Pike River families visit mine on fourth anniversary
Pike River coal mining disaster families are today marking the fourth anniversary.
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Hawke’s Bay
Pike River coal mining disaster families are today marking the fourth anniversary of the explosion in 2010, less than two weeks after it was decided the 29 miners’ bodies won’t be recovered.
Buses will take family members past the White Knight bridge and to the mine portal. For some families it will be their first visit to the mine, spokesman Bernie Monk says.
The father of Michael Monk, who was killed in the mine, says he is angry it has taken this long for that to happen.
"For the families, it's always going to be significant. It's only in the last two weeks that everyone, except one family, thought they were going into the mine," he says.
"This is an important time. This is going to be the day people come to the conclusion that it may never happen."
Earlier this month, state-owned Solid Energy, which bought the mine after the tragedy, decided it was too dangerous to try to re-enter the mine.
Mines Rescue has been ready to re-enter but Solid Energy's decision has scuppered that, Mr Monk says.
He is also angry at how Solid Energy has treated the English mine experts who have advised the families on re-entry.
"It gave them lip service and totally disregarded what they had to say."
He is also frustrated the mine will now become a conservation park as that means $300 million worth of mining infrastructure will be idle when jobs are needed on the West Coast.
Nevil Gibson
Wed, 19 Nov 2014
Wed, 19 Nov 2014
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Pike River families visit mine on fourth anniversary
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