Pike re-entry: 'This is a victory for the families and the little people'

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

'We fought really hard for our men for a very long time, and today this is a victory for the families and the little people in New Zealand.'

An elated Anna Osborne had those words – and tears – as the Government gave the all-clear for a $23 million manned re-entry into Pike River Mine, where 29 men died in an explosion eight years ago. Their bodies have not been recovered.

Bernie Monk, Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne were at the announcement by Minister Andrew Little on Wednesday morning at Parliament.

When Little said 'we are returning', they hugged each other and cried.

**READ MORE:

* Pike River: 'We're going in' 

* Pike River re-entry plan to be revealed

* Pike River re-entry call to be made within two weeks

* Pike River re-entry has high risks which can be managed, experts say

* Experts consider Pike River Mine re-entry options**

Osborne said the decision was 'eight years in the making' and it was a 'truly amazing day'.

The aim of re-entry is to gather any evidence of what might have caused the methane explosion. The scene would be treated as a crime scene. It was hoped it could recover any bodies of the men that might be in the mine drift.

Dangers still remained, but Little said extensive advice had shown re-entry using the existing access tunnel of the mine would be 'by far the safest option'.

It was likely to be about February before the re-entry proper got under way, by breaching the 30 metre seal.

Two years ago, Rockhouse and Osborne were camped outside the mine's entry, protesting the plan to permanently seal it with concrete. 

They will walk 170 metres into the mine together in February.

Wednesday's decision was a 'big win', Rockhouse said. 

'It's a good thing for New Zealand because it shows you the little person can stand up and fight for what they believe in. 

'My son Ben will be 30 next year and he was 20 when he was killed. Finally we will be able to resolve this and hopefully be able to move on.'

Monk said Wednesday's announcement was 'a monumental turnaround for the country'.

Eight years after the disaster, people finally understood 'where we're coming from' in wanting to re-enter the mine. Monk himself had no qualms about going in himself.

'I know people were probably over Pike River but we had to turn people's opinion around. It's been emotional but to be honest with you, I knew this job would get done eventually.'

The re-entry plan would be the same internationally-designed method suggested in 2014, he said.

'That's what makes me so angry about this procedure; we had this plan.

'People might go on about the money being spent, but if the National Government had listened to us it would have been a lot less.'

Monk believed the 'historic' decision would restore international confidence in the mining industry by proving that accountability and justice were not just words.

He said he was willing to bring forward any evidence from the mine shaft that would spark investigations into alleged failings by the then-Department of Labour, or former Pike River bosses Peter Whittall, Steve Ellis, and Doug White.

'I would like to see manslaughter charges.'

Rockhouse, Osborne and Monk do not represent all Pike River families.

A mother of one of the miners killed was 'disgusted' the Government had approved re-entry, saying public money is better spent elsewhere.

She did not wish to be named.

'I respect we all think differently but I'm just gutted really.

'I don't think when there were explosions of that intensity that they can go in there and find something that looks like proof.

'I don't seek retribution or blame; to me that's pointless. The phrase rest in peace is something I believe strongly. They are not lost in the end, we know where they are and we know what killed them. To me knowing that … is sufficient.'

She said re-entering the mine shaft was futile and potentially unsafe.

Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the announcement was 'excellent news', which would bring closure to Coasters waiting eight years.

'Our thanks go out to the Coalition [Government] for keeping their word.'

Kokshoorn said there was an area of about 400m in the drift tunnel that had not been explored.

'The Government are going to show to the families that they do care by eliminating any chance of any bodies being in that 400m area.'

The hopes of finding a body was slim but it could not be eliminated, he said.

'It's about giving the families the satisfaction and knowledge that they have done everything they can.

'This way in February [when the mine is re-entered], we can finally put closure to this sad, sorry ordeal.'