National supports Pike River reentry
AUCKLAND: The National Party is accepting advice that the Pike River reentry can now be done safely, taking politics off the table on an issue that has been a bitter political battleground.
On Thursday, the party’s Pike River recovery spokesman, Mark Mitchell, met with the Families Reference Group — which represents more than 80% of Pike River victims’ families — and told them National supported the reentry plan.
Afterwards, Mr Mitchell told the Herald the party’s position had always backed a reentry as long as it could be done safely, but it is the first time National has told the families’ group it backs the plan.
‘‘We would have gone into the drift but the advice was that it was too dangerous,’’ Mr Mitchell said.
‘‘The advice now is that we can get in there, and we completely support that.’’
Sonya Rockhouse, who lost her son Ben in the 2010 tragedy, welcomed the support.
‘‘Even though it’s taken so long, it’s good to know they’ve swung in behind us getting truth and justice. What’s really great is this means it’s the end of all the politics, and now it’s about everybody doing the right thing by our men.’’
The Coalition Government and the Opposition have long fought over the viability of reentering the mine’s drift. The LabourNew Zealand First coalition agreement said they would ‘‘commit to reentry to Pike River’’, while National has always said it was too dangerous to do so.
The families’ group has not been shy about expressing its disappointment with the previous Government, not only about reentry but also for feeling at arms’ length from information about the mine and the decisionmaking process.
Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton in the 2010 tragedy, told the Herald this week: ‘‘It’s the will of the Government to help. There was no will in the past from the previous Government.’’
But after the meeting Mr Mitchell, the families’ group was buoyed by National’s support.
Mr Mitchell will travel to the mine for the breaking of the 30mseal at the entrance to the drift on May 3.