerful conversation brings together two people whose lives intersected at a critical moment. Two months before the Pike River explosion, Neville contacted Paul Jarvie requesting a risk assessment that never took place. For the first time, they'll share their stories together.

Neville Rockhouse – Former Pike River Safety Manager Neville will share:

• What genuine leadership accountability looks like in practice
• The battles he fought to raise concerns and what he went through to try to prevent the disaster
• How to move beyond compliance toward a culture where safety is embedded in every decision
• The warning signs that demand attention – and how to create systems where people feel safe to speak up

Paul Jarvie – OH&S Advocacy Professional, EMA With over three decades of hands-on experience supporting New Zealand employers and workers to lift safety performance, Paul is a former NZ delegate to the International Labour Organisation and has chaired specialist committees on agriculture and machine guarding. Paul will share his perspective on that critical missed opportunity and the lessons it holds for every organisation.

Cross-sector panel discussion

Also hosted by Anthony Mitchell, you'll hear real-world stories and strategies from leaders actively embedding safety into their organisational DNA:

• Hayleigh Evett – Head of People & Culture, Red Badge Group An experienced People & Culture leader who champions inclusive, high-performing workplaces. Hayleigh drives strategic initiatives that enhance employee engagement and align people strategies with business goals, bringing expertise in change management, leadership development, and legislative compliance.
• Chris Singleton – CEO, Waikato Milking Systems Appointed CEO in 2025, Chris leads strategy execution across global markets with a strong focus on practical health & safety governance. Passionate about helping New Zealand businesses succeed internationally, he champions integrating health and safety with continuous improvement programmes to achieve the best outcomes for people and performance.
• Rebecca Knowles – Managing Director, Kaleidocare

The panel will explore how to:

• Lead by example: When executives walk the talk, safety becomes part of your organisation's identity
• Build trust and respect: Supporting workers' health and wellbeing demonstrates that you truly care about your people
• Communicate clearly: Breaking down complexity so every team member knows what's expected and why it matters
• Involve everyone: Creating a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility, not just management's job
• Keep learning: The best safety ideas come from frontline workers – every conversation is a chance to make work safer

 

Your key takeaways:

✓ A clear understanding of the human and economic cost of workplace harm in New Zealand

✓ Critical leadership lessons from one of the country's most significant safety events – including the moment when intervention could have made a difference

✓ Proven frameworks for embedding health and safety culture into your company's DNA

✓ Real-world strategies from peers who've successfully transformed their safety cultures

✓ Actionable steps you can implement immediately to strengthen trust, reduce risk, and protect your people

✓ Practical tools to lead by example and build a workplace where people feel genuinely cared for

Safety culture means creating systems where every worker feels safe to speak up, and

Your opportunity to lead meaningful change starts here.