Leader to visit Pike River picket

Re-entering Pike River mine isn’t a case of ‘‘any old chump donning some breathing apparatus and going down there’’, says Labour leader Andrew Little.

His comments come after NZ First leader Winston Peters pledged late last year to be one of the first to enter the drift. Peters has since made re-entry of the mine a ‘‘bottom line’’ in any post-election coalition talks.

Little is travelling to the West Coast tomorrow to meet with Pike River families and ‘‘show them some solidarity’’ as they continue picketing near the mine.

On Saturday, Peters visited Greymouth and told the family of the 29 Pike River victims that ‘‘here on the West Coast you are a forgotten people’’.

‘‘The Labour Party saying late last year, when some of the families came to Wellington, that if they came to power they would ask for yet another report before going into the mine, probably from the same people that are already saying that you can’t go in, is weak and disingenuous. It means maybe, sometime never.’’

But Little stands by his promise to seek another report by worldleading experts and make a decision on whether to re-enter the mine based on a third opinion.

To date, the Government has a report saying it’s too dangerous while the Pike River families have their own report saying it’s safe.

In response to whether the findings of a third report would be treated as gospel, Little said, yes.

‘‘I’m not going to give false hope to people but I’m not going to deny them realistic hope either.’’

A third report would mean ‘‘you’ve got more experts than not’’ saying what is practical. ‘‘You’ve got to leave it for the experts.’’