#4 | Building Strong Safety Cultures: Insights from Neville Rockhouse

IIn this episode of The Health and Safety Hub, Kevin Chambers talks to Neville Rockhouse, who was health and safety manager at Pike River Mine. They discuss what meaningful safety leadership really looks like in high‑risk environments. Neville shares practical insights on visible leadership, building trust, creating a no‑blame culture, and why “trust but verify” is essential for any effective safety system. He also explores the role of data, accountability, and continuous learning in lifting New Zealand’s safety performance. If you’re ready to take the next step in strengthening safety at your organisation, join the EMA’s Safety Culture Programme and help build a stronger, safer workplace culture. Learn more at: ema.co.nz/services/health-and-safety/safety-culture-programme. This podcast series is proudly produced in partnership with nib. 00:00 – Introduction 01:40 – Neville’s background 02:17 – Safety leadership 03:38 – Moving away from blame culture 04:22 – Speaking up 06:16 – Developing safety leaders 08:09 – Trust but verify 11:23 – Leading indicators & accountability 14:27 – Reflection from Pike River 19:27 – What New Zealand must do