Families call out names of Pike 29

The names of all 29 men killed at Pike River were called out at the mine portal yesterday to commemorate eight years since the tragedy.

Pike River families gathered at the mine’s memorial to remember their loved ones.

They travelled up to the mine portal to lay flowers and do a roll call of the names of the 29 men who were killed in the mine explosion on November 19, 2010.

Pike River father Rowdy Durbridge said this year’s anniversary felt different to previous years. It felt like he was at the ‘‘end of a long run’’.

‘‘Today we’re going to go up to the portal and do what we do. Call the names. I don’t know how it started.

‘‘I think the first time we were allowed up there by Solid Energy someone yelled their son’s name, their husband’s name, their father’s name and in turn someone else did and someone followed after that and it became an event.’’

He said the memorial area at the end of the Pike River access road had been donated by a local farmer and decorated with rocks from the mine.

The minister responsible for Pike River re-entry, Andrew Little, was invited to the memorial service , where he was greeted by applause and embraced by family members.

He visited the mine site before the service. ‘‘I was very keen to see what progress has been made in terms of preparation for the reentry now that approval has been given. There had already been work done getting things ready and the agency management were able to give me an idea of the work that has to be done for the re-entry itself in February next year so it was good to get a briefing on all of that.’’

He said the families were pleased with the commitment from the Government to re-enter the mine and a Government apology would be appropriate after reentry was completed.

‘‘This was a tragedy that was totally preventable and even since then the families have, quite frankly, been put through the wringer in terms of how the prosecutions have been handled, in terms of how they have been handled, so it will be the right thing to do,’’ he said.

‘‘There was at least one government agency that let things down and that was the Department of Labour . . . and its ability to do health and safety inspections . . . it happened under successive governments.

‘‘It’s about doing what’s right for the families and there will be a time when it is the right thing to do to say sorry.’’

‘‘There will be a time when it is the right thing to do to say sorry.’’ Andrew Little, the minister responsible for Pike River re-entry