By Rachel Morton
The former general manager of the Pike River coalmine, Doug White, has admitted he sent emails looking for a new job less than 20 minutes after the mine exploded.
But he told the Royal Commission today, that when he sent the emails he did not know there had been an explosion underground.
Mr White began working at Pike River 10 months before it exploded - that is how long it took for him to decide he wanted out, he even sent emails about another job just after the mine exploded.
“Mr McIllraith had actually contacted me earlier on in the day with information that Solid Energy were very keen to contact me about positions within their company.”
He admitted he had smelt something similar to gunpowder and knew the mine had lost electricity about 10 minutes before sending the emails but says he did not know it had exploded.
“At the time I sent the emails I had absolutely no idea there was a major incident at the mine.”
His lawyer interrupted proceedings to hammer home that point.
“The media is rushing around all excited that Mr White was looking for a job amidst a catastrophe which is clearly not the reality,” says John Haigh.
But the revelation left family members in tears, describing it as 'unforgivable'.
“If you go out and smell gun powder and the knowledge that things were down, well I just can't accept that. So it's something they must live with,” says families’ spokesperson Bernie Monk.
Mr White made the decision to look for other work five days before the explosion after chief executive Peter Whittall blamed him for the company's share price dropping seven cents because of comments he had made to stock brokers.
So Mr White sent an email to a recruitment company titled: “I will not be made a scape goat”.
The email went on to say:
“I need you to look out for another position for me.
“In the last two days I have seen the true colours of senior management and I don't like what I have seen.
“I am not prepared to waste my time here any longer.”
Mr White also denied claims made earlier in the inquiry that safety concerns had been raised with him by a worker which were not addressed.
At the beginning of his evidence Mr White's lawyer John Haigh said that because of the ongoing criminal investigation he would stop his client from answering any questions he thought could implicate him.
He stopped him six times throughout the evidence from answering questions.
The families said while some of Mr White's evidence was upsetting they appreciate him agreeing to give evidence as other managers at pike river have refused.
3 News